THIS WEEK:MARINA FLORANCE
Marina Florance is a singer/songwriter from Norwich.

Just take a moment,turn the lights down,relax & then switch on Marina’s ‘The Moon’ or ‘The Dress’ and just let her gorgeous voice wash over you.This is timeless music that could have been written anytime in the last 50 years but only once a life had been truly savoured & certainly not by any Tom,Dick or Harriet.

Her unhurried delivery & heartfelt message hits you every single time,it doesn’t need to rush,it doesn’t need to scream & shout,it just needs room to breathe so the story can be told.Oh my Jesus does she have a wonderful voice,the music bringing a Parisian flair to an everyworld enchantment.Marina’s songs would work on so many different radio shows(and so many have played them) & I think she has really struck a rich vein of form on her ‘my own little piece of the sky‘ album with the blending of her golden voice with Cara Winter’s subtle backing vocals, her understated acoustic guitar playing & the mournful/soulful organ of Paul Bullen.Plus a big nod of respect to her songwriting co writer Julie Fox Allen on this album.And it was recorded Live! at the Puppet Theatre Norwich,with Jason Powell recording & mixing & Tonalex on the mastering.This is how to tell a story!

Fresh from performing with Brian McNeill at this years Cambridge Folk Festival Marina’s aforementioned 3rd album ‘my own little piece of the sky‘ is out now, its blooming lovely & I am shortly going to buy the CD version for my good lady for Christmas (but don’t tell her-this can be our Christmas secret dear FOTN readers;).

A songwriter of some standing,Marina’s song ‘Cry‘ won Oldie Composers song writing competition last year, the song was recorded by actor Anthony Head ,featured on ‘This Morning’ on ITV & was voted in to the top 4 by Radio 2 DJs: Sir Terry Wogan, Bob Harris & Ken Bruce.

Take a moment to savour the songs of Marina Florance,a rare & special talent.

May I offer Marina a warm welcome to Prick and Ding 75,over to you Marina.

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1. What are you up to at the moment?
Telling the world about ‘my own little piece of the sky’ an EP/Artists Book. The idea was to produce a whole experience from recording on location at the Puppet Theatre Norwich, to designing imagery using the puppets housed there, then creating a completely handmade artists’ book and soundtrack.
The next project is well under way, a song written with my co-writer Julie Fox-Allen about May Alice Savidge, an inspirational woman who moved her 16th Century house from Ware in Hertford to Wells-Next-The-Sea in Norfolk.

2. Favourite childhood memory?
Waking up most mornings to music, my mum loves music and my childhood home was always full of it! Ray Charles, Mario Lanza, Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour.. there was always music!
Christmas mornings feature very high too, feeling the weight of presents with my toes at the bottom of my bed that somehow, as if by magic, got there.

3. Hero?
I am not sure I could name anyone who could hold a position of such enormity, ‘Hero’ that’s a lot to live up to! So who? Well, this is just a bit mushy but it can only be my husband, he provides everything I have ever needed and supports me in tirelessly in my musical endeavours.

4. Villain?
Anyone who thinks war is the answer, and people who go back on their word…. And sometimes my husband tee hee hee

5. What/who makes you laugh?
I laugh lots and lots, there is humour to be found in most situations in life and even at the saddest moments I will try to find my way to a smile through a happy memory.

6. Describe what you do?
I am a singer/songwriter, just trying to keep my head above water doing something I love. I sing about very human things, day to day occurrences, ordinary realities and sometimes the lives of inspirational people. My guitar is like an old friend always at my side, waiting for another song to be written, and each time a new one comes along I fall in love all over again.

7. Who’s hair would you like to have for just one day?
Hmmmm? hair for a day and gone tomorrow… I think I will go for Cruella De Vil, white one side, black the other, then depending from which side you look at me, it’ll be all black or all white but definitely no grey! Mind you, don’t get me wrong I don’t want to be like her, oh no!

8. Best musical experience to date?
There has been a few. Very high on the list is sitting with Anthony Head outside Studio 3 at BBC Maida Vale Studios, singing ‘Cry’ to him in preparation for his recording of it.
Also this year the Cambridge Folk Festival was a big highlight after playing on stage with Brian McNeill at his Saturday session.

9. What artist inspires you?
Not so much any one artist. It’s more about those glorious moments experienced by a certain sound or arrangement, a voice becoming an instrument or an unforgettable memory relived though a song that can send a shiver down my spine. A few who have done that? Alison Krauss, Gus MacGregor, Marvin Gaye, Peter Straker, Johnny Nash… Blimey! Now I’ve started I can’t stop!

10. What does Fresh On The Net mean to you?
It provides a brilliant oppotunity for a wider audience to get to know my music and it gives me constructive, knowledgeable and unbiased feedback via the reviews and comments. Also the fact that the song is the one important element is extremely refreshing. Who the artist is, where they have come from or what they have done before all seems irrelevant.