So, let's see what happens when Marin Clarisse visits Section 36 Music!
I am incredibly excited about your upcoming single, “Moral Bankruptcy”. What can you tell me about it?
This song is something that has been brewing for about a year now, and I’m so excited that it’s going to be out for the whole world to hear so soon. My first love is my piano, and I usually start writing songs with it, so that’s where this song began. The four lines in the chorus were the first thing I wrote (“So while you think about it, I’ll be in the car… somehow be your baby”) on the piano, but I always envisioned something more dramatic – something the piano alone couldn’t accomplish. This is when I reached out to Grace, who is a multi-talented producer, songwriter, guitarist, and friend of mine to try to finish this song together.
I always love to use my imagination when writing songs, but this song was a new experience with it. I feel like a lot of the time, the audience assumes that songwriters only write about their own experiences, but that’s not true at all. Haha. Grace and I had a great time exploring the storyline of this song (which may or may not have been inspired by someone else’s experience) and imagining what they might’ve been feeling in that relationship. Ultimately, this song is about losing your sense of self in a (toxic) relationship that’s so all‑consuming you no longer recognize yourself – except when you look in the mirror.
I love a lot of things about this song, but the bridge reveals an extremely vulnerable side to an otherwise upbeat track.
“Take me back to the younger days when you were sweet to me
We would dance along the street, like the kids we used to be
If I knew who I’d become, would it make it any clearer?
Tell me something is the same, without looking in the mirror”
The last line captures the emotional breakdown this person is experiencing – they’re so lost in the relationship that they've been convincing themselves everything is okay just because they still look the same. It’s a moment of reckoning, of realizing that they don’t actually feel like themselves anymore.
Do you have a favorite memory from the recording process?
I also enjoyed the music video for your single, “Desert Blue”. What was it like putting that together?
It was an incredible experience. As a college student, everyone’s schedules are packed, so I’m still in awe of how many people came together to make this video happen. I’ve only danced a little before, so over winter break I asked my friend Rena—who’s incredibly busy herself—if she’d choreograph. For the dancers, we brought in Gaukhar, Rena’s friend, and Alanna, another amazing dancer on campus.
We had a last‑minute curveball when the theater we reserved flooded just two days before the shoot, so we snuck into another space for seven hours. My college has a student-run record label that gives artists resources like a manager, designer, videographer (all students), so my team helped me make a schedule and get the props. My videographer, Robert, was the creative visionary and directed the entire shoot. The makeup was something that I’ll always cherish, too. It really speaks to how talented my friends are. Kemper, my makeup artist, has done so much theatre makeup and I met her through one of the musicals we both worked on on campus, and I asked her if she would be okay doing makeup for the music video, and she immediately said yes. This music video was a true culmination of talent and teamwork, and I had so much fun bringing it to life!
Who or what would you consider your biggest musical influences?
What is the most challenging part of your music career?
Not many people talk about how hard it is to put yourself out there. With TikTok as the main way to promote your music, you suddenly become your own manager, marketer, and biggest supporter. Some videos get 7,000 views, and the next day, the same type of video gets 30. The hardest part is posting every single day, even when there’s little support for weeks at a time. But I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who’s found me along the way – it’s definitely a double‑edged sword.
What are your immediate musical goals?
Just to create as much music as possible and to stay inspired!
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That is definitely a solid goal!
As always, I want to thank Marin for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to accompany the interview.
I'm sure you’ll all want to follow her and see what she has going on. I would follow her on Instagram, Spotify, and of course TikTok to make sure you don't miss a thing.
Thanks again, Marin, and good luck with the release!
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