Get to Know Eva Marie, the Teen Songstress Healing the World With Empathy
Though billions of new stars came to be on the 21st of August 2005 across the universe, one in particular, born in Cape Town, was destined to be a light in times of darkness not up in the sky but on stage and with a microphone. The star of the moment is 19-year-old singer-songwriter Eva Marie, who recently released her debut single, “Hate You”.
Born to itinerate parents who couldn’t always spend time with her during her formative years, Marie detailed her humble beginnings and how becoming a pop singer was an innate desire she had since childhood.
“For my whole life, since I was a little girl, I would walk around and tell everybody that I was going to be a pop star. That dedication has never faded. Just the other day, I was actually thinking back to when that all started. Both my parents are pilots, and because of that they had to be away a lot while I was growing up. So they hired a lovely nanny named Sylvie, who I became really close with because we spent so much time together. She raised me in so many ways and was there for me in so many of my struggles,” she said.
Eva Marie | SUPPLIED
As with all children and struggles especial to them, little Marie traversed dark valleys through her younger years. Medically diagnosed with insomnia, she described the negative experience of dealing with the diagnosis at a young age, detailing her nights as being plagued with nightmares that could not be banished by conventional methods.
It was during that time that her bond with her nanny became pivotal. She outlined how her singing was a light which not only guided her out of sleeplessness but also served as a source of solace. All this eventually became a blueprint for her vision: to help someone out there with her artistry.
“Sylvie then started singing to me during those sleeplessness nights, and something about the melody in her singing soothed me. That was the only thing that could get me to sleep. She used the same song whenever I needed to be comforted when I was sad or scared or stressed or missed my parents. As I got older and didn’t need a nanny anymore, I continued singing to myself in stressful moments.
“I remember this one specific day when I was sitting on the floor of my room, singing to myself to calm myself down. I remember listening to the lyrics of the song I was singing and realising how accurate they were to the current situation I was in and the emotions I was feeling. That realisation was a moment when it dawned on me that I wasn’t alone. That there were many more other people out there going through the same situations and even thrived in them to the point where they made something beautiful out of that pain or that tough situation like music. That was so inspiring to me. I decided right then that if I could do the same thing for at least one other person and make one person feel less alone and help them cope with whatever they are going through, then that would be a mission completed.” she said.
Eva Marie | SUPPLIED
Coming in hot with her debut single, “Hate You”, Eva shared the creation process and the inspiration behind the song. With the thematic scope scrutinising the aftermath of a sour breakup and the conflicting emotions that arise from fighting to move on, the warbler had the following to say about the song.
“The song is partially based on a past experience, but I took it further than that by doing a lot of research and observing a lot of relationships around me. I’ve been seeing a lot of toxicity and breakups, and I wanted to write about something a lot of people would relate to. So, I got together with my producers, Devon and Aidin, and created these characters and invented the stories behind them. So basically, it’s about these two people in a situationship that is one-sided. The song is about love and hate and how there’s a very thin line between the pair. The song captures the emotions that arise after a very messy breakup, a stage that makes people feel like they have ended something and they want to move on despite being still attached to the situation,” she said.
Listen to “Hate You”:
With the drop of her single, the teen songstress has already launched her bid to make her longtime, childhood dream come true. With 2025 on the horizon, she revealed some of her plans concerning her next moves.
“My next single should be dropping next year – early March or end of February. Then, we’ll release an EP as well. Not sure what time exactly, but I’ve hit the ground running. There are so many stories I want to tell with my music and so many topics I’d love to touch on. You’re gonna be hearing a lot from me from here on out. This is only the beginning and the tip of the iceberg,” she said.
Eva, since taking it upon herself to pursue music, spoke about the importance of music and how it aids in enhancing the human experience of knowing each other.
“When it comes to music, it’s about making connections – being able to reach people all over the world. It’s not just about reaching them with the stories you tell in the music but also being an inspiration. Like I said already, this has been my dream since forever, and I’ve been determined since I was child and I’ve never let that dream go, not even when people questioned it. I hope to become an example that all dreams come true,” she said.
The crooner touched on how lived experience, empathy, and having a spirit of oneness along with everybody in the industry were important keystones in establishing her foothold in the music business.
Eva Marie | SUPPLIED
“When it comes to the technical side of keeping in shape, I’ve been doing vocal coaching for years. Besides that, I sing all the time – I just love singing. Another thing I do to improve my skill is being observant in everyday life. I’m very empathetic, I love listening to my friends, understanding their problems and where they are coming from and giving them advice as a believer that every story has two sides. Sitting down and getting to the root of every situation I come across is something I like to reflect on when I have to come up with an idea for a new song. I like getting to the details of the situation.
“The other thing which I feel is important for my growth is networking with other people in the industry and supporting all artists. Just look at the music industry here in South Africa. It isn’t very big, but it’s starting to grow and I’m so excited about it and watching everyone come out to be seen by the world because we have so much passion and talent worth recognising. So, to me it’s not a competition but a community,” she said.
Music, more than stories, provides the soundtrack to one’s life. Aware of this, Marie spoke about the moods she wished to stir with her artistry and the type of vibes she hoped to inspire with her songs.
“For now, I’m focused on doing pop and developing it into something you can dance to. I want my music to be something you can listen to on a late-night drive, when everything is quiet and the music is the only thing giving you the vibes. But I also want to make music you can listen to on a regular, something that will lift up your mood and make you want to sing – those feel-good emotions,” she said.