In the unpredictable world of underground music, few artists have been as consistently and creatively defiant as Marianne Nowottny. With a career that began as a teenager in the late 1990s downtown New York art scene, Marianne has carved out a unique space with her boundary-pushing, unclassifiable sound.
Her new album, ‘Marzanna’, sees her return to the spotlight for the first time in over seven years, and it's a bold, undeniable departure: a covers album that reimagines legendary tracks with her signature experimental flair. The album, released through Abaton Book Company, is a deep dive into the musical influences that have shaped her journey.
Throughout, Marianne artfully reinterprets songs by icons like Kate Bush, David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, and Siouxsie and the Banshees. She takes familiar melodies and transforms them into atmospheric soundscapes that draw you in, delivering a fresh, expressive take on some brilliant, nostalgic sounds. The lead single, 'I'm Deranged', a reimagining of Bowie's classic from his 1995 album ‘Outside’, is a prime example. Here, Marianne’s expressive vocals and dramatic production breathe new life into the track, honouring the original while infusing it with her own intense, ethereal energy.
While this isn't Marianne’s first foray into covers, having previously performed and recorded songs by everyone from The Beatles to Yazoo and Nico, the new album is a creative step up. However, 'Marzanna' is the first time she has committed an entire project to the art of reinterpretation. With her deep, inimitable voice and theatrical phrasing, she doesn't just sing the songs; she inhabits them, creating new emotional landscapes that are both haunting and beautiful.
The creation of ‘Marzanna’ was a challenging five-year odyssey for Marianne. Speaking candidly, she shared that the album "was almost never made," as it was plagued by setbacks, including a hard drive crash that threatened to erase all her progress. But, with the help of collaborators from around the world, the project came to fruition. "I found solace pouring myself into these songs and reaching out to musicians and personal friends around the world to collaborate," she explains. The album features notable contributions, including two tracks engineered by Gordon Raphael (The Strokes) and collaborations with Sonisk Blodbad, classical harpist Katie Lo and up and coming British heavy metal guitarist Rhea Thompson.
From her early days on Australia’s Camera Obscura Records to her celebrated solo debut ‘Afraid of Me’, Marianne Nowottny has always defied expectations. With ‘Marzanna’, she reaffirms her identity as a fearless artist, exploring music independently and delivering an intense listening experience that will resonate with fans of art-pop and experimental music alike.
You can stream ‘Marzanna’ in full above, and for more from Marianne, be sure to join her on Facebook and Instagram. Plus, you can get your own copy of the album on vinyl and CD now.
