Marielle Kraft
Sought for her honest lyrics and remembered for her catchy melodies, Marielle Kraft is a singer/songwriter currently based outside of Philadelphia in Delaware. Self-taught, the Rhode Island native began playing guitar at 16 and soon writing songs that take shape as honest stories through comfortable arrangements, following suit to artists like Shawn Mendes, Maggie Rogers, and Taylor Swift. Her gift for storytelling is evident through her use of striking detail, raw emotion, and poignant word choice.
Over the past few years, Marielle Kraft has self-released 1 original live EP, as well as four singles, including the release of her first official music video (How Far You Feel) in collaboration with Heuristic Films.
Her live EP, The Gibraltar Sessions (2016), features a stripped down delivery of 5 original songs that seamlessly match clever lyrics of love, longing, and identity with refreshing melodies which many claim "ring in your head for days afterward."
Her 2017 release, the indie pop single "How Far You Feel," has collected over 350,000 streams across platforms. It seeks to understand the dichotomy of physical vs. emotional distance in relationships.
Marielle Kraft regularly plays at venues across the Mid-Atlantic, sharing stages with names as big as Jake Miller, Ava Max, and Betty Who. Her live shows are a seamless narrative that captivate the audience through the natural ebbs and flows of life's journey through love: for friends, family, partners, and yourself. The raw authenticity with which Marielle invites listeners into her story cultivates a relationship with them beyond the song. The unique personal connections she creates with her fans have been integral in propelling her career in music.
In spring 2018, she was crowned Grand Champion of the Muzikarmegeddon Solo Singer-Songwriter Competition, and the following June she delivered a Tedx Talk at Firefly 2018, discussing the vital art of honesty rooted in her songwriting process.
Marielle's 2018 single, Test Drive, was released on all platforms on August 25th. In just two weeks, it reached 25,000 streams and continues to make an impact on the indie pop scene.
“It channels harsh, cynical emotions and releases them in a way that is engaging, exciting, and meant to bring others together," Marielle says of the pop single. "The idea that this song of painfully breaking two people apart can become an anthem of moving forward with heads held high, for me, is the sweetest kind of break up retribution.”
In February 2019, Marielle Kraft released a new pop single “Toothbrush" on all platforms, coupled with a brilliantly creative lyric video comprised of 50 fans singing along to her lyrics using custom Marielle Kraft toothbrushes.
Her raw yet clever take on an all-too-common occurrence breathes life (and humor) into the awkward tension of a "too much, too soon" relationship. With sonic flavors reminiscent of “Love Yourself” by Justin Bieber, and lyrics seasoned with a Julia Michaels’ flare, Toothbrush has promise to be the next indie soft pop hit.
Marielle’s most recent single, “Better Without You,” was released on May 17th and reaches new heights in pop production and lyrical construction.
Premiering on GroundSounds, the bicoastal music blog raves of the single, “The song shows Kraft’s big-time pop sensibilities. It’s addicting, charming, and shows why she’s a name to watch this year.”
Since leaving her teaching career to pursue a life committed to creating music in summer 2018, Marielle has announced the upcoming release of her debut studio-produced EP, The Deep End, due July 2019, followed by her first headlining EP release tour.
+ + +
“Marielle showed a clever intensity in her material that, when coupled with her wonderful voice, pulled the listener into her story.” - Joe Trainor (Muzikarmegeddon founder, Gable Music Ventures)
"Marielle’s songs tap into young women and millennials’ romantic angst and euphoria in a way that feels flavored by Alanis Morissette and Taylor Swift." - Cheryl Squandrito (former Philadelphia Inquirer writer)