Sometimes you just have to dance away your fears, insecurities, and regrets, and we have the perfect soundtrack for you: Marena’s “Out Cold,” an electric anthem that captures the ups and downs of figuring out who you are in an ever-chaotic world. As her debut single, it sets the tone for a vibrant, exciting career full of comforting honesty and catchy jams for a variety of playlists.
“This song is about admitting to yourself that you’re not happy with the situation you’ve gotten yourself into,” Marena tells TREMG. “It’s sarcastic in the verses but really honest in the chorus. They’re describing the moment you admit to yourself that the coping mechanisms you’ve put in place to deal with your problems… have become your problems. It’s kind of heavy. But that’s what I love about pop music. You can hide really deep topics in light, danceable beats, so it’s the listener’s choice if they want to engage in the meaning behind the lyrics or just sit back and enjoy the music.”
From the very first lyric, you can tell that “Out Cold” will be something special. It tells a very clear story of someone finding their own footing in the world and the production matches the intensity of those feelings so well, even throwing in fun details like the shake of a pill bottle and glass shattering. Meanwhile, the overall sound is still upbeat and dance-ready, feeling like a cathartic breath of relief as you admit you’re not doing as well as you’d hoped you would be.
“I think my favorite [lyric] is the opening line, ‘I’m a sucker,’” Marena confesses. “Just because it’s grabbing. It was recommended to me once that I should consider changing it because it doesn’t sound ‘lady-like’ or like something a female artist would usually say…so obviously there was no way I was changing it after that [laughing].”
After years of honing her craft and zoning in on the stories she wants to tell, we think now was the perfect time for Marena to officially make her debut as an artist. She has an inspiring knowledge of how she is as a musician and the results are so powerful, really bringing listeners on a journey once they press play. Marena is the kind of artist who will change lives and help so many people feel less alone in what they’re experiencing.
“I think it felt like now or never,” she explains. “I’ve wished my whole life to work with producers like 9Milli and Diggi and seeing them put so much heart into my songs gave me courage. Everyone has been so supportive, so I’m just putting myself out there and I’ll see what happens next. It would just be a shame for the hundreds of songs I’ve written to die as voice memos on my phone.”
You can find “Out Cold” on your favorite streaming services now, and get to know Marena on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and her website! Keep reading for more from our conversation with this rising singer-songwriter.
Hi Marena, congrats on your debut single, “Out Cold!” How does it feel to finally share the song with the world?
Thank you so much! It feels amazing to finally have it out. This song has been a labour of love over the last few years and being able to finally release feels like reaching an incredible milestone.
How did you know that now was the time to release your debut single?
That’s a great question. I think it felt like now or never. I’ve wished my whole life to work with producers like 9Milli and Diggi and seeing them put so much heart into my songs gave me courage. Everyone has been so supportive, so I’m just putting myself out there and I’ll see what happens next. It would just be a shame for the hundreds of songs I’ve written to die as voice memos on my phone.
What does “Out Cold” mean to you?
This song is about admitting to yourself that you’re not happy with the situation you’ve gotten yourself into. It’s sarcastic in the verses but really honest in the chorus. They’re describing the moment you admit to yourself that the coping mechanisms you’ve put in place to deal with your problems… have become your problems. It’s kind of heavy. But that’s what I love about pop music. You can hide really deep topics in light, danceable beats, so it’s the listener’s choice if they want to engage in the meaning behind the lyrics or just sit back and enjoy the music. Writing this, it was really fun to play an anti-hero. She’s self-aware… but not quite sure how to get out of the mess yet. I hope that’s fun to listen to.
“Out Cold” has so many clever lyrics, with one of our favorites being “I’m bitter ‘cause I can’t stand the taste.” Is there a certain line on the song that you’re particularly proud of?
I’m glad you dig that one, I do too. But I think my favorite is the opening line, “I’m a sucker.” Just because it’s grabbing. It was recommended to me once that I should consider changing it because it doesn’t sound “lady-like” or like something a female artist would usually say…so obviously there was no way I was changing it after that [laughing].
You first posted a demo version of “Out Cold” on Soundcloud five years ago with a more rock-based, heavy feeling. How did “Out Cold” grow into the song we’re hearing today?
You’re absolutely right, this song has been with me through many different seasons of my life. I originally wrote the song with Alex Zimmermann as a class project. We studied songwriting together at Belmont in Nashville. We demoed the song with this early 2000’s pop punk feel and it just lived on soundcloud for years. When I moved to Germany and met my collaborator Diggi for the first time, I showed him my Soundcloud so he could get an idea of my writing style. He was attracted to “Out Cold” right away and we decided to revamp it as our first project together. It’s had two or three different versions since then, but this one is our favorite. There’s so much of my history sewn into this track. Everyone agreed it had to be the first song I released, because somehow it’s like the beginning of my story as an artist.
Though you’re from America, you’re currently based in Germany, which must be incredible! What are your favorite parts of living in Germany, and how has it shaped your art?
My favorite thing about living here is the people. I’ve forged the most amazing friendships here. And I think living here has shaped my art by shaping me as a person, I’m so much more connected here, I’m exposed to different ideas and cultures and that’s molded the way I see the world. I’m sure that also impacts how and what I write.
We at TREMG love getting to know new artists who haven’t gotten the success or attention they deserve. Who are some of your favorite underrated artists at the moment?
I have to give a shout out to my boyfriend’s band, Stevie Honda. They’re a German hip-hop band that’s really doing something new. I’ll also shout out to my co-writers Milli and Diggi, they’re also putting out their own original music so if fans like the production on “Out Cold,” they’re sure to love those guys too. And last but not least, I just heard an artist from Hamburg called Metty and her voice is so incredible, she’s a must-listen for sure.
What can your fans look forward to in the rest of 2023?
The fans can look forward to more music! I’ve got several more singles to release in the next few months and live shows coming up! Dates will be posted on my Instagram, @themarenamusic. They can also look out for the “Out Cold” music video, that’s on the way too!
Is there anything else you’d like to mention or say to your fans that the questions didn’t touch on?
I’ll just take this opportunity to thank you guys and all the fans for listening. There’s a lot of music out there and the fact that people are stopping to listen to my work is incredible. There’ll be more to listen to soon and I hope to meet some of you at the live shows!
By Madison Murray
Featured Image: Courtesy of Marena
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