Marissa Nadler facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marissa Nadler
Marissa Nadler in 2011
Background information
Born	(1981-04-05) April 5, 1981 (age 44) Washington D.C., U.S.
Origin	Massachusetts, U.S.
Genres	Folk indie folk indie rock dream pop ambient black metal Americana
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, musician, fine artist
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Eclipse Records, Beautiful Happiness, Peacefrog, Kemado, Box of Cedar, Sacred Bones, Bella Union

Marissa Nadler (born April 5, 1981) is an American singer and songwriter. She has been making music since 2000. Her music mixes "traditional folk, Gothic Americana, and dreamy pop" styles. It also has roots in old country and folk music, but adds parts of experimental and even black metal music. Some people call her music "dream folk" because of its unique sound.

Marissa Nadler is known for her amazing singing voice. Critics have described her voice as "textured and angelic," and one that "could have lured men to their deaths at sea." Her voice is often called clear and beautiful, with a hint of sadness.

Early life and art

Marissa Nadler was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Needham, Massachusetts. She taught herself to play guitar when she was a teenager. She used a special style called fingerpicking, where her thumb played a steady beat while her other fingers added rhythms. This gave her music a unique sound. She also started writing songs as a hobby during this time.

Marissa studied painting at the Rhode Island School of Design. She earned a degree in illustration in 2003 and another in art education in 2004. While studying, she performed at open mic nights in Providence. She explored many art forms like painting, bookbinding, and wood carving. At the same time, she kept improving her songwriting skills. She recorded some early albums that were never officially released.

Music career

First albums (2004–2010)

Marissa Nadler released her first official album, Ballads of Living and Dying, in 2004. Her next album, The Saga of Mayflower May, came out in 2005. She then went on her first music tours with artists like Jack Rose and the band Earth.

Her third album, Songs III: Bird on the Water, was released in 2007. This album was nominated for two awards: "Best Female Artist of the Year" and "Best Americana Record of the Year." Marissa also won "Outstanding Singer-Songwriter of the Year" at the 2008 Boston Music Awards.

In 2009, she released her fourth album, Little Hells. This album was praised by many music magazines. It was different from her earlier folk music because it added electronic sounds. In 2010, Marissa also sang on Portal of Sorrow, an album by the black metal project Xasthur.

New labels and sounds (2011–2014)

In 2011, Marissa released an album named after herself on her own record label, Box of Cedar Records. The album was well-received and compared to the music of Joni Mitchell. In 2012, she released The Sister, which was a shorter album that went along with her self-titled record. Paste magazine called it an "impressive mix of stark minimalism."

In 2013, Marissa signed with Sacred Bones Records. Her album July was released in 2014. It was recorded in Seattle and produced by Randall Dunn. The album was very popular and appeared on the Billboard Folk Albums chart.

July received excellent reviews from music critics. Many publications gave it high ratings, calling it a "triumph" and "one of 2014's best albums." Critics noted its dark and moody atmosphere. In 2014, Marissa also worked with Father John Misty, releasing a special record where they covered each other's songs.

Strangers and collaborations (2015–2020)

Marissa's album Strangers was released in 2016. It also received good reviews and was included on many "best albums of 2016" lists. She toured North America and Europe to support the album. She even joined the band Ghost for their US tour.

During this time, Marissa also directed and animated music videos for her songs, showing her artistic talents. She created videos for "Janie in Love," "All the Colors of the Dark," and a cover of the Danzig song "Blood and Tears."

Marissa Nadler performing in 2019 with her painting "For my Crimes" in the background

In 2019, Marissa released a song called "Poison" with John Cale. She also shared another song, "If We Make It Through The Summer." Her album Droneflower, made with Stephen Brodsky, came out in April 2019. This album also received positive reviews, with one music website calling it "unexpectedly brilliant." They performed songs from Droneflower at shows and released a claymation video for "For the Sun." Marissa also released two books of photography and two albums of unreleased songs and demos in 2020. She also released an EP called moons with a calm, ambient sound.

Recent works (2021-2024)

In 2021, Marissa released the song "Sleepwalk & Lonely People" and a collection of songs called Instead of Dreaming.

Her ninth solo album, The Path of the Clouds, was released in October 2021. This album was created during the COVID-19 pandemic. Marissa was stuck at home but used her imagination to write songs about change, love, and mysterious disappearances. The album explores themes of escape and tells stories inspired by real-life mysteries, mixing them with her own experiences. This album is known for its rich and detailed sound. It features other talented musicians like harpist Mary Lattimore and former Cocteau Twins bassist Simon Raymonde.

The Path of the Clouds was highly praised by critics. NME said it was a new direction for Marissa, with more complex production and unique storytelling. Pitchfork compared it to true crime stories, saying it leaves you "breathless." Many reviewers gave the album high ratings, calling it "exquisitely crafted and utterly beguiling."

Personal life

Marissa Nadler lives in Nashville, Tennessee. She has spoken openly about her past experiences with anxiety, depression, and stage fright.

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

• The Sister (2012)
• Before July: Demos and Unreleased Songs (2014)
• Bury Your Name (2016)
• The Wrath of the Clouds (2022)

Singles

• "Diamond Heart"/"Leather Made Shoes" (2006)
• "Diamond Heart"/"Dying Breed" (2007)
• "River of Dirt" (2009)
• "Dead City Emily" (2013)
• "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings"/"Drive" (2014) (split single with Father John Misty)
• "Solitude" (Black Sabbath cover) (2015)
• "Blood and Tears" (Danzig cover) (2015)
• "Janie in Love" (2016)
• "All the Colors of the Dark" (2016)
• "Poison"/"If We Make It Through the Summer" (2019) (with John Cale)

Music Videos

See also

• Dream pop