Rising alt-pop artist Marineris releases his feel-good new single ‘My Band Could Be Your Home’, out today on all streaming platforms. This single is the final glimpse into his upcoming album of the same name, set for release on 8th October.
Behind the name ‘Marineris’ is Alex, a 23-year-old singer, songwriter and producer obsessed with creating his musical world from scratch, from writing the songs, to production to creating his music videos. Describing the album as a ‘series’, Marineris explores different themes of gen-z culture across each track or ‘episode’. Having released gorgeous visuals for his previous singles ‘Another Song About You’, ‘Petrified’ and ‘Prick’, his new track explores the notion that music can be life-changing, or at times life-saving for young people around the world. In your lowest times, music is there for you.
Tell us about the genesis of your project. How did you get to where you are now?
Despite the fact that the name “Marineris” has not been there all the time that I’ve been doing music, I think what Marineris is now roots back to the first time I picked up a guitar. I was 11 or 12, and my experience from back then still defines my vision and my music now. Any art is a result of the life that one leads. Marineris started not from the first song that I wrote for this particular album, but from the very first song I’ve ever written. This was more than 10 years ago.
What does music and being an artist mean to you?
I think that music first became my way to handle all the kinds of pain I’ve experienced. For example, when you don’t get enough attention from your parents, you would listen to your favorite band. Then, a girl you’re in love with in your teens chooses your classmate over you etc. Music made me feel better every time, on every occasion.
Noticing this, I understood that I want to be closer to music through all of my life, as I could feel better and happier having it as my companion. I think that is why I really want for other people to find “home” in my songs. I dream about my music helping other people the way music of my favorite artists helped me back then.
What are some sources of inspiration for your lyrics and storytelling?
It’s hard to distinguish something specific; I notice that if I think about a certain theme a lot, I start talking about it in my songs, unconsciously. Also, cinema and other arts submerge me into different emotional states and feelings. I have at least 3 songs in my album that wouldn’t exist if I didn’t watch certain movies that influenced me. You can guess one of the movies by the reference hidden in one of the titles:)
Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?
I often say that one of my favorite artists are The 1975. I like their vision: the aesthetics, sound, message that they have in their music. I think that their album ‘A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships’ is the best album of the 21st century at at this moment:)
Maybe they would look into me as a part of their label if someone from there would read this: )))
All time favorite record?
Oasis – Definitely Maybe. It’s interesting that my favorite Oasis song is from another album, but I still think that this particular one is incredibly accurate in reflecting the spirit of one’s youth. “I need to be myself I can’t be no one else” – it could seem like this makes no sense, but it had all the meaning of life for me.
Tell us about your latest release and how it came about.
“My Band Could Be Your Home” is a song of faith in yourself. There is no safer place in the whole world but the place you can call your home. I want my music to give you the feeling of home, even if you don’t feel like you have one because of the judgement or lack of acceptance you can be experiencing. Humans are fragile beings, vulnerable to the opinions of other people around them, starting to doubt themselves and hide with every hurt they encounter. But when we feel we’re safe somewhere, when no one is judging, but accepting us for who we really are – that’s when we can become the best versions of ourselves. Here, no one is judging you. This “band” could be your home.
Apart from its message, this song came about as a series of little coincidences. At the time when this song appeared, I was literally in love with Cher’s “Believe”, so I was dreaming about Marineris once having a song with a similar emotional feel which makes you dance and cry at the same time, haha. Back then, I was also reading a book about the hardcore scene in America, the title of which was a line from Minutemen’s song – ‘Our Band Could Be Your Life’. It instantly appeared to me as the coolest name. And then, as I frequently do photography for other music artists, I was on one of the sets when I heard a random house beat, very similar to the one that Cher had. The first words that I started signing over it were from the title of that very book. And that’s the story of how the main Marineris melody came about. Remember what I said earlier? Art is a result! 🙂
You seem to be fusing several musical genres. What inspires your sound?
I think that the worst thing you could say to yourself when working with music is that “I am this way” or “I have to sound that way”. The fear of going further away from the sound that made you popular is the main problem of many successful musicians. It is most interesting when you don’t set any limitations for yourself, opening up possibilities to sounding in a very new and unexpected way every time you deal with music.
What are some things you do to deal with anxiety and creative blocks?
The energy that you need to continue your work on any given song or try something entirely new is already present in all of your previous works. I often listen again and again to my last demos, even when I’m working on songs that already had a strong foundation but I didn’t finish them for some reason. And I think it’s great when you’re working on something while already having a huge amount of demos, because in this way, you will always have something to switch to when you encounter a creative block with the song you’re working on.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In 5 years, I see myself on the TIME cover that will say: 5 years ago he said that he would be on Time cover in 5 years, haha.
Your style is very original and elaborate. How do you take care of your aesthetics?
I think about myself within the limits of each song and video as a protagonist of a “story”. Interpretation is key. Everything comes out from the song itself, from its emotional message and words. This often gives birth to a certain image or concept, which you have to keep developing and detailing until you feel it’s enough.
What was the most daunting moment in your career so far?
The very first Marineris concert. It feels like it was a million years ago, but I still remember all of my feelings. It was incredibly scary and exciting at the same time. Insane!
What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
“Start living the life you would like to see in the very end right now.” I think it’s extremely important. When you’re young, it seems like what you’re dreaming about will certainly somehow happen later in life. But then, years go by and you can notice that you didn’t become any closer to your dreams. That’s why it’s important to start acting upon certain things the moment you realize you have interest in them.
Where do you think the next game changer will be in the music industry and entertainment scene?
I really hope that something could happen to make people from industry perceive music, once again, like something that others can identify themselves with and live the happiest and saddest moments of their lives to, and not like a set of hooks that will help to promote the song on TikTok.
