“The thing is, it’s not easy to break in America because it’s so massive,” Maria Diamandis, the UK pop singer-songwriter at the heart of Marina and the Diamonds, tells Spinner. “If it’s too British-specific then the sound doesn’t travel. But I do think if your music is suited [to American tastes] then you will break.”

Putting aside her pronounced British delivery, Marina and the Diamonds’ debut LP, ‘The Family Jewels’ has an infectious, hook-laden pop sound that should resonate across the Atlantic just fine. It just looks like she’ll have to wait a little while longer before she can put that to the test in a live environment. Having cancelled her North American tour — originally scheduled to kick off this month — in order to record new material, Diamandis now has to stick it out in her motherland until she relocates to America in October. (more…)

We’ve already posted the interview, now we’ve added a few pictures that have been taken on June 19. Yes, they are not new, but most of you probably haven’t seen them before, so they might be interesting to browse through:

• On what she wanted to reach ten years ago: “I wanted to (…) contribute to pop music in a good way. Because there aren’t many pop songs that aren’t about being in a club and having a good time. You need that music, but you also need to talk about other things, you know, the dark sides of life.
• On taking part at casting-shows: [I've taken part in] many. But before X-Factor had even started, so I did lots of girl-band auditions, pop projects and I found out very quickly that my personality does not fit.
• On the important parts of life: I think family [is important]. I think problems in society are usually due to the families’ structure dissolving. That along with being a good person because you want to and not because of religion or for your own gain. and I also think the number one thing for me is to accept you for what you are when you take away the make-up and clothes.
• On spending time when not touring: I like to try to cook, because I don’t do that very often and I’m not great. And maybe read newspapers, go to the park. When I’m at home I always buy The Guardian and maybe The Times.

Thanks extremely much to Kate!

Tell us about your style.
“I’m a real chameleon. I love feminine things, but I also quite like brash and bold clothes–things attitude. It changes so much.”

Do you have any style icons?
“I like the way Shirley Manson from Garbage and Gwen Stefani dress. But Jessica Rabbit would be my style icon. She is a fabulous femme fatale. Anybody who doesn’t like Jessica Rabbit is nuts.” (more…)

Thanks to the wonderful Fats, who made this update possible: We’ve got four new folders of scans in our gallery, including concert reviews and album reviews. Take a look at them by clicking on the thumbs provided below! They are all british and some of them are already a few months old, but they might still be interested to browse.