Marina (Polish singer)

  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • actress
Years active1998–presentSpouse
​
(m. 2016)​
Children2Musical careerGenres
  • Pop
  • R&B
  • electro
  • dubstep
  • trip hop
Websitemarinaofficial.com
Musical artist

Marina Łuczenko-Szczęsna (née Łuczenko; born 3 July 1989), known mononymously as Marina (stylized as MaRina), is a Polish singer, songwriter and actress.

Biography

1989–2008: Early life and career beginnings

Marina Łuczenko was born in Vinnytsia, Ukraine (then the USSR). At age two, she moved with her parents and brother to Poland, where her grandparents were originally from before they moved to Ukraine during the Second World War.[1] The family settled in Stalowa Wola, a city located in southeastern Poland in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship. Her talent for singing was discovered by her father, who was a musician himself.[1] Marina graduated from the first-degree music school where she studied piano, and completed the Agnieszka Osiecka Secondary School in Warsaw.[2][3]

As a child, she participated in numerous singing contests and television music competitions, winning on many occasions.[2] She began her professional career in 2000, appearing in Waldemar Krzystek's television play Ballada o zabójcach.[2] She competed in Poland's national final for the inaugural Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2003 with the song "Sen".[4] In 2004, she played the lead role of Juliet in Studio Buffo Theatre's adaptation of Romeo and Juliet directed by Janusz Józefowicz.[2] In 2007, she took part in the contest New Wave, and finished third. She was awarded $20,000, and was offered a record deal with Universal Music Germany, which she rejected as she did not agree with its terms. She also received a special prize of $50,000 from one of the competition's organisers Alla Pugacheva.[2]

In 2008, she participated in the seventh season of the Polish version of Dancing with the Stars called Taniec z gwiazdami.[2] Together with her dancing partner Michał Uryniuk, they finished tenth.

2009–2012: Breakthrough: 39 i pół, "Glam Pop" and Hardbeat

Marina in 2010

In 2009, Marina was cast as Amanda, the daughter of the main character (played by Tomasz Karolak), in the Polish television series 39 i pół.[2] She recorded four songs for its soundtrack 39 i pół Vol. 3.[2]

Her debut single, "Glam Pop", was released in 2010 and became a radio hit in Poland.[2][5] That year, she received Eska Music Award for Best Debut.[2] She also released her second single "Pepper Mint" and guest starred in the Polish television series Usta usta.[2][6]

After parting ways with her manager Maja Sablewska in 2011, she began recording new material for her debut studio album.[7] The album titled Hardbeat, which she released independently in November 2011, received positive reviews from music critics.[2] It was preceded by the lead single "Electric Bass", released the previous month.[2] The album's second and final single "Saturday Night" followed in 2012.[8] Marina was nominated for VIVA Comet Awards in 2011 and 2012, receiving a total of six nominations, including one for Female Artist of the Year and one for Album of the Year (Hardbeat).[9][10]

In 2012, she was confirmed as Levi's Autumn-Winter 2012/2013 ambassador in Poland.[11]

2013–present: Hiatus, On My Way, 39 i pół tygodnia and Warstwy

In October 2013, while working on new music in a recording studio in London, Marina experienced singing difficulties which proved to be caused by a polyp on her left vocal cord. As a result, she was forced to put her career on hold, and in May 2014 underwent laser microsurgery performed by Steven M. Zeitels to remove the polyp.[12]

Marina's comeback single and the lead single from her second studio album, "On My Way", was released in April 2016. The song was co-written by Arrow Benjamin and produced by Pete Boxta.[13] That year, she also featured on James Arthur's song "Let Me Love the Lonely" from his second studio album Back from the Edge (2016).[A][14] Released as a single in Poland, it was certified gold by the Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry (ZPAV).[15]

Marina released her second studio album On My Way on 17 November 2017. The album features ten tracks in English, including a song written by her husband Wojciech Szczęsny ("I Do") and a song co-written with James Arthur ("Lay My Body Down").[16] "Takin' Ya Rock Out" and "Hiding in the Water" served as the album's second and third singles, respectively.[17][18] Its fourth and final single, "Complete", was released in August 2018.[19]

