Marie Digby Fan Blog

Marie Digby Photos

2008-07-05T19:32:00.000-07:00

How to Download Free Music Legally

2008-07-02T21:33:00.000-07:00

Digital music seems to be big these days and we all can't help but notice how everybody seems to be interested in finding out how to download music for free. Nobody likes to pay for CD's any more, since it's no secret that most of the new albums being released only contain a few good songs on them. Thats why it's important to learn how to download free music legally.

Not to long ago, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) made a decision to financially assassinate any one they caught downloading music from web sites that are considered to be illegal. This has left many unexpecting individuals facing a law suite simply because they didn't know how to download free music from legal sources that would have kept them out of trouble and gave them instructions on how to download music for free online.

The first thing you might want to do to find these kind of web sites is to do a search on either Google, Yahoo, and MSN. Once you get the search results from the search engine you decide to use, you might want to go to the "FAQ" or "Terms of Use" page of the music website you are visiting. They usually give you some information about the downloads on their web site and this will give you an insight about how to download free music from their catalog legally.

A few good sites to download legal music for free are Napster and Rhapsody. They let you download as many tracks as you want before having to spend any money.

You can get more info about how to download free music on Hilary Mujikwa's website. It contains a list of legal sites that don't mind if you download totally free music downloads from them.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hilary_Mujikwa

Marie Digby Photos

2008-06-30T18:27:00.000-07:00

Bring Me Love

2008-06-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Santa I wrote you a letter
I wonder if you ever read it
I’ve only one wish that I ask you
It’s the same old thing
as every other year

Hooo hooo
Hooo hooo
Hooo hooo

With you I can’t say I’ve been perfect
I’m pretty sure I’ve got a regret or two
But Santa please don’t hold it against me
Because this time I’m counting on you to

Bring me
Bring me love
Ohh ohh
Santa
Bring me
Bring me love
Hoo oh
Bring me love
Ohh ohh
HooOOOooo
Bring me love
Ohh ohh
HooOOOooo

As a child I remember dreaming
Of all the beautiful things
that you can create
But I can have all the toys
in the world then
You see it won’t still mean a thing
Can you

Bring me
Bring me love
Ohh ohh
Santa
Bring me
Bring me love
Hoo oh
Bring me love
Ohh ohh
HooOOOooo
Bring me love
Ohh ohh
HooOOOooo

Cause I’ve been (I’ve been)
Patient (patient)
I’ve been (I’ve been)
Waiting so long
Hoping (hoping)
Praying (praying)
Just tell me that you’d hurry just this once

Can you
Bring me
Bring me love
Ohh ohh
Santa
Bring me
Bring me love
Hoo oh
Tell me that the time has come
That there is someone waiting for me too

Santa
Bring me
Bring me love
Hoo oh
Bring me love
Ohh ohh
HooOOOooo
Bring me love
Ohh ohh
HooOOOooo

Marie Digby Photo

2008-06-19T04:43:00.000-07:00

Oh my god!! She so lucky, have a cute face and very talented; can sing, write song, play guitar and piano. She have a complete package.

Photo Marie play guitar and sing song Umbrella in youtube video.

Say it Again - Official Video

2008-06-03T07:36:00.000-07:00

Where Can I Download Free Music

2008-06-02T09:18:00.001-07:00

If you've ever asked yourself a question like "where can i download music for free?" or you've grown tired of everybody asking you..."where can i download free music", it might be a good idea for you to get acquainted with some of the top music sites on web.

Everybody knows that there are literally hundreds of thousands of web sites out there, which offer free music download services to anybody looking to get their hands on the latest music releases. The problem is, not all these web sites are legal and in some cases these web sites are booby trapped with malicious spy ware which can damage your computer beyond repair. Thats why I decided to come up with the answer to the "where can I download free music" question.

Even though are many music downloading scam web sites on the net, you've got to realize that there are a few good companies that are worth checking out. I have a complete list of the most of these companies listed on my web site, but for the purpose of keeping this article short I will share some of them with you to help answer the "where can I download free music" question that has got you reading thus far.

The rhapsody music service is one of the sites that allows you to download unlimited music before having to spend a dime out of your pocket. They have a reputation for being a good music download company.

The Napster music site is also another music downloading service worth checking out. They are not as cool as they were before but they are still however, a force to be recognized in the digital music arena.

These are just some of the many good companies worth taking a peek at and i hope this helped to answer your "where can I download free music" question.

