Marina Young creates music that cuts through the noise. Born in war-torn Bosnia and shaped by personal loss, her sound carries a message, one that challenges the status quo and refuses to stay silent.

With “RIOT” out now, we took some time to hear from Marina Young. Read below to learn more about Marina Young, the story behind “RIOT,” and what’s to come.

Hi Marina Young! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?

My music is an extension of me, which is why I wanted to use my name as my artist name.

What city are you from, and where are you based now?

I’m originally from a little town called Gorazde in Bosnia – I currently live in Sydney.

At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?

I was always surrounded by music and in turn developed a real love for it. My younger years were overshadowed by war and search for stability. It took me a long time to get comfortable enough to dive into a career in music with full commitment – this was a year ago. I release my first single called “Make it Rain” in honour of my father who was killed during the Bosnian war. I have since released “Riot” and about to release an A cappella called “Help Me Arrive.”

How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?

My music is heavily story driven, I’ve always loved cinematic music where the story and the music are intertwined. A good way to describe my sound is dark pop with a strong beat and a cinematic flavour.

Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?

I have been involved in many creative spaces from interior design to fashion and photography. I love the creative process and I’m very curious. I’m also a huge believer in challenging yourself and trying new ways to express your creativity.

Who are some of your main musical influences?

I grew up listening to Metallica and GNR, I always loved the energy of their music and the showmanship. Its music that makes you feel something! I’ve always been drawn to these kinds of artists. I’ve never
stuck to a particular genre. I’ll listen to Amy Winehouse, then a bit of Kanye, then Michael Kiwanuka – all amazing storytellers.

Who would be a dream to collaborate with?

My dream music collaboration would be Kanye West.

What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?

Sharing my story and performing at the WIN Gala, established to celebrate and empower woman.

What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?

It’s important to stay true to your message and your vision – it’s easy to get diluted in a highly competitive world.

Now onto your release, “RIOT.” What inspired this song? What is “RIOT” about?

“Riot” talks about the internal battle of staying true to yourself and feeling the pressure to fit in. It’s about having more awareness of what your following and if it aligns with you.

What was the inspiration behind the cover artwork for “RIOT?”

We wanted to give my portrait a little bit of a dark side to create mystery and intrigue.

What was the creative process like when making “RIOT?”

“Riot” is a fight song. It was written around the same time there was a lot of chat about digital ID’s, and it made me think how little choice we have in the grand scheme of things, do we just follow or do we fight back.

How long did it take to complete “RIOT?”

From writing to mastering, around 2 months.

How did the music video for “RIOT” come about? What was your vision for the video?

I wanted to depict a scenario where your morals may be tested, do you take the easy road or the hard road? They both come with challenges.

What do you hope fans take away from “RIOT” and your music in general?

My music is designed to make you think, I share my perspective and allow the audience to make their conclusion.

What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?

My main focus right now is to complete my EP, Cautionary Tales, and then I want to look at putting together an interactive show.

Where can we follow you on social media?

https://www.instagram.com/marinayoung_official
https://www.youtube.com/@MarinaYoungVEVO
https://www.marinayoung.com.au

Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!