FRIDAY • JUNE 18 • 2010 • A21
LangleyAdvance
TOWNSHIP OF LANGLEY
July 22-25, 2010
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L A N G L E Y
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A L D E R G R OV E
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C L OV E R DA L E
Fulfilling a dream
Music’s become her platform to help others
Langley pop recording artist Marika releases her newest song to radio Monday. by Roxanne Hooper rhooper@langleyadvance.com
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anadian pop recording artist and songwriter Marika Siewert has a passion to encourage, inspire, and influence others through music. She’s hoping to once again achieve that with her new single Soldier, which is being released to radio stations across the country Monday. This song is inspired by the Canadian troops and soldiers around the globe, she said. “The premise of Soldier is about having someone fighting for love, and it is my desire to be able to honour these amazing soldiers,” the local singer and record producer explained. “I am excited for the things to come,” said the Willoughby resident. “It’s been quite the journey to even get to this point, and I am working “It’s not all about the fame and the with an incredible team that has all come together to release this fortune… I want to use my platform new song.” for a purpose, to help people.” Inspiration, motivation, and MARIKA SIEWERT global aid is what Marika’s music and pretty much everything she does in life is all about. Whether she’s using her music to help Stacy Siewert photo children with disabilities in Eastern Canada, Marika Siewert, a Willoughby mother of three, is also an internationally recognized pop recording artists who less fortunate people struggling with poverty is releasing a new single to radio Monday. and lack of shelter in Third World counand appearance were to making it in the Born in Trinidad, and raised in England, tries, or teen girls grappling with self-esteem business, but remained steadfast she would she was 12 when her family moved to Mediissues in New York City, Marika said she not compromise her values, beliefs, or self in cine Hat, Alta. wants to use her successes and connections her quest for success. “I never grew up around music, it was to help others. Marika wanted to prove that she could be just in me,” she told the Langley Advance. Leading by example, she said: “Make successful just being who she was. Despite having discovered a passion for sure you are who you want to be.” “I always felt I couldn’t do what I do the piano early, singing was a skill Marika The letters D-R-E-A-M hanging on her living room wall, near a sign that said “Make without integrity,” she said, anxious to share didn’t explore until later in life. that message with other young women. Marika didn’t actually start singing until each day… your masterpiece.” she was 15, as a member of the high school “It’s not all about the fame or the How a love of music began and church choirs. fortune,” Marika said. “I want to use my After graduating, she moved to California Marika grew up in England, and at age platform for a purpose, to help people… and five – apparently too young for piano lessons to work with youth in music and drama and I know I can do that better by being true to see if entertainment really was her calling. by the area piano teacher – decided to teach myself.” “I was just trying to figure out what I herself. While self-esteem was never an issue this wanted to do,” she said. “I wanted to learn so bad,” Marika musician had to face, it became a paramount Eventually, she managed to scrimp recounted. “That’s when I knew I wanted to concern to her during her ascent into the intogether enough money to produce her first do music.” dustry. She kept hearing how integral image
demo, and armed with that, she started competing in some music contests. “I never did well in any of those,” she said. “But I kept going because I knew that I just got really nervous at auditions. Put me in front of thousands and everything is usually okay.” That’s when she and her new-found songwriting friend Scott Rogers “decided to give music a shot.” Marika and her young family moved to Langley in 2003, to work closely with Rogers in Vancouver. The pair took a year off from almost everything else in life to write songs. “He just put his heart and soul into me,” she said, admitting she hadn’t done much songwriting until she met Rogers. If it failed miserably, they agreed to leave the industry behind; pursue other careers. It didn’t fail. Within the year, they’d not only recorded Marika’s first album, but they spent four months touring in New Zealand. Her metamorphosis into a bit of a pop icon had began.
Working with music greats
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oday, Marika is a globally recognized name among the pop music industry and fans. Marika has worked with top North American internationally acclaimed producers famous for their work with The Backstreet Boys, High School Musical, Jesse McCartney, Stacie Orrico, Jessica Simpson, Kelly Rowland and Canadian artists Hedley. Marika co-wrote the tracks for Canadian pop sensation Elise Estrada, as well as Korea’s biggest pop star Lee Hyori with a track called My Life. Being no stranger to the industry her previously radio released singles You Know I Will and Radio played on all the major hit radio stations across Canada landing in top 19 and 20 spots internationally and within the top five spots in Canada. In addition to all of this success, the 30year-old was nominated for the Canadian Radio Music awards, as best new artist in the urban category, her first independent album Untitled Chances received nominations at Canada’s Covenant Awards, and Marika was honoured as the winner of the Women of Excellence Award in arts and culture in her own community. continued on page A29…
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