Flipping MARINA’s Disco Anthem into Synth-Pop Edginess
Producing Songs I’ve Never Heard: I <3 You by MARINA [EPISODE 14]
Before we dive in, quick plug: I did an interview with Remy’s Playlist that dropped last week! Remy asks such thoughtful questions, and it was really fun to chat about my last EP, creative process, and where I’m headed next. Give it a read and check out her music recs if you’re looking for something new:
This week I’m making a track for MARINA’s latest single I <3 YOU off her latest album Princess of Power.
To be honest, I haven’t kept up with her music much since the and the Diamonds era, but when I saw her tracklist filled with names like CUNTISSIMO and METALLIC STALLION, I knew I was ready for whatever energy this album was bringing. Having no idea what sonic direction she was heading in, it made for a perfect fit for this series.
🎤 Here’s the acapella if you want to play along and hear what I heard first:
From my first listen, I <3 YOU sounded bright and anthemic, like something I could easily hear a K-pop girl group belting out with synchronized dance moves. Naturally, I leaned into the synth-pop lane, aiming for something high-energy and bold.
For this episode’s Splice pack, I used Solstice - Raw Techno by Zenhiser, pulling every sound exclusively from there. I usually love Zenhiser packs, but this one threw me a curveball. A lot of the bass samples were out of tune, which made the early part of the process more frustrating than usual. Eventually, I carved out something workable, but it was definitely a challenge.
I went back and forth between a bouncier bass groove and a more straightforward driving rhythm, and in the end, I used both to create contrast across the sections. The bass ended up being the backbone of the track, layered with brighter synths and a few bell textures up top.
The bridge gave me the most trouble. I had a breakdown idea in my head, but I don’t think I fully landed it - definitely still a part I’d want to revisit and refine.
🎵 Haven’t heard the original yet? Check it out here:
My first reaction to the original: Whoa, DISCO!
It was immediately giving Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! by ABBA and took me straight back to Madonna’s Hung Up music video (iykyk). Totally unexpected… and absolutely not the direction I went.
My version ended up somewhere edgier and synth-heavy, like if MARINA collided with Icona Pop’s I Love It. It was punchier, more raw, and a little left of center.
Now I’m even more curious about the rest of her album. Have you listened yet? What were your favorite tracks?
Let me know in the comments!
🔎 Looking for more?
Find all previous episodes in this series here
And make sure to check out my original music wherever you like to stream: https://spoti.fi/4jFkl9y