Hilary Mujikwa is the founder of Free Music Download Websites, a site dedicated to helping people find totally free music downloads legally.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hilary_Mujikwa

Say It Again

2008-05-29T10:19:00.000-07:00

The thing about love
Is i never saw it coming
It kinda crept up and took me by surprise
And now there’s a voice inside my heart that’s got me wondering
Is this true, i want to hear it one more time

Move in a little closer
Take it to a whisper
Just a little louder

Say it again for me
Cuz i love the way it feels when you are telling me that i’m
The only one who blows your mind
Say it again for me
It’s like the whole world stops to listen
When you tell me you’re in love
Say it again

Thing about you is you know just how to get me
You talk about us like there’s no end in sight
The thing about me is that i really want to let you
Open that door and walk into my life

Move in a little closer
Take it to a whisper
Just a little louder

And it feels like it’s the first time
Anybody has ever brought the sun without the rain
And never in my whole life
That i’ve a heard voice as beautiful is when you say my name

Say it again for me
Cuz i love the way it feels when you are telling me that i’m
The only one that blows your mind
Say it again for me
It’s like the whole world stops to listen
When you tell me you’re in love
Say it again

When you tell me you’re in love…
Say it again

RADAR Magazine - April(Part2)

2008-05-29T09:58:00.001-07:00

HOLLYWOOD AND VINE "I'm a real L.A. girl," says Digby (Photo: Jennifer Rocholl)

You're still going to have to get used to being in the public eye, though. What's your worst experience to date?
I did this show at the Roxy, where I played right before a Latino heavy metal band. The place was packed, and at first I was all excited, thinking, "Oh my God, maybe word has spread! People are here to see me!" Unfortunately, that was not the case. They heckled me. They threw stuff at me onstage. I got so angry I actually stopped in the middle of a song to yell back at one guy. To top it all off, when my set was done, I got groped while climbing down from the stage. That was the end of the line for me. I started recording YouTube videos a few days later.

You've made your name covering the hit songs of other people. Have any of them given you feedback?
The only artist I've met so far is Mike Einziger from Incubus. A bunch of people sent him a link to the cover I did of "Love Hurts," and when I met him at an Incubus concert, he told me that I missed a few chords.

You spent a year at UC-Berkeley as a philosophy major before dropping out to pursue music. How did that major connect with your goal of becoming a lyricist and songwriter?
To be honest, I majored in philosophy, not because it was necessarily my favorite subject, but it seemed like the easiest thing to major in at the time. It was the only class where you only had to turn in two papers a year. When I was in college, I wanted to do music already. So I tried to fill my schedule with the easiest classes that took the least amount of time. I thought, "Philosophy! That's it!"

How has your family responded to your success?
My family is as normal as can be. They're so supportive. I could gush about them all day. We're very close. I have two little sisters, we're best friends. I adore my parents, so I'm really lucky to have the family I do.

Probably the first place a lot of fans heard your music was on The Hills. Do you watch the show at all?
I've watched the shows that I was in!

The show has spawned its own authenticity debate. What do you think: is it real or are we all a bunch of suckers?
Oh, I'm totally flabbergasted. I don't know to this day. In my heart I kind of hope it's not real. Because if that's what life here in L.A. is about, then I'm really kind of scared for Southern California's youth.

Beauty Waking Away

2008-05-28T08:36:00.000-07:00

A light shines off in the distance
A pale flickering glow
How many times do I have to dream that I could be there
The time is here and she won’t be waiting for me to find the easy way out
I’ve lost count of the days that were wasted

There’s an answer in the sound of a train
There is wisdom past the bridge on the bay
There’s a lifetime through the fog, in the rain
there’s a beauty walking away

I float on the streets that are empty
take the path that the wind only knows
Tonight is the last time that I’ll ever be here

There’s an answer in the sound of a train
there is wisdom past the bridge on the bay
There’s a lifetime through the fog, in the rain
there’s a beauty walking away

It’s never quite simple, it’s never that safe
it never seems perfect until it’s too late
It’s never the right time to find a new way

There’s an answer in the sound of a train
there is wisdom past the bridge on the bay
There’s a lifetime through the fog, in the rain
there’s a beauty walking away

RADAR Magazine - April(Part1)

2008-05-27T19:25:00.000-07:00

Marié Digby’s feature article in the April issue of RADAR Magazine.

