MC@Play with Marina and the Diamonds

When MC's resident talent scout, Sergio Kletnoy, first wrote about Marina and the Diamonds (opens in new tab) last year, he admitted he'd been stuck on the Welsh pop star for over a year. Now, it's been two, and we're as obsessed with Marina and the Diamonds, who is featured in our July issue, as ever.

Her much-anticipated new album (yes, Marina and the Diamonds is one person), which follows 2009's highly-acclaimed Family Jewels, drops July 10, and the excitement is building. As we await Electra Heart, Marina checked in with Marie Claire, and gave us the inside scoop on her inspiration, the rationale behind the album's title, and her summer tours — she's headlining the North American "Lonely Hearts Club" tour, and acting as the main support on Coldplay's world tour.

In the video for Electra Heart's lead single, "Primadonna," she stands at a microphone, her nails painted with sunflowers, batting intense black lashes. Like a pin-up from another era, Marina fits perfectly into what she identifies as her album's theme: "pink, and girly, and heart-obsessed" with "'70s kitsch."

They say diamonds are a girl's best friend, but we're just as happy to have Marina and the Diamonds' music on-hand.