Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land is MARINA’s manifesto
Marina Diamandis AKA MARINA has never restrained herself from being outspoken and exploring heavy themes in her music. She’s done this by juxtaposing sardonic lyrics depicting the ugly realities of life, like relationships, Hollywood stardom, and the American dream with an alluring electronic bubblegum pop sound. Her latest album, which was released last week, contains some of her most powerful lyrics to date, a uniquely theatrical sound, and her most assured personality yet. Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land’s disruptive tone breaks the fourth wall in MARINA’S neon-tinted bubblegum-pop soundscape into the “seminal” 21st century. In the hypnotic title track, I picture Marina traveling through a vortex from a timeless dreamy matrix into the present day to deliver an urgent manifesto for humanity.
A Final Farewell and Fuck-You to Electra Heart
Marina is always evolving, not only musically, but also personally. ADML proves Marina has found her path in life, and there’s nothing that can stop her from being true to herself. She shares this wisdom with a caring pep-talk: “You are not here to conform.” Right off the bat, she introduces a dauntless, wonder-woman persona. The title track is a powerful, punchy, and chaotic hook, rich with inspirational lyrics, such as “I could be the eye of the storm,” “I am not my thoughts and feelings, I am not my DNA,” and “I live in the space between the stars in the sky.” These affirmations show she is undaunted by the vastness of the universe and has realized her true potential.
In “Venus flytrap,” Marina is consistently ambitious, cheering herself on and providing a muse for empowerment. The music video is a visual masterpiece with iconic Old Hollywood imagery, such as the silent film and the 80’s horror. What I loved the most, besides the masterfully synched choreography, was the scene where Marina, dressed in a black latex suit, watches the Hollywood sign get blown up and the reflection is shown in her shades. This music video is all caps MARINA celebrating her past and how she made it without falling into the Hollywood trap. In a cool-guys-don’t-look-at-explosions fashion, this music video ends with a badass Marina symbolically moving on with her life and not looking back.
ADML compelled me right away with the dramatic lyrics and sound, preparing me for the heavy issues which would be addressed: misogyny, homophobia, systemic racism, and the climate crisis.
Like the album title implies, ADML explores how all of human history has led to this point in time, connecting history to all forms of oppression. She makes a case that societal issues are deeply rooted in our history. The nostalgic elements paired with the futuristic electronics mirrors this concept of old influencing the new. To look at the full picture, much of the album is told from an omniscient, god-like point of view. Before coming back down to earth, Marina explores the divine feminine as a powerful force over humanity.
The Divine Feminine in Politics
The album approaches political issues with firmness. “Man’s World” is a call to action directed at men, calling attention to the sexist and homophobic world we live in. After attracting her male audience with imagery of female beauty, she confronts that the Sultan of Brunei, who supports the death penalty for gay people, also owns an LGBT hotel in LA. The word “bitch” is a favourite word of hers and she continues to reclaim it in “Man’s World,” pointing out that women were burned at the stake for being a witch. “Now you just call me a bitch,” she sings.
“Purge the Poison” is one of the boldest tracks on ADML. Marina sings from the perspective of mother nature, looking down at humanity with a cynical, condescending tone. The alarming lyrics, such as “virus come, fires burn until human beings learn” paired with a fast-paced buildup depicts the urgency that humans face reversing climate change. It’s no surprise Russian feminist protest band Pussy Riot remixed this song.
Marina personifies America as an egotistical male figure in “New America”. While she reminds America of its not-great past and draws attention to white privilege, she also remarks that patriotism is driven by toxic masculinity. As she repeats “America” in the chorus like a taunting reckoning call to the patriarchy and white supremacy, theatrical instrumentation and sarcastically glamorous imagery make “New America” a subversive, fierce political statement. And my personal all-around favourite track on the album.
She’s Got the Beauty, Got the Brains, and Integrity, Too
What has always intrigued me about Marina is her ability to embody different characters yet stay true to herself. In Electra Heart, she subverted female gender roles by singing from the perspectives of one-dimensional female archetypes. In Love and Fear, her last album and her first album as MARINA after she dropped “the diamonds” from her stage name, she showed the most emotional and honest parts of herself. In her latest work, Marina explores societal concerns from a sardonic perspective characterized by a performative pop sound before the latter tracks slow down and she expresses her emotions without holding back.
“Highly Emotional People,” laments how men are told not to show emotions. “It’s safe to tell me how you feel,” she reassures, followed by an emotional “I’ve never seen you cry.” Vulnerability and assertiveness are traits which society views as female stereotypes and weaknesses. Marina shows not only that she embraces these parts of herself but compassion for the men who’ve been stifled to hide their emotions.
All in all, ADML is a powerful statement with uniquely theatrical pop and groundbreaking lyrics. Marina has demonstrated a commitment to artistic experimentation and personal growth. I can already tell that this era’s fresh, futuristic sound and spirited personality are going to be iconic for the years to come.
