19-year-old singer/songwriter Marie Naffah has played a variety of gigs including high-profile venues such as The Old Queen’s Head, The Troubadour and most recently, a few dates up around Edinburgh.
She has also performed at Winterwell Festival in Gloucestershire, Station Sessions Destination Festival and supported Two Door Cinema Club’s DJ set.
With features on Balcony TV, Absolute Radio, XFM and her track about a girl who has lost her sight featured as top video of the week on NME breakthrough, this is just the beginning for the 19-year-old and you can expect to hear a lot more as she is set to record her new EP over the next few months!
We caught up with Marie to find out more…
How did you know music was the route for you?
I guess I grew up listening to a lot of music and as a child I learned to play piano and read music. I took singing lessons and taught myself guitar, then started to write and now 19, I haven’t really stopped.
Which track of your own would you recommend to those who have yet to discover your music?
I’d probably recommend my track “Blindfold” which I play blindfolded, mainly because it’s something different and tends to get people listening. Also, another track called “The Busker” which you can also watch on YouTube, which is a duet with the talented Barny Scott from the up-and-coming acoustic band, Passport to Stockholm.
What has been your favourite gig you’ve played to-date?
One of my favourite venues is probably the Troubadour in Earls Court, but I did a gig in St Pancras Old Church which had an incredible atmosphere – the acoustics were amazing and it was all candle lit, which made a change from the usual pub gig scene. I also played at St Pancras Station, as a part of the ‘Station Sessions’ Summer Festival which was an entirely new experience. Having said that, take a Eurostar from that station and you have another two of my favourite gigs, L’OPA Bastille in Paris, and outside under the Sacre Coeur in Montmartre – unforgettable.
Who would be your dream artist/band to support?
Ed Sheeran, Emily and The Woods, Ben Howard, Rae Morris, Ray Lamontagne
You’ve played a number of small festivals, do you feel festivals are important to get your name ‘out there’?
Yes, I really think any festival or gig you play at is good exposure. Festivals are a wicked way of meeting like-minded musicians, or people in the music industry. I played at Winterwell Festival in Gloucestershire last summer, between taking my A Levels and it was one of the best weekends of my life.
You’ve numerous radio/TV support behind you, did you ever imagine you would have this much support in the past year?
It’s been amazing how much support I have received in the last year. It’s always so rewarding having positive feedback from experts, or from anyone for that matter. Radio- wise, I recently featured on BBC Introducing Sheffield and Absolute Radio’s Unsigned Artist of the Week and Dan O from XFM Radio commended my piece the “ The Busker” which was really cool. Another highlight has been featuring on Balcony TV London, which was such an honour as it has had such great acts play on it in the past, including names like Mumford and Sons and Ed Sheeran.
You have a piece where you play blindfolded in relation to the theme of blindness within the song, do you have a specific inspiration for this piece?
I do. The track is inspired by my grandmother who has, unfortunately, lost her sight. I wrote this song about a year ago after talking to her about what it’s like not to see, as I guess it’s something one isn’t forced to think about on a daily basis. I thought it would be interesting to write the entire guitar part blindfolded as an experiment, resulting in my track “Blindfold”. It’s a very personal piece to me and it is forever dedicated to her.
Do you have any plans for this years festival circuit?
Nothing definite yet, but come summer I hope to be doing a few more festivals.
What can we expect from you in 2012?
I am aiming to record my new EP over the next few months, and there will be many more gigs and some new tracks on the way. It’s gonna be fun. You can keep updated with my news via my Facebook page!
You can visit Marie Naffah’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/marienaffahmusic.
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