Marina reprised her 39 i pół role in the show's revival called 39 i pół tygodnia in September 2019.[20] She released her third studio album, Warstwy, in December 2020. The record debuted and peaked at number 50 in the Polish charts,[21] and was promoted with four singles: "News" with Kabe, "Nigdy więcej" with Young Igi, "Skandal (Odbijam)" with Smolasty and "Nie prowokuj".[22][23][24][25] The first two singles were certified Gold and Platinum by ZPAV, respectively.[26][27] In 2021, Marina collaborated with Meggie on the single "Lip Gloss".[28] In 2022, she recorded the song "This Is the Moment" in support of Poland at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[29]

Personal life

In 2013, she started dating footballer Wojciech Szczęsny.[30] They got engaged on 7 July 2015, and married on 21 May 2016.[31] The couple has a son, Liam (born 30 June 2018), and a daughter, Noelia (born 3 July 2024).[32][33]

In December 2022, Marina revealed she had been diagnosed with an ovarian cancer, which turned out to be benign.[34]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
POL
[21]
Hardbeat —
On My Way
  • Released: 17 November 2017
  • Label: independent release (distributed by e-Muzyka)
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
 —
Warstwy
  • Released: 7 December 2020
  • Label: independent release (distributed by e-Muzyka)
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
 50
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
POL
New
[35]
"Glam Pop" 2010 — Non-album singles
"Pepper Mint" —
"Electric Bass" 2011 3 Heart Beat
"Saturday Night" 2012 —
"On My Way" 2016 — On My Way
"Takin' Ya Rock Out" 2017 —
"Hiding in the Water" —
"Complete" 2018 —
"News"
(featuring Kabe) 		2019 — Warstwy
"Nigdy więcej"
(featuring Young Igi) 		2020 —
  • ZPAV: Platinum[27]
"Skandal (Odbijam)"
(featuring Smolasty) 		—
"Nie prowokuj" 2021 —
"Lip Gloss"
(featuring Meggie) 		— Non-album singles
"This Is the Moment" 2022 —
"Forever21" 2023 —
"W blasku"
(featuring Sound'n'Grace) 		—
"Baby Mommy" 2024 —
"—" denotes items which failed to chart.
Title Year Certifications Album
"Let Me Love the Lonely"[A][36]
(James Arthur featuring Marina) 		2016 Back from the Edge
(Polish release)

Other recorded songs

Title Year Other performer(s) Album
"Sen"[4] 2003 None Non-album song
"Respect" 2009 39 i pół Vol. 3
"Hello L.O.V.E. U"
"Long Way Apart"
"Please Don't Leave Me Here"
"Wenus Mars" 2011 Mrozu Non-album song
"W bezdechu" 2014 None Muzyka z serca 2015
"Kocham Te Święta" as part of 21 Allstars Non-album song
"Większy świat"[37] 2018 None Smallfoot
(Polish release)

Filmography

Notes

  1. ^ a b The duet version of the song was featured only on the Polish edition of Back from the Edge.

