ANYA MARINA

“If albums are like children, this one is my favorite (don’t tell the others),” Anya Marina admits. “It’s the one I put the most heart and soul into. It’s the one that taught me the most about myself, and it’s the one that looks most like me.” Marina’s new album, “FELONY FLATS,” marks a major leap forward for the Portland, Oregon-based singer/songwriter. The self-produced album sees Marina joined by some of the Pacific Northwest’s finest musicians, including guitarist Cody Votolato (Blood Brothers, Telekinesis), bassist Jeff Bond, drummer Joe Plummer (Modest Mouse, Mister Heavenly), and Blitzen Trapper’s Eric Earley, who contributes additional piano and guitars. A carefully crafted collection of twinkling pop gems, “FELONY FLATS” is built around Marina’s deft melodic sensibility and wryly humorous lyrical point of view. The record is strongly heartfelt, thanks in part to the tenderness of Marina’s vocal style and the personal nature of her lyrics. Highlighted by songs such as “Notice Me” and “You Are Invisible,” “FELONY FLATS” is both richly textured and deeply personal, a remarkable musical journey chronicling loss and love in all their many permutations. Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and raised in Cupertino, California, Anya Marina first made waves after relocating to sunny San Diego, renowned as a musical hub city for aspiring singer/songwriters. After earning applause as one of Southern California’s most talented young artists, Anya was personally signed to Chop Shop Records by label founder Alexandra Patsavas, famed music supervisor for such films and TV shows as Twilight, Gossip Girl, and Grey's Anatomy. Marina’s previous full length effort, 2009’s “SLOW & STEADY SEDUCTION: PHASE II” received copious critical commendation. Marina quickly followed “SLOW & STEADY SEDUCTION: PHASE II” with a slyly provocative cover of T.I.’s “Whatever You Like,” which was included on a 2009 episode of Gossip Girl. The track spent nearly two weeks atop iTunes’ “Top Alternative Songs” chart, with sales now in excess of 100,000. The “Whatever You Like” companion video clip became a YouTube favorite, earning close to 2.5 million views at Anya’s official channel. 2009 also saw Marina’s starkly beautiful “Satellite Heart” featured on the RIAA-certified platinum “THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON – ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK.” The inspired “Tiny Stars Remix” of the track (by Interpol’s Samuel Fogarino) was later included on Marina’s 2010 EP, “SPIRIT SCHOOL.” The self-produced digital release found Anya further spreading her creative wings on such new songs as the gritty “Whatsit” (featuring The Dandy Warhols’ Courtney Taylor-Taylor). A provocative and gifted live performer, Marina has toured nearly non-stop throughout her career, both as headliner as well as in tandem with such artists as Jason Mraz, Spoon, Joshua Radin, Eric Hutchinson, Chris Isaak, Paolo Nutini, Emiliana Torrini, The Virgins, Greg Laswell, Jenny Owen Youngs, Steve Poltz, Rhett Miller, The Plain White T’s, The Dandy Warhols, and Tristan Prettyman. Marina has also made a series of high-profile TV appearances, including stellar live performances on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The WB.com’s Rockville, CA. What’s more, Anya’s music has been featured in a wide array of TV series, including ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, CBS’ How I Met Your Mother, MTV’s The City, Showtime’s The United States of Tara, and The CW’s 90210 and Privileged. As if that weren’t enough, her songs have also been heard in major advertising campaigns for Frito-Lay’s Tostitos and Boyfriend, the popular fragrance from actress Kate Walsh (Private Practice, Grey’s Anatomy). “FELONY FLATS” arrives on March 13th, 2012 and Marina will be the first tell you that “the stakes on this record are they highest they’ve ever been,” for her “…and not for any professional or financial reason. The stakes are high because I put everything, personally, into it. There isn’t anything to hide behind on this album.”