Mara Liddle is a rising star in the British pop scene, known for her electrifying fusion of dance, electro, and hyperpop. With her bold energy, catchy hooks, and relatable storytelling, Mara’s music captures the highs and lows of navigating life and love in the digital age. From her breakout hit Girl of Your Dreams to her latest single Hush Hush, she’s cementing herself as an artist to watch. In this interview, Mara dives into the inspiration behind her new release, her creative process, and what’s next in her journey to redefine modern pop.
Hi Mara, welcome to News Blackbird thanks for joining us! Congratulations on your latest single Hush Hush. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the song and how it explores themes of love triangles and secrecy?
Thanks for having me! The song is all about that situation when you’re with someone and they want to keep the relationship a secret, and it makes you a little bit suspicious but you go with it because “true love”, right? When I wrote it, I’d been watching romcoms and reality shows, and found that they (especially Love Island) had a lot of love triangles or people playing more than one partner at once. It got me thinking about how that affects couples in real life, and how influenced we are by what we see on tv.
Your music blends dance, electro, and hyperpop into a vibrant soundscape. How do you approach crafting such a dynamic and addictive sonic experience?
For the last couple of years I’ve worked exclusively with a producer who goes by the name JB Thomas. We make a great team and have a lot of the same tastes, and when we get together in the studio it’s always simultaneously really intense and really laid back and free. There’s no rules when we create! Hush hush was especially interesting to make because we started out with a track and then once we added the vocals, JB went off and tweaked the instrumental and it was a bit of a back and forth until it became the form that you hear today.
You’ve mentioned that your music is influenced by the digital age and media. How has social media and reality TV shaped your creative process and storytelling in tracks like Hush Hush?
Quite a lot of my music is about life online and how that affects us. My first single was a song called “facebook official” which is all about the idea that a relationship isn’t real until you broadcast it online. “Girl of your dreams” is about having a crush on someone based on what you see on social media. And “hush hush”, of course, is about what we see on tv reality shows and how that is reflected in our real life relationships.
Artists like Charli XCX, PinkPantheress, and Shygirl inspire you. How have their styles influenced your music, and how do you carve out your own unique space in the pop landscape?
It’s really been the year of women in pop music, and it’s been amazing to see so many women in the mainstream! I love that these artists all have their own unique sound and image, they were all pioneers in their own way, and I love to take little bits and pieces of inspiration from what I listen to, as well as from my own life and what’s going on around me.
You’ve had notable achievements, including BBC Introducing features and a Song of the Year nomination. How do these accolades motivate you as an artist, and what are your goals moving forward?
I’ve had a lot of support around me and my music, which is really rewarding and really elevates me as a musician. I’m terrible for comparing myself to other people, so being reminded of what I have achieved is always nice! I’m not putting any sort of pressure of expectation on myself, I do music because it’s what I love. I’ve got plenty of songs in the tank, so expect some new releases in 2025, and hopefully plenty of live shows because I love love love performing.
Fashion often intersects with music. How does your personal style reflect the bold and vibrant energy of your music, both on and off stage?
I’m a big fan of the colour pink, so as you can probably imagine I had a great time during barbie summer last year. I like to be bright and a little bit eccentric!
As you step into this exciting new chapter with Hush Hush, what can fans expect next? Are there more singles, collaborations, or live performances on the horizon?
2025 will bring PLENTY of new Mara Liddle tunes, live performances, merch, and hopefully lots of fun adventures!
You can connect with Mara Liddle on Instagram @maraliddle, TikTok, and Facebook
