Etta Marcus is a rising artist who captures the essence of womanhood and growth through pensive lyricism, cinematic production and biting emotion. Her inspiring determination for individuality and the contemplative timbre of her voice compels her listeners, creating a feeling of authenticity and interconnectedness. We spoke with Etta, discussing her lifetime journey with music, her inspirations and what truly drives her to show the world her genuine self through art.
Born in Brixton, South London, Etta Marcus began playing piano at eight years old and then picked up the guitar at ten. Supported by her parents, who inspired her musical journey, Marcus always felt drenched with emotion and creativity. She briefly attended Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance but was kicked out after her first year. Her journey there was centred around jazz, and although she loved the music itself, it wasn’t the style she felt she could delve into, although it taught her the importance of understanding her voice as an instrument and experimenting with it. While she had learnt a lot at the school, she ultimately did not gel well with its ways; but through the fluidity and freedom of jazz, she was influenced to pursue her own style of music.
Community is something Etta Marcus holds close to her heart and is what has helped her on her musical journey. She hails the importance of small venues and the communities that are built around them – a vital part of a growing artist. To be surrounded by creatives and lovers of music, the singer claims, “There’s a certain energy you can’t get in mainstream venues the way you do at your local pub”. Marcus regularly vocalises the need to support grassroots venues; coming from an area like Brixton – a hub for live music – performing at open mic nights used to be the only way for an emerging artist to perform.
Marcus began releasing music in 2021; her first single, ‘Hide and Seek’, a spacey, playfully sinister song about childhood, and both romantic and possessive love. In 2022, she released her debut EP ‘View From The Bridge’, which includes her hit single ‘Salt Lake City’ with fellow musician Matt Maltese, whom she describes as “a big cheerleader” of hers who encourages her to write more. With the help of her friends Josh Scarbrow and Benjamin Francis Leftwich over the years, Marcus has reached a point where she is taking the reins in her production and songwriting. Etta takes inspiration from a wide range of artists in her songwriting, such as Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, Sade, David Bowie and PJ Harvey, and encapsulates a bittersweet sound by writing from the grittier parts of her heart: “When I started songwriting, the tracks were essentially stories that I had made and didn’t really come from my perspective. It almost felt embarrassing to write about my own experiences and be truly vulnerable with the world.” A lot of Marcus’ songs have been based around relationships, either friendships, romantic or fleeting. As she has grown and experienced the tenacity of life, truly embracing adulthood, she has found herself writing from more of a political perspective and diving into womanhood on a mature level: “As you grow up, you become more in tune with your past experiences, you see them through a different lens. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realised that so many negative things happened to me solely because I’m a woman. I want to talk about that.”
Identity and individuality are aspects that Etta Marcus holds close to her heart, especially as a musician. Often, she has been put into the category of “sad girl music”, which feels like a blanket statement to describe her sound. Her music is consistently cinematic and has emotional range, so being boxed into a specific genre and identity as an artist is the furthest thing Etta wants. It feels too one- dimensional, as she exclaims: “Sad music is just so blegh. I want my lyrics to be heard for what they mean, not just heard by the sound of my songs.” Marcus leans into her own unique sound – a softly haunting and melancholic sphere – with her own diversity in genres that reflect a remarkable level of emotional depth: “I don’t really see sad boy music anywhere; they usually get gut-wrenching and yearning. A lot of the time, for female artists who produce music like me, that feels like such a reduced statement, and I don’t really know how I feel about that. I just want to be presented as me.”
In 2024, Etta Marcus released her debut album ‘The Death Of Summer And Other Promises’, an eight-track record that touches on girlhood, love and loss, friendships and growing up. Filled with evocative storytelling, Marcus captures the raw essence of womanhood with emotive and charismatic lyrics, nursed by compelling, atmospheric production. The opening track, “Theatre’, features tinges of grunge with strong guitar work and amplifies Etta’s emotions through passionate vocals. The following ‘Skin Parade’ channels the spirit of Mazzy Star as her ethereal voice is accompanied by an acoustic sound. The album closes with ‘Dog Eyes’, a dreamy soundscape that touches on saying goodbye to a consuming love. It is a richly moving track filled with gripping strings, layered vocals and an eruption of sound at the end. Through this album, Marcus thoughtfully carves out her own space to express herself and draws listeners into her personal experiences. ‘Girls Are God’s Machines’ is Marcus’ latest release, a slight departure from her older ventures and style of writing. With a coming-of-age feel to it, it is fuelled by frustration and anger towards the ideals set upon women as they grow older. A lyrically playful song, it was co- written with Benjamin Francis Leftwich, who has aided Marcus in her songwriting journey over the years. The track has a sourness and a bite to it, feeling more cathartic with the continued element of darkness and feminine rage that seeps through all of her music. It’s the first release of her new EP, ‘Devour’, which was released in late 2025. Etta states: “The new EP is an answer to why there has been such a big gap in writing and releasing music. It’s the most cohesive project I’ve ever done.” The new endeavour is all about devouring life but also being consumed by it; it’s about confronting womanhood, feeling like you’re being eaten alive and taking that power back either through love or something deeper within yourself. Etta aims to use the EP to dive deeper into the depths of what is human, whilst allowing some light to shine through as she pours her entire being out to her listeners.
Etta Marcus wants people to connect to her music, to feel heard and understood: “It’s not just for women, it’s so much more fluid than that. There’s such a nice community that is built with artists, and I would love to have that. It’s inspiring and a safe space for people who connect through music and the same experiences.” Marcus’ determination for humanity and love is soul-stirring, leaving an artistic mark on her listeners by creating a beautifully open vessel of music that touches many hearts.
Written by Raabia Haq // Photography by Angela Marie Ricciardi
GEM Magazine 