Former 80's Pop Chanteusse Martika Releases a Goth-Pop Album

[stacypustanio]

You may be surprised to learn that in my fandom of 80's singer Martika I am not such a minority. Martika's biggest hit in America was the drug-analagous ballad "Toy Soldiers," but she was an international success through the mid 90s, as are many American singers. A Cuban-American former child actress, she even became a Prince protegee, and was at one point successful enough to warrant pop-culture-commentary-comedienne Sandra Bernhard mentioning her in her one woman show "Without You, I'm Nothing."

Well, Martika is back after a long stay away, and she's changed, and she rocks. Martika always had a strong voice but for the most part she made fluffy pop. She has since moved through the world of adult acting (including a critically heralded turn as a sociopathic killer in the indie film "Route 55") and she's matured, to say the least.

Her new band "Oppera" combines the feeling of intense, grungy Goth Rock with her former pop sensibility to bring something that's just slightly a notch above angst-teens like Avril Lavigne and Pink. What Martika has that they don't is a thirty-something-year-old's life experience, something reflected in her lyrics.

She also has Hollywood legend Michael Mozart backing her up, and one of the most kick-ass music websites in recent history. Called "Aria 51," you can visit it by going to www.oppera.net and while you're there, you can pick up a copy of their debut CD, "Violince." Check it out!

[bandit.]

interesting. i've always liked Martika's voice. I may have to check this out.

[Velv]

wow. i used to love martika! i can't wait to hear what she's doing now.

-Carol