On her first two albums, both excellent, Marina Allen drew comparisons to lots of ’70s folk legends (Karen Dalton, The Roches, Joni Mitchell), but her third feels rooted in the modern world. She hasn’t altered what she does that much, but working with producer Chris Cohen, Allen adds angles and bright colors — and the occasional synthesizer and electric guitar — to her sun-dappled but earth-toned palette. You can listen to Eight Pointed Star below.
For more on the album, Marina made us a list of songs by artists that influenced it, including Yoko Ono, Julee Cruise, Pauline Oliveros, Jenny Hval and more. Check out Marina’s list and read her commentary below.
MARINA ALLEN – MUSIC THAT INFLUENCED ‘EIGHT POINTED STAR’
“Mephisto in the Water” – Jenny Hval
Like many people, when I found Jenny Hval many moons ago, my eyes and heart widened. You can do it like this? Well, she can. We bow down to this spell-keeper! She found her hatch and demands we follow her down. So many treasures under the water- and she has an uncanny ability to swim with her eyes open.
“Deep Hockets” – Deep Listening Band
I was lucky enough to meet Pauline Oliveros when I was studying one of her pieces in college. I don’t quite remember what was said but I do remember her presence, very still and inquisitive. She must have been in her early 80s at the time. I’m very grateful that I found her work so early on in my musical development, its impact I’ll never quite know, but is deeply felt.
“Dawn” – Meredith Monk
Oh lord, it’s a little daunting to even try to sum up Meredith Monk’s work and what it has meant to me. I’m not sure I can do it in a couple of sentences. She’s taught me so much: SING, MOVE, LISTEN, BE MOVED, DREAM through the sleepless nights, befriend the wild dog within, excavate the embalmed.
“Revelations” – Yoko Ono
I think this song is pretty dang radical. Almost reads like a spell, which makes sense since it’s off her iconic record, Yes, I’m a Witch. Yoko Ono sat through every misogynistic, racist, ignorant comment targeted at her and what was her response? “Every time we close our minds to how we feel, we’re dying. Every time we’re open to what we see and hear, we’re living.”
“Into the Night” – Julee Cruise
Most people found Julee Cruise through Twin Peaks. I found her more recently, when I read her obituary in 2022. Her music is like a call from another room – you go through many doors and hallways, spiraling staircases and ladders, windows and attics. I’m not sure how you would even start to try to write a song like her.
“Space 7” – Nala Sinephro
It was hard to pick my favorite ‘Space’ – sort of an arbitrary selection, since every song off this record is wondrous and transcendent. I picked this one since it feels playful and that feels fitting for this assignment. It’s a beautiful album to take a walk to, or make dinner to, or do anything to, really.
“Sequenza iii for female voice” – Luciano Berio
I performed this piece as my college “thesis” and to this day, it has remained the most influential music I’ve encountered. This opened my world up to graphic notation and unlocked voices in me that I didn’t know existed. I owe so much to this piece of music. You can still find the video of my performance somewhere in the dusty corners of Vimeo.
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Marina has two upcoming dates in California this fall opening for Devendra Banhart: Los Angeles’ The Ford on October 2, and Big Sur’s Henry MIller Memorial Library on October 3.