In late May of 2007, Marié Digby—a 24-year-old singer-songwriter from Los Angeles—set up a webcam in her living room and recorded a breathy, acoustic rendition of Rihanna's hit single "Umbrella." Within weeks of uploading the video to YouTube, the wide-eyed, porcelain-skinned chanteuse had been seen by 2 million Web surfers, appeared on Last Call With Carson Daly, and had one of her songs featured on The Hills.

But no sooner had the Japanese-Irish-American girl next door been held up as a symbol of the grassroots, star-making power of the Internet than the conspiracy theories began making the rounds. "YouTube Phenom Has a Big Secret," wrote the Wall Street Journal in a front-page article last September, noting that Digby had been signed to Hollywood Records since 2005 and dismissing her videos as a viral marketing ploy. Suddenly, Digby found herself at the center of an Internet firestorm: Was she or wasn't she "real"?

Half a year later, Marié is still standing. With an album of original songs out this month, the girl who once shouted down a roomful of heavy metal hecklers sets
the record straight about the real role of YouTube in catapulting her to fame, the haters who write her off as a prefab phenom, and why—unlike some other It girls—she always, always wears underwear.

The Wall Street Journal article accused you of being a Lonelygirl15-style "product" of your record label. What's the story with that?
They made it seem like I had some horrible dark secret! The writer totally misquoted me. He wanted to know why I hadn't put my label's logo up on my site. I still haven't, actually. I told him, "Hollywood Records wasn't involved at all in the making of this site, and I run it completely on my own. I don't believe they define me as an artist. I also don't believe"—and here's where he got his quote—"that telling people I'm signed to a label is going to make them like me more."

So Hollywood Records didn't engineer your rise to fame and fortune?
No! They're a busy company with a lot of artists on their hands. It's not really their job to sit and think about small ways to get my name out there. I took full responsibility for that. Here's the deal: In 2006, I played pretty much every venue in Los Angeles—open mikes, showcases, what have you. I realized that if I kept doing that for years, it might become effective for creating a fan base, but in my eyes, I was running out of time. YouTube was my last resort.

What do you mean, "running out of time"?
When you're signed to a major label you have a specific amount of time before you're not new anymore. At that point, it had already been six months since I finished my first album, and it still hadn't come out. I knew that if I didn't get things going soon, it would be shelved.

So you came up with the idea to do covers?
Yeah. I wanted to do originals, but I didn't think anyone on YouTube would find them. It wasn't until I put up the "Umbrella" video that everything exploded.

Why do you think people are so caught up in the is-she-or-isn't-she-real debate?
I think because it sounded too good to be true. Which it was. But at least it started a great dialogue between people. I actually don't have that many bad feelings about it anymore. The publicity was initially negative, but because of it, lots of people have asked me for the true story. Half of me wants to send that Journal guy a box of chocolates and some flowers for putting my face on the front page. Thanks!

Speaking of your face, it seems like a lot of your fans comment not only on your music, but also on your looks. Any stalker issues?
Well, there's one guy who borders on stalker. He's obsessed with girls who wear guitar straps when they play. And I don't use a guitar strap most of the time. He would write me about five times a day asking, "Why aren't you wearing your guitar strap in your videos?"

You weren't adequately fulfilling his fantasy.
No, I guess I wasn't! I'm apparently not the only one he stalks. He writes any girl who plays a guitar in their videos.

A psychologist could have a field day with that.
Oh, God, I'm sure there's some reason for his twisted fantasy!

Do cautionary tales like Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan make you nervous about becoming a pop star?
I don't think I'm ever going to be one of those paparazzi targets. I'm not the biggest partier, so I'm not at those clubs. And I wear underwear at all times, so I don't have to worry about crotch shots. Those girls invite that into their lives. I don't think that's anything I'll ever have to worry about

Girlfriend

2008-05-26T03:08:00.000-07:00

You wear, your hair
like it’s your best accessory
and I don’t want to
ever have to compete with that
I know, you’d be
nothing but excessively sweet
cherish me, sing to me, love me

but I can’t belong
to anybody else right now
though it is not much of an excuse
I can’t belong
to anybody else when I’ve got
so much figuring out to do

I don’t want to be a girlfriend
I don’t want to talk about my feelings yea
I don’t wanna be some girlfriend
I don’t wanna have to explain
what I’m thinking

I go, alone
to watch stupid romance movies
and I sit, wishing
it was your arms wrapped around me and
I just deny
that all i want is a piece of you
but I guess it’s true
don’t want to talk on the phone
don’t want attachments, don’t wanna
be your girlfriend..

