Today we’d like to introduce you to Marina Massanova.

Hi Marina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

Who am I? A rock star, you might think—doing interviews and rocking out on stage. But let’s take a look from a different perspective, like how my neighbours see me. To them, I’m just a mom living nearby, almost always in an old hoodie. No makeup, with a quiet and friendly demeanour. This is me too: a provocative and totally wild singer on stage, yet a gentle, dreamy, and perfectly ordinary neighbour in the Berlin suburbs.

A funny thing happens when I leave for work in my stage outfits and makeup—my neighbors don’t even recognize me on the street! The mom and the singer are so completely different. On the other hand, in my music community, people find it hard to believe that I have children and lead such a calm life in the suburbs. “Wow, you really have a double life, Marina,” they often say.

So, this is who I am! But since you’ve contacted me as a singer and rock star, I’ll set aside the mom who declutters and avoids toxic chemicals, and instead show you the bold rock ‘n’ roll queen—a big part of my personality too😈.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

I can say it’s been a smooth road. I’ve just worked and learned, worked and learned—unstoppable. And I’ll continue to do so, ideally until the day I die. That’s one way to look at it. But I can also describe it as an exhausting, never-ending roller coaster of challenges every single day.

How do I personally feel about it? Well, that depends on my mood. When I’m tired, I might see it as torture, no doubt. But most of the time, I believe that working and learning something new is the most interesting and essential thing in my life. I truly enjoy this path. The only thing is that regular rest is necessary to prevent burnout.

One of my favorite, and most surprising, challenges was learning how to sing live. For some reason, I thought that creating songs and mixing them in the studio would be enough. But once I got on stage, I realized there was so much more to learn—from breathing techniques to picking the right outfit that doesn’t accidentally reveal your intimate parts to the crowd! On top of that, it’s crucial to simply enjoy the performance. To truly be free on stage, you need to rehearse so thoroughly that everything becomes second nature. Only then can you relax, experiment, and go totally wild without losing the quality of your delivery. Mastering that turned out to be a lot more work than I expected!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

I create a horror musical story series with a mysterious collaborator from across the ocean—Cola Rammë. Together, we delve brutally into the darkest corners of the mind. We have no fear, only the thrill of discovering just how deep the darkness can go. We believe that when the mystery of your hidden desires is brought into the light, you are finally free of the burden. You can examine it closely, and often, it turns out to be far less ominous than you imagined. From these explorations, we craft our allegory.

Each year, we release a new call, a new conversation, and a new drama. This year, we’ll be unveiling the dreamlike Call #3. To dive into this musical horror story, head to any streaming platform and search for SSH.

Pro tip: If you want to unravel this mystery like a puzzle, I highly recommend starting with Call #1.

I also lead a solo project, which is usually more pop, fun, and straightforward—something to jump around and scream along to. No hidden horror twists, just a mad woman rocking out on stage. And I absolutely love this wild freedom!

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?

My grandpa showed me that a woman can truly lead the day! I spent most of my childhood with him, and I was a real boss, with his full support in everything I asked for. He was my cheerleader, assistant, helper, and a cook.
He had a deep love for performance arts and was my first—and for many years, my only—fan. How amazing it is to develop your craft when you have such a dedicated fan from the very beginning. Every crazy thing I created, he praised.

You might think that constructive criticism is more helpful for personal development, that it shouldn’t always be just praise. But you know what? This world is tough enough to knock you down every single day. Having someone who is always on your side, praising your work, is such a privilege. There are always plenty of people ready to say that what we do isn’t good, not perfect, or not enough.

I wish my grandpa could know that I did become a musician and that I’m giving interviews now. But honestly, it wouldn’t have mattered to him. He would’ve been just as happy if I’d continued my secret home music experiments, away from other people’s eyes. He was happy as long as I was happy, and I never had to prove anything to him. In his eyes, I was already perfect. It’s a rare and wonderful thing to have someone who loves you absolutely unconditionally.

I’d love to end this interview with a feeling of deep love and gratitude, something my grandfather nurtured in me. Love you forever, my dear grandpa!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://marinamassanova.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marinamassanova/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/MarinaMassanova
• Other: https://msha.ke/marina_massanova

Image Credits

El Fox