Following the release of her latest EP ‘Dance Alone’ LOCK Magazine had the pleasure of catching up with Malaysian Pop artist Mardiana to find out more about the artist, her influences and future plans. Be sure to check out ‘Dance Alone’ at the end of the interview.
For our readers, please tell us about your musical background?
“I started playing the piano when I was 3 and learnt to compose piano solos at 9. Music has been a constant throughout my life. I sang and performed frequently all through my school years.
As most music lessons do, I was trained to play classical pieces. But I always found it far more enjoyable to improvise and create my own tunes. I was terrible at sight reading, and I would just make up the notes along the way – which is the exact opposite of sight reading. And I’d get chastised by my teacher for it. But I’ve always known that I wanted to create my own music and express myself in this way.”
Who or what are your musical influences?
“I have way too many. It changes, depending on what genre I’m obsessed with at the moment.
My latest EP, ‘DANCE ALONE’ leans into the electronic dance-pop genre – so for that genre, specifically, some of my influences include ILLENIUM, Gryffin, and Porter Robinson.”
And what made you want to pursue music as a career?
“Creating music is a huge part of who I am. It comes naturally to me. Ever since I was a kid, I’d just create songs and melodies on the go. To be honest, I wasn’t consciously aware of it. I did not know that songwriting and producing were actual skill sets. I wasn’t aware that this skill, this talent, could become an actual career.
When I learnt about music production, that’s when it clicked for me; like “Oh! That’s exactly what I’ve been doing this whole time, without knowing what it was.” So then I became obsessed with the idea of releasing my own music.
When I finally did it, I felt a sense of fulfilment that no other job or achievement had ever given me. Mind you, my first releases weren’t good at all. But I got such immense enjoyment out of creating them. That’s how I knew: this is what I’m meant to do.”
Tell us about your music catalogue to date.
“I released my independent debut album, ‘DON’T CRY FOR ME’, in March 2023. There are 10 tracks on it. This album is about the series of events in my life that led to me finding my path and pursuing music.
I did my best to stay consistent with releasing music and by October 2023, I had released 13 tracks in 13 months. I wanted to build a catalogue that I could perform live, but equally importantly, working on all those songs helped me to discover and shape my sound into a more refined version of what I want it to be.
Anyway, my second album is currently in the works!”
You recently released your latest 5-track EP ‘Dance Alone’ could you tell us more about it?
“‘DANCE ALONE’ was born from the theme of loneliness. It’s about telling someone you love that they don’t have to be alone, no matter what they’re going through. I like to have underlying duality in my music, so even though the production is dancey and uplifting, the lyrics come from a more wistful, emotional place.
The other tracks on this EP explore themes of courage (Sweet Surrender), anguish (Brutal), nostalgia (You Do), and reflecting upon past love (Please Just Stay In Love). Lyrically, Brutal is the most depressing and Sweet Surrender is the most uplifting. I’d say these five tracks are my emotional spectrum, from dark to light.”
For the title track you’ve created a stunning music video, how was the filming process?
“Challenging, but fun. I produced, storyboarded and co-directed the music video. Pre-production was tedious – scheduling, scouting venues, dealing with logistics, etc.
The filming process was more fun because I got to see our dancers in action. I didn’t tell them exactly what to do with their choreography. I just sent them the song beforehand and asked them to perform it according to their own creative expression. And they truly delivered.
Our production crew was a delight to work with. They have a good understanding of cinematography and lighting, which, of course, is a crucial part of any music video.”
For viewers who don’t know Mardiana, how would you describe your sound?
“Transformation. Self-empowerment. Continuously evolving.
I create my sound by transmuting pain into strength.”
What’s the music scene like where you live?
“I’d say the Malaysian entertainment and music scene is definitely growing – specifically in Kuala Lumpur, where I live. There are many up-and-coming artists, songwriters and producers who are immensely talented.
I like going to all kinds of shows – from psychedelic rock bands to an EDM rave, to a chill jazz night. Every time I go to a show I feel like I’ve discovered something new or I’m inspired in some way. It’s really cool to be a part of it.”
And what are some activities that you engage yourself in when you aren’t writing or recording in the studio?
“I’m really into self-development. I love reading. Right now I’m learning about business and entrepreneurship because it’s very relevant to what I do. And I like writing in general. If I’m not writing music, I’m probably writing essays, poetry, journal entries… I have to write because it helps me to make sense of the world. “
Finally, what’s one fun fact about yourself for our readers?
“I really love travelling. I love getting to know a foreign place and what it has to offer. If I could, I’d live in a different country every month. Maybe I’ll do that one day and create an album while I’m at it.”