I just can’t belong
to anybody else right now
though it is not much of an excuse
I can’t belong
to anybody else when I’ve got
so much figuring out to do

I don’t wanna be a girlfriend
I don’t wanna talk about
my feelings yea
I don’t wanna be a girlfriend
I don’t wanna have to explain
what I’m thinking

is it wrong for me to want you
just for a day?
I don’t want to be that kind of girl
but I can’t help myself

Marie Digby AA Rising Interview(Part2)

2008-05-26T02:57:00.001-07:00

For those who can't wait, where can they get some of your music now?
My music is available on iTunes. I have an acoustic EP as well as my first single "Say It Again" available for download. The pre-order for my album (which comes with an exclusive and free DVD) is available at www.mariedigbyunfold.com.

You've had a couple of songs broadcast on television shows such as Smallville and MTV's The Hills. How were you able to get the songs included into the shows?
Every situation has been different. With 'The Hills' for example, the music supervisor personally emailed me on MySpace to ask for my songs. He found out about me through my YouTube and decided to contact me himself! Other times, music supervisors will reach out to my record label to get advanced copies of my upcoming album.

Who are some of your favorite online musicians you've discovered out there that you think deserve some attention?
There are so many amazing musicians on the internet!! My current favorite is the a guy named Ronald Jenkees on YouTube.

When you aren't singing and making videos on YouTube for your fans, what are some of the things you enjoy doing in your free time? Hobbies? Interests?
I love being outdoors, I love snowboarding, traveling, going to see movies, exploring to flea markets, and gardening. Yes, gardening.

What advice do you have for other aspirising singer/songwriters out there?
It sounds so simple but my advice comes down to 2 main things. The most important part is for a singer/songwriter to have a whole arsenal of great songs. After you've written a bunch of songs, narrow it down to your 3-5 best and make a simple demo. The second most important component is live performance. Take any chance you get to perform your songs and develop your confidence on stage! I believe that as long as you have great songs, and a great live performance, people will find you. It's just a matter of time.

Stupid For You

2008-05-25T05:34:00.000-07:00

It’s not everday
that I find a person quite like you
perfect every way
I finally found the nerve to confess that it’s you - that I want
I don’t care if I act a fool
I would damn near beg for you !
put aside, all my pride
so don’t keep me hanging here
cause this girl is falling stupid for you..
stupid for you..

The proper thing to do
is for me to act like a lady and wait
for you to make the first move
but I don’t think you’re getting the point
that it’s you - that I want
I don’t care if I act a fool
I would damn near beg for you
put aside, all my pride
so don’t keep me waiting here
cause this girl is falling stupid for you!
oh, oh stupid for you

Why’s it always feel like I am
chasing love when nothing’s there
and here I go just making the same mistake…

I’ve fallen stupid for you..

Marie Digby Performs on The Jack Diamond Morning Show

2008-05-25T01:00:00.000-07:00

Jack Diamond & Marie Digby after an in-studio performance. Another "viral video" has helped launch a career. 2 million views on YouTube and a deal with Hollywood Records for Marie Digby. She has an EP out now and an album in February '08, titled "Unfold".

Marie and her back up guitarist Lance Jammin' out on The Jack Diamond Morning Show!

Unfold

2008-05-24T23:47:00.000-07:00

What I can remember
is alot like water
trickling down a page
of the most beautiful colors
I can’t quite put my
finger down on the moment
that I became like… this

You see, I’m the bravest girl
you will ever come to meet
and yet I shrink down to nothing
at the thought of someone
really seeing me
I think my heart is wrapped around
and tangled up in winding weeds

but I don’t wanna go on living
being so afraid of showing
someone else my.. imperfections
even though my feet are trembling
and every word I say comes stumbling
I will bare it all.. watch me unfold
unfold

These hands that I hold
behind my back are
bound and broken by my own doing
and I can’t feel
anything, anymore
I need a touch to remind me
I’m still real..

