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Marissa Jack signed a record deal with Warner Brothers Records in 2010. After 2 years of being pushed in many directions that were not reflective of who she was and the artist she wanted to be, Jack cut her ties with the label and joined the Hundred Handed roster, to where she was able to curate a sound and vision of her own. Marissa now goes by The Golden Hippie and is set to release her debut album The Golden Hippie Movement this fall. GroundSounds caught up with the talented musician to chat about her past, her experience with WB, and of course – the new album. Check it out below and stream the infectious song “Smoke Signals”
How did you get started in music? What did the first song you ever wrote sound like?
My dad is honestly the reason I started music. He took me to my first concert when I was 11 and it was Prince! I’m pretty sure I was the youngest person there…but I knew every song! I wasn’t old enough to understand the songwriting part of it, but I witnessed what it meant to be an iconic performer and artist, and I wanted that. Listening to Prince, Parliament, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson all my life it was kind of hard not to just fall into it.
The first song I ever wrote was in elementary school. I was in a girl group HAHA! I’m pretty sure it was called ‘crush’ and it sounded like a Samantha Mumba song.
“Smoke Signals” is a beautiful song. Can you tell us about what inspired the song and the creative process for you as the song came together?
Smoke Signals is an anthem for all the dreamers of the world who feel like they’re the only ones. I wrote it with my songwriting partner and one of my best friends, Danny Mestanza. We had been talking about the importance of singing from ‘We’ instead of ‘I’ and how powerful of a force it can be when people unite. The smoke is the love, the light, and the free. We are the voices of now and tomorrow. I am also a huge fan of Nahko. He is a raw, real, truth telling healer. I knew after writing Smoke Signals that he HAD TO be on it with me. When I heard his verse for the first time I knew it was going to be a song that changes people.
How is your debut album coming along? Where did the title The Golden Hippie Movement come from?
The album is almost finished and I’m so excited. I’ve been working on it for a while now. Hippies, to me, are those who reject the norm, are opposed to violence, and express love. A movement is a number of people who share the same ideas working together to make them happen. Gold to me is radiant and valuable…So The Golden Hippie Movement is a combo of all of these. It is an enlightened approach to life, with a focus on musical freedom and expression. We are all golden.
What was your goal for the sound & style of the album? Do you have a release date for it yet?
I am very inspired by a lot of music. I love CHVRCHES, fun., Imagine Dragons, The Neighbourhood, Lana del Rey, the list goes on! I just wanted to create a sound that’s uplifting to the soul, is musical, anthemic, and just LIVE! That’s what sets albums apart right now. We are planning for a fall release.
A while back you left Warner Brothers Records so that you could stay true to your artistic vision. This is something that can’t be easy to do but that I really respect and admire. What finally led you to make that decision and what do you take away most from your time with WB?
I had an awesome team who initially signed me to WB, so leaving was definitely not easy. It was my first record deal. I thought that was it for me, but then I realized that its happened to A LOT of artists. I decided to part ways shortly after my a&r left the company. I realized I was losing my ability to be creative and was getting lost in the circle of producers and writers with different ideas of “whats a hit” all shooting for that #1 single instead of who I wanted to be…after awhile I had no clue anymore. My career was in the hands of someone who couldn’t even tell you my eye color, let alone where my heart was musically.
I am very thankful for the experience. It taught me that being unsigned isn’t the end of the world…its actually its own world that can be more beneficial. WB taught me how important it is to know who you are as an artist. To understand your vision, and to not be afraid to say stick to it.
What are your plans for the rest of 2014? Where is the best place for readers to stay updated with you online?
Whatever 2014 has in store for me, I’m ready 🙂 Follow me on twitter @MarissaJack and instagram @TheGoldenHippie
If you could pick any 2 artists/bands to tour with, who would you choose and why?
Hardest question because there are so many amazing bands right now. I would have to say Imagine Dragons and Bastille because they are crazy amazing live and the energy is out of this world! I feel like both have the same message and hopeful vibes in their music as I do.
What is your go-to spot in or around LA when you need to get away?
I really don’t go out much. I’m such a home body haha. I live in such a creative space and am surrounded by other artists, so the house is kind of its own whimsical world.
The Golden Hippie – “Smoke Signals (ft. Nahko)”
