Covers

Description

During the extended stay-at-home order of the last few months, Marika felt that creating a covers record was a way of exploring new sound ideas and expressing herself without having the pressure of the blank page. She recorded and producedCoversbetween home and her parents house, then got the legendary David Wrench (Frank Ocean, The xx, Lets Eat Grandma) to mix it. David also co-produced her excellent 2019 recordAny Human Friend. In contrast to her last two albums (including 2017sIm Not Your Man), this collection of songs is more akin in tone and feel to her debutWe Slept At Last, with a darker and more introspective sound. OnCovers, we hear Marikas emotive voice set against sparse arrangements of guitars and strings with the occasional synth or scattered drum groove.

Breathing new life into the songs shes chosen, Marika reimagines work by some of the world’s most beloved artists such as Radiohead, Grimes and Elliott Smith. Its a suitably varied collection, but Marikas intimate delivery and soft, nuanced and atmospheric touch to production, thread them all together effortlessly.

Marika explains how she came to choose the material: When it comes to covers, I like to pick songs which I have been listening to obsessively for a while. It gives me a natural understanding of the music, and lets me be more innovative with how I transform it.

First single Realiti is a stripped back piano and guitar based version of the Grimes classic from her most celebrated albumArt Angels. Marikas take is a total reinvention and yet it feels wholly her own. Munas Pink Light from their 2019 recordSaves The Worldis a slice of dark pop, reminiscent of The Cure. In Marikas hands, its a remarkably seamless switch-up to convert these into slower, brooding soft jams.

Marikas version of Airs Playground Love is one of the highlights, taken from the soundtrack the group composed for Sofia Coppolas coming of ageTheVirgin Suicides, the result being a moodier, disorientating reworking of a classic modern moment.

Final track All Night sees Marika tackling one of the standouts from Beyonces Grammy-nominatedLemonade. Again, Marika flips the song on its head. Joined by a choir of stacked vocal harmonies, Marikas voice transcends to conjure a deep emotional resonance.

Adventurous and versatile,Coverscontinues Marikas lineage in turning each body of work into a new take and perspective on her creative vision. She twists and turns, always surprises, and is never afraid to wear her heart on her sleeve. It remains anyones guess to imagine where she will head next.