Cause I don’t wanna go on living
being so afraid of showing
someone else my.. imperfections
even though my feet are trembling
and every word I say comes stumbling
I will bare it all.. watch me unfold
unfold

My soul
It’s dying to be free
I can’t live the rest of my life
so guarded
it’s up to me to choose..
what kind of life I lead.

cause I don’t wanna go on living
being so afraid of showing
someone else my.. imperfections
even though my feet are trembling
and every word I say comes stumbling
I will bare it all.. watch me unfold
unfold

I will allow someone to love me
I will allow someone to love me…

Marie Digby AA Rising Interview(Part1)

2008-05-24T03:50:00.000-07:00

What is your ethnicity?
I am half Japanese and half Irish.

How did you get started as a singer/songwriter? What did your parents think of your aspirations to be a musician?
I began writing songs when I was about 15 years old. I never intended to play my songs for an audience. It was more like writing in a journal for me. The only difference was that when I just wrote words in a journal, it wasn't nearly as satisfying as when I paired the words with music. Although I kept it a secret from my family and friends, once they found out what I was doing, they were very surprised but supportive! When I told my parents that I'd be dropping out of college to pursue music.. well that was a different story! They were definitely apprehensive at first but I'd like to think that I proved to them that I was willing to do whatever it took to make things happen.

Marie DigbyYou've gained a lot of attention thanks to the Internet (YouTube, MySpace, etc.). Have you been surprised by the attention this new media has provided to you? Do you feel the new media outlets really gave you more exposure than you could have received without it?
The attention that I got through my YouTube has been a complete surprise! Obviously, I had hoped that my videos would eventually lead to meeting new fans and developing a bigger fan base but I never imagined it'd happen this quickly and on this big of a scale. It's incredible to me that my simple videos were somehow able to strike a chord with strangers from all over the world. I know for a fact that without the exposure I've had on the internet, I wouldn't be in the position I am now. I believe that what YouTube and Myspace did for me in a matter of months is something it would have taken me years to accomplish by getting out on the road and touring the country in my car. Thanks to the internet, when I do finally get on the road, hopefully there will be people waiting to see me!

Your debut album, "Unfold," will be in stores in early April. Are you excited about its release? What was the inspiration for the songs on your album? Are there any tour plans for the summer?
Knowing that my album is finally coming out is truly a dream come true. As they often say "You have your whole life to write your first record"...and so my debut album has songs written in various stages of my life spanning over the last 10 years! They are all personal experiences or stories that I relate to which have shaped who I am.
I am definitely going to tour this summer and I can't wait! Unfortunately, I haven't seen much of this country and I can't wait to get out and experience all of which is in between L.A and NYC (the two cities I have frequented the most!).

Umbrella

2008-05-23T01:03:00.000-07:00

You had my heart, and we’ll never be a world apart
Maybe in magazines but you’ll still be my star
But baby ’cause in the dark you will see shiny cars
And that’s when you need me there
With you I’ll always share because

When the sun shines we shine together
Told you I’ll be here forever
That I’ll always be your friend
Took an oath, I’mma stick it out ’til the end
Now that it’s raining more than ever know that we still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella
You can stand under my umbrella (ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella (ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella (ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella (ella ella eh eh eh)

The fancy things they’re never coming in between
You’re apart of my entity
Here for infinity
When the war has took it’s part
When the world has dealt it’s cards
If the hand is hard
Together we’ll mend your heart because

You can run into my arms
It’s okay, don’t be alarmed
Come into me
So gonna let the rain pour
I’ll be all you need and more because

It’s raining (raining)
Ooh baby it’s raining (raining)
Come into me
Come into me
It’s raining (raining)
Ooh baby it’s raining (raining)
Come into me
Come into me
(Ella ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella (ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella (ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella (ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella (ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella (ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella (ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella (ella ella eh eh eh eh eh-eh)

Marié Digby - Blackbook - 3-12-08

2008-05-22T09:49:00.000-07:00

Marié Digby Makes A Splash..:
From YouTube to U2—with GAP ads and a controversial exposé scattered along the way—the guitar heroine is inching her way into mainstream pop, learning a thing or two about going viral in the process. Oh, and she’s got a message for everyone over at The Wall Street Journal: You ain’t seen nothing yet.
By Nick Haramis

..It’s overcast, rain threatening to spoil an otherwise mild March morning, as I make my way to meet Marié Digby, one of YouTube’s latest darling sensations. While holding the door open for a young couple exiting nondescript ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />West Village eatery Sweet Life Café, the sky parts for a moment, unleashing a few droplets on an otherwise dry street. The man unearths an umbrella from his satchel, and holds it out for his girlfriend. "You brought an umbrella," she squeals, before kissing him on the cheek. Walking past, I hear his faint echo as he braves deeper into the drizzle. "Ella, ella, ella… "

