News Upbringing: Marika Hackman

In Upbringing, we ask some of our favourite bands to recall their formative moments. It can be anything from a life-changing gig to a packet of crisps - doesn’t matter. Conversations span from before the formation of a group right up to the point where they are today.

Today, Marika Hackman makes the kind of spellbinding, acoustic-led music that relies on impact. There’s no wriggle room - it’s not the kind of thing that passes by and flutters off into the distance. On her latest EP, the Hampshire-born songwriter takes several step forwards in untangling emotions and sweet instrumentation. Marika is a musician who’s spent time in Devon and Brighton before eventually ending up in London. Her musical Upbringing is a patchwork of influences, some more unexpected than others.

Alongside our Upbringing interview with Marika Hackman, watch an exclusive video of ‘Deep Green’ being recorded at London’s Toe Rag Studios.



What’s the first gig you can ever remember going to? Describe the experience.
It was Destiny’s Child, but I can’t remember where… There were two standout moments for me - the first was when the woman standing behind me asked if I could sit down on my chair so she could see, which meant I missed the second half of the show. I thought that was pretty harsh, considering I was about 7 - not exactly six foot. The second was when I swear Beyonce looked me in the eye. I remember being adamant at the time, although I realise now that what with all the lights pointing at her and the logistics of me being about 150 rows back she was probably just staring into an abyss of bopping heads.

Can you remember the first song you ever developed an obsession over?
I think it was ‘Anything But Ordinary’ by Avril Lavigne. I had a discman and I was given ‘Let Go’ for my birthday, from my brother. I remember it was track 8 on the cd and I used to just play it on repeat. It made loads of car journeys seem ridiculously epic, in that noughties cheesy way. I also recall being supremely jealous of how well Avril could rock a tie.



So far, what’s the best and worst show you’ve ever played?
The best was probably at The Great Escape last year. I was playing in a church, which is always a good thing for a solo performance, and the crowd was amazing. I was expecting a handful of people to come and watch, but it was packed, and the atmosphere was incredible. I’ll remember that one for a long time. The worst has to be in Carlisle, supporting Benjamin Francis-Leftwich. We were about three weeks in to a five week tour, and the weather was shit. I got up on stage and the whole audience was facing the other way and talking, even the front row. I then started playing and couldn’t hear anything because my monitors weren’t on, and continued to be off for about three songs. Halfway through my set someone shouted ‘you’re shit’, at which point I decided to make an early exit rather than run the risk of butchering any more of my songs in front of this group of gormless fuckwits.

What’s the best piece of advice anyone’s ever given you?
I don’t think anyone has ever sat me down and given me any quotable nuggets of advice. In this industry i think you just grow by being around people who’ve been around the block a bit, and by experiencing things yourself. That’s how you learn when you’re a child, from careful observation and making a few mistakes. I’m incredibly lucky to have worked with so many wise and wonderful people, also I’m very much of the opinion that no matter how much advice anyone gives you always secretly know what you’re going to do anyway.

If you could be in any band from the past two decades, who would you be and why?
Probably Destiny’s Child so I could make an announcement from the stage telling everyone that it’s perfectly acceptable to stand on your chair if you’re under five foot.

If there’s anything you could tell the person you were when you started writing music, what would it be?
I wouldn’t want to say anything that would influence where I am now, because I’m very happy with my situation, so I’d probably just be like ‘heyyyyy!’ or maybe ‘don’t try and copy that woman’s hair from that magazine, everyones going to think you’re a boy and growing that fringe out will be hell’. But hey, maybe that horrific pixie mullet monstrosity got me where I am today?

Marika Hackman’s ‘Deaf Heat’ is out now.