MARINA, formerly known as Marina and the Diamonds, brought her Love + Fear Tour to the famous Masonic Auditorium in San Francisco, CA earlier this month. The venue witnessed a sold-out crowd for MARINA’s first tour in nearly three years, a transition that has since seen her drop her original moniker for a more subtle, personal touch in support of her fourth studio release.
The tour itself is a reflection of change not just in MARINA’s stage name, but ultimately her identity as an artist as well. Her weighted and unique mezzo-soprano vocals are reason enough to understand why she has such a dedicated and passionate fanbase, garnering attention from nationwide festivals over the years such as Lollapalooza and Coachella. Still, it’s understandable that artists may need to find their creative direction again, and MARINA is no exception, who even contemplated quitting the industry altogether. The Love + Fear Tour is a perfect representation of rediscovering one’s self.
MARINA appeared under the spotlight amidst a slanted, starry backdrop, breaking out into her newer release, “Handmade Heaven.” The tour was split into two parts, aptly titled “Love” and “Fear,” which is also representative of the separation of the double album itself. "Love" showcased a few of MARINA’s earlier works, such as “I Am Not a Robot” and “Primadonna,” which materialized into one giant dance number for the pop songstress and her accompaniment. "Fear," which in comparison to the bubbly, high energy of the prior segment, stripped things down a bit, namely during the performance of unreleased number “I’m Not Hungry Anymore,” which was well received among fans. Boasting interchanging multi-colored visuals, the entire production was practically eye candy, primarily for numbers like “Orange Trees” and signature hit, “Bubblegum Bitch.”
“Until the next album, thank you so much for having us, San Francisco!” MARINA exclaimed before closing out her set on a high note with “End of the Earth” and “How to Be a Heartbreaker." MARINA’s Love + Fear Tour continues on through mid-November, concluding in Madrid, Spain. Tickets can be purchased via MARINA’s website here.