In 2007, Rihanna took hold of pop lovers and music critics with her hit single "Umbrella," a song that won handfuls of awards and topped even more year-end best-of lists. Shortly after its release, Digby, then unknown, sat down with her guitar in her Los Angeles home, and transformed the track into an acoustic ballad. Viral it became. Since then, Digby has built upon her reputation as an online cover artist, interpreting everyone from Linkin Park to Britney Spears. Her success has been formidable. When, in September, The Wall Street Journal ran a cover story on Digby (more on that later), her YouTube account had already soared past 2.3 million viewers. Since then, she’s created her own YouTube channel, which has received over 1.6 million views. A MySpace phenomenon, Digby is not. (That profile weighs in at a paltry 900,000 views by comparison.) Things were looking up for the young singer-songwriter, and it appeared her debut album, which was last seen dangling dangerously close to post-production oblivion, might actually see the light of day.

And then the bottom fell out.

Literally, it was dropped on her doorstep. On September 6th of last year, The Wall Street Journal’s Ethan Smith published a feature meant to expose Digby as a fraud. It was suggested that her homespun, golly-gee gullibility shtick had been created and cultivated by an army of PR executives over at Hollywood Records. During a phone conversation with BlackBook earlier this week, Smith said he stood by his story, explaining, "The piece speaks for itself. No one has ever questioned its legitimacy." The story, "scathing," according to Digby, was the result of her first interview ever. Put-on persona or not, she was new to the game.

Despite the tone of the piece—and, in all probability, because of it—Digby’s profile only increased. She’s since been featured in Rolling Stone and Spin, and recently became one of the faces of GAP’s "The Sound of Color" campaign. And like Clay Aiken and Michael Jackson before him, she’s stuck to her wide-eyed naïveté routine, reusing the word "unexpected" in almost every one of her interviews.

I enter the greasy spoon on time, but Digby is already seated—pleasant proof that she’s still a novice—flanked on one side by her New York publicist. She smiles politely, and looking back, I get the impression she was sizing up my abilities as a journalist: was I looking for a "scoop" or was I interested in her favorite color? ("Yellow," as the GAP commercial would suggest.) I wasn’t sure myself what I was looking for as we chatted about her unapologetic embrace of pop, her learning curve, and her decidedly commercial career forecast. This last topic of conversation, more than anything, seems to be where Smith went wrong. Digby has never made any attempts to be anti-commercial or under the radar. Hers is an ambition that covets mainstream success. For argument’s sake, had Digby and her label not created the online blitzkrieg that catapulted her into stardom—and they stand by the claim that they did not—they should have. It’s genius.

Initially a touch reserved, Digby opens up over her second cup of coffee. ("I’m so sorry for stealing all the milk. I like when my coffee tastes like candy.") Dressed casually, she exudes a natural beauty, which has no doubt helped position her as the girl with guitar next door. She’s eager to talk about her new album, Unfold, a collection of original, introspective lazy Sunday strumming, but as time soon proved, she was even more eager to set the record straight, so to speak.

..

BLACKBOOK: The difference between you and traditional cover artists lies in that homespun sensibility. Your songs don’t rely on musical mimicry as much as they do complete acoustic overhauls.

MARIE DIGBY: I try to pick songs that I’m going to make sound different. People now give me requests, like "Hey There Delilah" by the Plain White T’s. But it wouldn’t make sense for me to do that cover because it’s already a vocals and guitar track. For me, it’s more interesting to take a song like Britney Spears’s "Gimme More." When I’m first listened to it, I was like, Are there even any chords in this song? What am I even listening to? The challenge lies in being able to transform that into a singer-songwriter song with melodies.

BB: Have you ever considered your interpretation an improvement?

MD: It’s never been my intention to make a song better. I just want to make it sound different, and still good, obviously. I don’t want to one-up the original.

BB: When you first started on YouTube, no one was watching or listening, so you had the freedom to perform whatever song you liked. Now that your videos have become so popular—viral, as they say—are you more conscious about how you look, what you sing?

MD: I think about everything a little more, but not too much, because what worked with the videos is that it’s obvious they were sort of spur of the moment. And I think if I put too much thought into what the background looked like, or what I was wearing, or how I was presenting myself, or the choice of song, my performances might lose some of their magic.

