Interview - MARIANNE MIRAGE "Theatre" is a story of courage, hope and love

Marianne Mirage opens the doors to a poetic and visceral universe, where music intertwines with the most authentic truth with her new album “Teatro”.

A lively and immediate album, which thanks to his sensual and pervasive voice, and essential arrangements, becomes a privileged window on the inner world. Marianne explores the depths of the human soul, alternating strength and vulnerability, and guiding listeners towards a reconnection with themselves and with the invisible forces that surround us.

Through evocative symbols, Marianne addresses universal and personal themes: the courage of women, faith as an anchor, healing after loss, and the rediscovery of empathy. There is no shortage of moments of sweet intimacy, such as the dedication to the father, and reflections on sexuality as a mystical experience. Each song becomes a ritual, a cathartic experience capable of creating an intimate and lasting bond between the artist and his audience.

We met her for breakfast in a pastry shop-bar in Milan, a precious place, a place of her heart!

THE INTERVIEW

Marianne, your new album is called Theater. How was this project born?

The genesis of the album was very long, three years of writing. The first song on the album, Close your eyeswas born during COVID.
I kept it in my heart like a great treasure. It's a special song because I didn't even compose it, I dreamed it.
Verse and chorus were already in my head. It is a dreamlike song that carries with it an important message: don't be afraid of the wolf, just like Little Red Riding Hood. It is the story of a woman who is not afraid of the wolf.
It is a metaphor for these times, where we are always a little alarmed and abandoning ourselves to this alarmism could be a key to living the moment with more serenity.

Why you chose the name Theater for the record?

Theater it came out spontaneously, without hesitation. It is a tribute to my artistic origins: before being a singer, I trained at the Centro Sperimentale, where I studied acting. Theater was my first art form and a salvation in a difficult moment of my adolescence.
At 16 my mother enrolled me in a theater course. Those days taught me to dedicate time to myself and embrace my most intimate side. I sublimated my sadness of those times and for me it was the approach to art.

How is theater reflected in your music?

Theater forces you to make a commitment, to a profound and intimate experience. When you are in the theater, the lights go out and you are left alone with yourself and the emotions that emerge. This album wants to do the same: take the listener on an emotional and dreamlike journey. It's an invitation to take the time to truly connect with art and with yourself.

Dedicate some time to yourself, let yourself be moved and allow yourself the luxury of dreaming. This album is an invitation to reconnect with your most intimate and dreamlike sphere, because art can be a cure for the soul.

Venus And Two souls (the new single) are the songs that anticipate the release of the album. Can you tell us something more?

Venus it is a song about universal love, about the union between people.
“Without a heart the world falls.” I don't want to live in a world that has lost its empathy towards humanity and nature. When I wrote this sentence I thought about the present.
This song wishes a return to universal love with the arrival of Venus, to generosity, sensitivity and kindness, because if we lose these values we have lost our only wealth. It is an invitation to connect with emotions and authentic compassion.

Two soulsinstead, addresses the theme of sex as a portal to cosmic connection.
An ode to sex, in its most mystical and celebratory form.
An awakened freedom that we should always cultivate, in songwriting as in life.
It's a direct song, but never vulgar.
The intent is precisely to make us reflect on how important sex is for love.
It talks about love and communion between two people, celebrating them with poetic language.

I would like to return to that freedom that we had in the 70s, where there was a freedom of the body for us singers who were not judged for anything and at the same time a freedom of expression, where we looked for alternative words, new words and expressions .

Musically, what can we expect from Theater?

It's an entirely played record, without computers, with a retro and elegant soul. I like to imagine the singer with the microphone and an orchestra or band behind her. The live will be faithful to the album, but with a different energy, because every performance depends on the audience.

Can music be therapy for those who listen to it?

For me, music has always been a refuge. It's that place where you can find answers or simply feel less alone. The idea of music as therapy comes from experience: many times, listening or playing something has helped me transform emotions, to make sense of chaos. When I write, I try to create a safe space for the listener, a place to let go and be 'healed' by the melody and the words.”

You talked about the need for time. How can this idea be reconciled with the frenetic pace of the contemporary world?

It's difficult, I won't deny it. We live in an age where everything is fast, where a song lasts as long as a video on TikTok. But I believe that those who seek depth take the time to listen. It's a matter of choice. Music that heals cannot be 'hit and run'; it needs space and availability on the part of the listener. I try to create songs that have a long life, that can be discovered and rediscovered over time.”

When will the album be released?

My label has decided to release the album on Friday January 17th. I am an extremely superstitious person, but not only that: superstition is everything for me.
All the numbers, numerology, full moons, new moons… for me everything has to go in sync. So I'm already psychologically preparing myself to accept this Friday the 17th. You know, I'm also afraid of flying, so everything that comes out of the routine becomes an event in itself for me.”

What are the keywords that describe this project?

I would say courage, hope, connection, love and transformation. One of the songs, Tramontanais really about not losing hope in difficult times. It is a call to humanity, to the ability to reconnect with emotions and true art, without getting lost behind numbers or algorithms.

You seem very tied to the past, but without nostalgia. How do you reconcile this vision with the present?

I believe it is essential to love your roots. Often in Italy we deny our history, when we should be proud of it. From Piero Piccioni to Paolo Conte, we have an extraordinary artistic heritage. I try to bring this awareness into my music, without worrying about numbers or current trends.

How would you describe Marianne Mirage in third person?

I would say that I am a bringer of freedom. Freedom of expression, but also to imagine oneself in new ways, without fear of the judgment of others. I am inspired by the cry of France, égalité, fraternité, libertévalues that I feel are deeply mine.

What makes your heart beat?

The thing that really excites me is seeing time pass in people. Meeting old people on the street, especially when I see an older couple who have made it. He managed to keep love, to still believe in it, despite everything.

It excites me to see a whole life in them: the efforts, the satisfactions, the difficulties, the love. It's as if they were the summary of everything that life can offer, condensed in their slow steps and their complicit glances. It is an energy that can be felt, a sort of last cry of life that says more than any words.

We often think of old age as something heavy, a commitment, a phase of life to be feared or put aside. But I believe it is a great resource, a precious witness that reminds us of the value of everything that came before. Cultivating old age does not mean fearing it, but recognizing it as a fundamental part of our history.