You may have heard us playing Fighter, the current track from singer/songwriter Stefanie Marsse – and we caught up with Stefanie to talk about her life and her music.
Tell us a little bit about your yourself?
I am Stefanie Marsse and am only 18 years old. Not only am I a singer-songwriter from the Philippines, but also I have won some public speaking contests locally. Apart from having talent in performing arts, I also love reading poems, which heavily inspires me whenever I am making lyrics for my songs.
When did you first start to develop a passion for music?
As far as I can remember, I have been passionate for music as early as seven years old primarily because of Disney’s music, Celine Dion, and Taylor Swift. All throughout my entire life, I have been going to voice training centres to help me hone my craft. Today, I am still learning in becoming a better singer-songwriter because I believe that learning should not end at some point. Because of them, I have started joining and winning singing contests as early as 8 years old, and I have started writing my own songs at 11 years old.
Which artists did you listen to while growing up?
Growing up, I have been listening to Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera, Taylor Swift, and Ariana Grande. All whom have heavily inspired me to keep on chasing after my dream in becoming a successful singer-songwriter one day.
How would you describe your music to someone who hasn’t heard you before?
Normally, Filipino music artists would make an acoustic Original Pinoy Music (OPM), but I decided to make mine gear towards indie electro-pop. Moreover, my music gives you a peek in my current life or from my past life, which may be found as relatable for others.
What music have you recorded and released to date?
So far, I have recorded one song and it is my debut single called, “Fighter”, which tells you about the rough time I underwent as a teenager. It is not a love song, but rather it is about how I viewed myself during that really rough time.
Which artists do you enjoy listening to at the moment – and do they influence your work?
As of the moment, I enjoy listening to Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, and Harry Styles. In terms of lyrics-making, Billie and Harry give me ideas as to how they craft their lyrics, which I fell deeply in love with. In terms of melody-making, Dua Lipa inspires me to create catchy and repetitive melodies that could possibly get the attention of a listener.
Who would your dream collaboration be with?
It would be a dream to work with either Taylor Swift or Billie Eilish because they are excellent in terms of crafting lyrics and making catchy melodies too. However, if I am asked to choose between them, I would choose the former, Taylor Swift because her lyrics are so unique in a way that is poetic. She could make lyrics about a love story and make it into somewhat like Lang Leav’s poem.
What are your plans for the future?
I am planning to release more songs in 2021; however, there is no fixed nor tentative date yet! So stay tuned on my social media accounts for more updates.
You can find out more about Stefanie by visiting her official website www.stefaniemarsse.com or following her on Twitter and Instagram.