BB: YouTube is a strange, scary place.

MD: There are some nutty people in this world, and anyone with access to a computer can chime in with their two cents.

BB: Let’s review some of the more recent user comments left on your Britney video: "I would soooooo tap that ass," "You should consider ’American Idol,’" and "Can I have your number, please?" are among my favorites. Are you freaked out yet?

MD: [Laughs.] The nice stuff is great, but I actually get a bigger kick out of those crazy ones. I should start to collect them, copy and paste them in an email, and keep the worst ones. There are so many comments, like, "You’re ugly." And that’s all they write—nothing about the song. But like I said, YouTube is open to everyone around the world, and if someone wants to click on my video because they want to tap my ass, okay, cool. Open it ten times more. [Ed. Note: To avoid ambiguity, let’s make clear that Digby is referring to her webpage.]

BB: The Internet is such a funny place, such an interesting jump-off into celebrity. When signed to a major label, people are hired to manage your public persona. This isn’t to suggest that you’re a robot or that you’ll do whatever they tell you, but there is guidance. Online, however, you’re on your own.

MD: I think you’ve tapped into something really important. It’s true that major labels are completely in control of everything about you, because you’re a product and they’ve invested a lot of money in you. They kind of have that right. But having YouTube as my outlet into the world has allowed me to be me, in my most natural state. That’s what worked, and the label understands that. So now, they’re like, "Marié, what would you do, what would you wear in this situation?"

BB: Mandy Moore came out with her own version of "Umbrella" around the same time yours was released. You had to have been a little pissed off, no?

MD: For me to take any ownership of that song would be ridiculous. It would be ridiculous for me to be like, "Eww, what is Mandy doing?" Plus, I love Mandy Moore! I think if we knew each other, we’d be best friends. I think we’d love each other.

BB: You dropped out of UC Berkeley to focus on music. Have you since regretted the decision?

MD: No regrets, thank god for that. I studied philosophy for one year, and I think it was necessary for me to realize how badly I needed music in my life. But I definitely want to go back and finish later on in life, when I’m a mom, when I have tons of free time.

BB: Um…

MD: [Laughs.] Okay, so maybe not when I’m a mom. When I was at Berkeley, I was a do-just-enough-to-get-the-grade type, so I think for me to waste away four years doing that would have been sad. I think if I go back later, I’ll study what I want, not what I think would get me the best grade. I didn’t pick philosophy because it was my favorite subject. I picked philosophy because I only had to write two papers each semester.

BB: You totally just cheapened my next question. It seems that the creation of music and the study of philosophy have a lot in common—both are about introspection and observation.

MD: I’m absolutely fascinated by people. I love questioning human nature and people’s choices, so yes, I think they work together. I like broad questions like, "Does fate exist? Does God exist?" But I don’t approach songwriting from that perspective. I might later on, but right now, all my songs are really personal and introspective. I haven’t touched upon world peace or political issues. Not until I’m at U2 status.

BB: Are you more satisfied when performing your own songs as opposed to covers?

MD: Oh, totally. I knew that on YouTube, if I put up my original songs, no one would ever find me.

BB: But people are searching Britney. How brilliant!

MD: Exactly. And if they accidentally find me, they might click on some of my other videos. Being a cover artist is never what I wanted. I just wanted people to listen.

BB: What about karaoke?

MD: I have to be drunk and coerced into doing karaoke. I hate it. You know people are judging you, going, "Oh, you’re a singer, you’ve got to be great." If I had the choice, I’d never do it, unless I was by myself—then I’d do karaoke all day long.

BB: That’s not karaoke, Marié. That’s just singing on your own. You’ve referred to the Toadies and Elliot Smith as inspirations. Do you find it difficult to negotiate between your less commercial influences, and say, deciding whether or not to become the new face of GAP?

MD: Well, I don’t really think my inspirations come through in my music. I wish I could be indie and write cool stuff, but I’m pop. Even if I tried to write the next Death Cab for Cutie—wait, is it Death Cab Cutie?—song, it would come out as a pop song. I recognize that and understand that about myself, so for me, it makes total sense to do commercial things. I don’t think it would make sense for me to try to be like Elliot Smith, because my life isn’t anywhere near as tragic. If we have anything in common, it’s that we’re being genuine to who we are. I’ve had a fairly nice life and I’m a fairly happy person, and I don’t hide that fact in my music.

