MARIE HOPKINSON – ARTIST SPOTLIGHT & INTERVIEW

Marie Hopkinson is a talented multi-instrumentalist and prolific songwriter whose voice carries an incredibly stellar tone. Based out of Perth, Australia, Hopkinson has released a series of melodic singles that deliver sublime arrangements and meaningful lyrics. Her music is totally heartfelt and her vocals are deeply passionate.

Hopkinson has cradled music in her heart since a young girl. At an early age she was admitted in the Perth Modern School on a music scholarship. Throughout the years, Marie has used her creativity in many different ventures outside of music but always returns to her primal love. She has started several businesses and even developed new products. Marie is an artist on many different levels.

Hopkinson most recently teamed up with producer and songwriter, Robert Agostini of Soundbaker Studios who has worked with such illustrious artists as Dido and The Panics. His collaboration with Hopkinson helped her find her true voice. His mentorship has developed Marie into a dynamic songwriter and an unstoppable force.

Hopkinson‘s compositions are profoundly elegant with monstrous sonic integrity. Her vocals are utterly divine and her lyrics convey images of hope, social health and romantic fervor. Speaking about her latest single, Marie states:

” I was recently inspired to write this new song, The World Still Needs You, to bring some positivity in these really challenging times. I hope this song will encourage people not to give up, and that things will get better in the future”.

Her 2020 big hit, “Time In Your Hands” amassed over 1,000,000 hits and helped Marie acquire over 11,000 engaged social media fans. She has already performed at both major festivals and intimate clubs showcasing her amazing talent.

AMP is honored to have Hopkinson answer several questions for our readers.

AMP: Give the AMP readers a little background on yourself?

MH: I love music and its always been a part of my life.

I started my journey in music when I was 4 years old, playing the violin. It was something I wanted to do myself and my mum found a teacher that would teach me. I’m pretty independent person and somehow I’ve just always been assertive and know what I want to do.

I went on in high school to learn the cello and had voice training on a music scholarship program. Singing was not something I actually ever wanted to do at that point though. I sang in my local church band because they had no one else, and doing this for years and years actually made me get good at singing.

I’m also a really creative person. Over the years I’ve put my creativity into lots of things not just music. I’ve  started various businesses, in retail, health care and even creating my own products. Loads of creativity goes into all of these things.
I’ve always done music as a personal passion, but in mid 2018 I decided to switch things up and see if I focused my creativity on songwriting, could I actually do that?

I got involved with a band, and they encouraged me to do a studio recording. Through their contact, I met the producer that I’ve used for all my songs up till now, Rob Agostini, who’s helped me transform the songs from their acoustic raw form to what is published. Over the past two years Rob’s helped me learn about a different side of the songwriting and producing aspect.

I love doing new things, the novelty of it all and the feeling of getting good at something you haven’t tried before is addictive.

AMP: As a multi-instrumentalist what instruments do you play?
MH: Violin, Cello, Guitar

AMP: How would you describe your music?
MH: Fleetwood Mac meets Portishead. I really love folk and downtempo EDM, sometimes I make songs that are either-or sometimes my music is a blend of these two with a pop vibe thrown in.

My main influences are Passenger, Tracy Chapman and Fleetwood Mac

AMP: Your music is extremely emotive. What drives your songwriting?

MH: Thanks.

One of the reasons I decided to do it later in life is that I felt being younger I didn’t have enough experience to write decent songs from.

You have to go through a hardship to write a song that really connects with people about their hardship. You have to go through loss to write a song about loss and grief. Maybe not the same loss, or same pain but it’s got to be somewhat genuine.

I remember writing songs when I was a 14 years old. I look back on my old files of songs I wrote then and they were just dumb songs about puppy love and boys who didn’t love me back. I think I had to go through some life first.

As a business owner you face a lot of challenges, lots of opportunity for personal growth… and to still find your self with a positive attitude, still willing to going on and face all that the next day, the next year – there are a ton of songs in that.

I also listen to a lot of podcasts, conversations about ideas of philosophy and world events. Somehow that sparks a lot of ideas. Once I get a “one liner”, I’ll get my guitar out, press record and start making a new song.

I really just write about the things I’ve gone through myself or the things I experience others go through. I hear a lot of peoples stories of loss and hardship in my healthcare work. I had a suicidal patient this year that inspired me in part to write “The World Still Needs You”

AMP: You have a large social media presence. How did you mange that?

MH: Strategy, hard work and investment.

I started working with a marketing coach in 2020 who helped me grow my Facebook from 500 people to 11,000 people in just over a year.

Also, I’ve followed Gary V for years, and try to follow his advice of engaging with fans or followers as much as possible. Even if you just have 1 comment, reply to it.

I’m fortunate that I was able to reach people who really responded to my music, and I take the time to reply back to people’s comments, messages and emails as much as I can.

Sometimes that takes hours every day. But I’ve found inspiration to write new songs from even fans comments and sometimes very personal messages about how a song I wrote helped them in a tough time.

AMP: What would you like to accomplish in 2022?
MH: I’m going to be releasing my first album, All About Love in 2022. I’m so pumped about that, and I can’t wait to share it with my fans.

I’m going to release a lot more music in 2022, I have some really powerful new songs that I want to give to the world sooner than later.

AMP: What is something about yourself that everyone should know?

MH: I really just want to make the world a better place, genuinely. I really hate fakery, trickery and people who aren’t who they say they are. In a world where this is propagated and encouraged I really do my best to stay real and genuine.

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To learn more about Marie Hopkinson, check out her Website

Follow on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / YouTube

Stream music:  Apple Music / Spotify / Soundcloud

Purchase:   Amazon 

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