References

  1. ^ a b "Taniec z gwiazdami VII – Uczestnicy – Para nr VI: Marina I Michał" (in Polish). Official website for Taniec z gwiazdami. 27 February 2008. Archived from the original on 1 July 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Biography". marinaofficial.com. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  3. ^ "Znani absolwenci" (in Polish). Zespol Szkol Lacznosci w Warszawie. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Junior Eurovision 2003". ESCKAZ. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  5. ^ "Marina Łuczenko nową królową pop. Dla niej Maja Sablewska porzuciła Dodę" (in Polish). Kurier Poranny. 5 April 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  6. ^ "Marina Łuczenko" (in Polish). Filmpolski.pl. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  7. ^ "Marina Łuczenko: To było jak śpiączka" (in Polish). Interia.pl. 21 October 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  8. ^ "Marina Łuczenko zapowiada nowy teledysk" (in Polish). Onet.pl. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  9. ^ "Ogłoszono nominacje do Viva Comet 2011" (in Polish). Wirtualna Polska. 17 January 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  10. ^ "Znamy nominacje do Viva Comet 2012 . Górniak, Farna, Grzeszczak i Marina najlepsze" (in Polish). Onet.pl. 23 January 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  11. ^ "Marina Łuczenko promuje markę Levi's" (in Polish). Czerwone Dywany Blog. 9 September 2012. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  12. ^ "Piosenkarka Marina Łuczenko przeszła operację" (in Polish). Interia.pl. 16 June 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  13. ^ "MaRina Łuczenko powraca do muzyki (teledysk "On My Way")" (in Polish). Interia.pl. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  14. ^ "James Arthur i Marina Łuczenko razem ("Let Me Love the Lonely")" (in Polish). Interia.pl. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Albums and singles certified Gold in 2016" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Wojciech Szczęsny napisał tekst "I Do" na płytę Mariny" (in Polish). Wirtualne Media. 8 November 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  17. ^ "Energetyczna i zmysłowa MaRina ("Takin' Ya Rock Out")" (in Polish). Interia.pl. 21 September 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  18. ^ "Marina wypuściła trzeci singiel zapowiadający nowy album" (in Polish). Glamour Poland. 8 October 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  19. ^ "Marina powraca z nowym singlem". Muzotakt.pl (in Polish). 11 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  20. ^ ""39 i pół tygodnia" – nowy serial TVN. Zagrają Tomasz Karolak, Daria Widawska, Alan Andersz, Marina Łuczenko-Szczęsna, Magdalena Lamparska" (in Polish). Wirtualne Media. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  21. ^ a b Peak chart positions for studio albums in Poland:
    • Warstwy: "OLiS – sales for the period 08.01.2021 – 14.01.2021". ZPAV. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  22. ^ "MaRina ft. Kabe "News" – singiel i teledysk" (in Polish). GlamRap.pl. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  23. ^ "MaRina powraca z nowym singlem. Posłuchaj "Nigdy więcej"" (in Polish). Interia. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  24. ^ "MaRina i Smolasty razem w łóżku. Zobacz teledysk "Skandal (Odbijam)" i sprawdź tekst". Interia. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  25. ^ "MaRina i teledysk "Nie prowokuj". Płyta "Warstwy" już dostępna". Interia. 3 February 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  26. ^ a b "Albums and singles certified Gold in 2021" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  27. ^ a b "Albums and singles certified Platinum in 2021" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  28. ^ "MaRina Feat Meggie: "Raperzy pytają o zwroty a nie nagie zdjęcia, leci przelew ze Spotify nie kur*a only fans"" (in Polish). Codzienna Gazeta Muzyczna. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  29. ^ "MaRina nagrała hymn na MŚ w Katarze. Posłuchaj "This Is The Moment"". Interia. 20 November 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  30. ^ Krasko, Ksenia (13 March 2024). "Rodzina Mariny i Wojciecha Szczęsnych wkrótce się powiększy. Początki ich związku nie były sielankowe". Viva! (in Polish). Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  31. ^ "Szczęsny i Łuczenko wzięli ślub!" (in Polish). Polsat Sport. 21 May 2016. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  32. ^ Kwiecień, Aleksandra (4 July 2018). "Marina Łuczenko urodziła syna! Na świat przyszło pierwsze dziecko Szczęsnych". Glamour Poland (in Polish). Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  33. ^ Frankowska, Aleksandra (6 July 2024). "Marina Łuczenko i Wojciech Szczęsny zostali rodzicami. Przekazali szczęśliwe wieści!". Viva! (in Polish). Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  34. ^ "Marina Łuczenko-Szczęsna wspomina trudne chwile. Gdy planowała kolejną ciążę, usłyszała, że ma nowotwór" (in Polish). Onet.pl. 31 December 2022. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  35. ^ Peak positions for singles on the AirPlay – New chart in Poland:
    • "Electric Bass": "AirPlay New: 05.11. – 11.11.2011" (in Polish). ZPAV. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  36. ^ "Let Me Love the Lonely (feat. Marina) [Duet Version] – Single by James Arthur". iTunes Store (Poland). 21 October 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  37. ^ "Marina Łuczenko-Szczęsna: Zobacz teledysk "Większy świat" z filmu "Mała Stopa"" (in Polish). Interia. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
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