Interview - Etta Marcus Rocks Green Man Festival

Etta Marcus Rocks Green Man Festival

(By rock I mean made everyone cry)

In February of 2022, I was present for one of Etta Marcus's first-ever gigs supporting Matt Maltese at The Fleece in Bristol. Her set was made up of her debut EP View From The Bridge and a cover of Mac Demarco's My Kind Of Woman. After that set, I think everyone in the room knew that Etta Marcus was going to be special and now a year and a half later, Etta Marcus has a second EP out, performed a headline UK tour and supported the Lana Del Ray at Hyde Park. She also had gained herself a spot at Green Man Festival's Walled Garden. Her set was much different to the one I saw in Bristol, a full band now accompanying Etta and a huge crowd packed in just for her. A few days before the set, I asked Etta for an interview after the show in exchange for the famous Green Man churros, she accepted my offer and so 10 minutes before the set, I bought a box of churros and politely begged the security to bring Etta her churros. And so, after I had a little cry and Etta had some Churros, we had a quick chat!

Me and Etta photographed by Gareth Strange (My mum said I look like the cat who got the cream in this photo)

You’ve just performed at the Walled Garden at Green Man 2023, how was the show?

I think the performance went well! I couldn’t hear myself for most of it but I still think we did okay!

How’s your festival season been overall?

Really good! it’s our festival season where I'm playing with a band which has made a huge difference and has been a lot of fun.

Aside from green man, what festival would you say has been your favourite to play?

Latitude!

I am so jealous I was looking for a ticket!

Etta Marcus's second EP Heart Shaped Bruise dropped in January

Your ep Heart Shaped Bruise dropped in January to lots of love and acclaim, how have the months following been for you?

Really good! It’s been out for quite a while now and because I'm already starting to release new music I’ve sort of blocked the old music out and channeling straight into the new music, but when it came out the reception was amazing and everyone was so lovely about it!

Did you notice a difference in the perception of Heart-Shaped Bruise compared to your debut ep?

The first one feels a bit more nostalgic to me at least but the second one definitely felt elevated as I was trying new things out and some people were like “What is she doing?” and some people were like “Yeah I'm into this”. it was definitely fun to test my boundaries a bit.

The song I think that has stuck with me the most is the title track heart shaped bruise, what was your goal lyrically with this track?

I think it’s a pretty standard heartbreak song but more about the experience of the person heartbroken and less about the other person. I was definitely trying to be a bit more selfish with how I wrote it lyrically.

I'd say you've achieved that!

It was weirdly fun to write I distanced myself from that experience so I had some time to think about it

You’ve been releasing some new music, is it leading up to anything? Are you allowed to say?

All I'm going to say is that it’s a body of work.

Are we expecting it anytime soon?

Within this year for sure!

Final question, drink of choice?

Shot of tequila, it’s just the greatest thing. I take one before I go on stage. I love a baby Guinness just to end the night!

Etta at Green Man by Me!

Etta Marcus is going on a UK tour! All the dates are bellow

https://www.songkick.com/artists/10199604-etta-marcus/calendar

This interview is dedicated to the Churro lady at Green Man who understood the need for the best possible churros and to my sister Ella who came to see Etta with me in Bristol last year.