Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Marina & The Kats

Marina & the Kats deliver a fresh take on swing, combining bold energy with vintage charm. Starting out as a trio, they have evolved into a tight-knit quartet and have established their unique identity as what they fondly refer to as ‘Indie-Swing’.

With several albums under their belt and having performed hundreds of concerts across Europe and beyond, Marina & The Kats have earned a reputation as one of Austria’s most exciting bands in recent years.

They are renowned for their unique style of sharing one drum kit between three musicians.e do not have the capacity to update profiles constantly, so p

What is your earliest memory connected to music?

sorry, I really can’t remember;)

How did your passion for creating music begin?

It’s always been there from the beginning. I’ve always wanted to be a singer; there’s never been a plan B.

What’s the story behind your current music project?

I’ve always loved classic swing music, but I didn’t want to simply recreate what had already been done before. So, I decided to put my own spin on it by building a bridge to modern indie music.

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?

It’s like Eartha Kitt singing with the Black Keys.

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?

I learnt to play the drums when we started working with Marina & the Kats. Playing the snare drum while singing was really challenging, but great fun! After some time, you start listening in a different way.

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?

Simple voice memos are the best way to capture the initial ideas which tend to be the best ones…. most of the time

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?

My taste in music is very fluid. I love listening to old-school artists like Count Basie and Anita O’Day, as well as Paul Anka. At the same time, I also listen to modern artists like Laufey and the Black Keys, as well as classical music.

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?

All my lyrics are based on personal experiences, thoughts, or things that have happened to me. Sometimes I embellish them, sometimes I rearrange them, but there’s always an element of truth there.