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BB: How comfortable are you with the glamorous side of pop music?

MD: I don’t like my photograph taken. I try to pretend that I do, but it’s uncomfortable. I’d rather sing songs, but I know it’s part of the deal, so if I’ve got to stand on a red carpet and smile for some cameras in order to get more people to listen to my music, then that’s what I’ll do. I don’t like going to parties, I’m not a club person. I like sitting at home, watching Oprah, and eating cookies and drinking milk. I prefer to do that, but that’s not going to sell any albums.

BB: I think I’d rather smile for a few cameras. Getting up on stage, pouring your heart out to a room of strangers, seems terrifying.

MD: At least it’s cathartic when you’re on stage. You’re getting something back, immediately. If I have a successful show, it means I’ve made a connection with whoever came to see me—10 people, 100 people, thousands of people—and, in my opinion, there’s no satisfaction like that. You’re feeling exactly what the crowd is feeling in that moment. You don’t get that when someone takes your picture.

BB: It’s a tragic time for celebrities and the idea of celebrity in general. Are those close to you nervous that you’ll fall into the red carpet trappings that seem to eat young Hollywood whole?

MD: I’m such a nerd. I really couldn’t pull that stuff off, even if I tried. If I didn’t wear underwear and went to some party, I don’t think photographers would be like, "Oh, let’s get a shot of that." And as far as those stars are concerned, I just think it all comes down to bad parenting. They never had any kind of guidance. It’s fun to fantasize about, being wildly beautiful and doing whatever I want, nothing bad ever happening to me. They drink and do drugs, and isn’t life amazing? "I’m a moving star!" I think it’s fun to fantasize about, but I could never pull it off.

BB: What has surprised you most about the industry?

MD: My career started out really badly, and its all been uphill since then. I had researched the industry for so long before anything ever happened to me, that I feel as though I’m now prepared. I’ve never felt like, This is unfair, or, I can’t believe they’re treating me like this because I’m a girl. I worked with a man from the age of 15 until I was 20, and it was a really terrible situation, so I saw the worst of the industry before I saw the good. I was a girl, I was young, and I was alone. I didn’t know how to stick up for myself. I was willing to put up with anything because it was all just a means to get to the end—my goal of being a successful musician. I was willing to do anything. It wasn’t until I was 20 years old that I was like, I don’t care if I don’t make it, I can’t do this anymore. And now, I’ve become pretty good at seeing through bad guys.

BB: This wasn’t always the case, though. I’m interested in your cover story in The Wall Street Journal. It seemed as if their "exposing" you as a YouTube fraud was less about you, and more about the corporatization of one of the world’s most democratic websites.

MD: They really wanted to do a piece on how major corporations are duping regular people into thinking they’re discovering someone or something when, in actual fact, they’ve got all kinds of money and manpower behind them. That was their angle. But their mistake was using me as an example, because my situation couldn’t be any more different. I did have a huge company that could potentially be putting lots of money behind me and coming up with these amazing marketing plans to make me the next YouTube star—which, by the way, isn’t even possible, not even if you’re McDonald’s or Coke—but that wasn’t happening. I did take the piece personally. I took it very personally because I didn’t have the support of my amazing, glitzy, wonderful record deal. I was holding on to it by its last string and doing whatever I could to make sure this album, that I had already finished a long time ago, would see the light of day. That album was in the can a long before the YouTube videos. Those videos were honestly a last-resort attempt to prove I deserved a shot.

BB: Was this the story you had expected to read?

MD: Absolutely not. This was the first time I had ever talked to a journalist. We were so excited—"Oh my gosh, The Wall Street Journal"—that no one thought, Why? Why does a business journal want to do a piece on a fledging musician? Except for my dad, that is. He’s a lawyer and was like, "This isn’t right, we shouldn’t be doing this." But, yeah, I totally spilled my guts out for hours to this journalist, hoping I would get a little tiny blurb in the back. We don’t have a subscription to the Journal, so my neighbor left it on the front door that day, with a Post-it on the cover that read, "Congratulations." When I looked at it and saw my face on the front—I looked like a serial killer, like that was my mug shot—I almost had a heart attack.

BB: Have you since learned your lesson?

MD: I don’t know that I’m much more reserved, but I pick and choose the people I’m going to be candid with. If CNN wants to do a piece on Internet sensations, I’m going to be a little bit more careful. You just have to be smart about who you’re talking to.