Princess of Power is the sixth studio album by Welsh singer and songwriter Marina. It was released independently and distributed through music company BMG Rights Management on 6 June 2025.[a] Marina wrote and co-produced the album with American record producer CJ Baran. It consists being an emotional dance and synth-pop record that explores themes such as empowerment, feminism, and sexual freedom.
Upon its release, the album was met with positive reviews from music critics. Princess of Power marks her first self-released album since her second extended play Froot Acoustic (2015), after parting ways with Atlantic Records after her fifth studio album, Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land (2021). Commercially, it debuted at number seven on the UK Albums Chart, while it reached the top twenty in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
Three singles supported Princess of Power prior to its release, all of which had accompanying music videos: "Butterfly" was the lead single, followed by "Cupid's Girl" and "Cuntissimo". "I <3 You" also received a music video which coincided with the album release. To further promote the record, Marina will embark on her sixth concert tour of the same name from September to November 2025.
Following its release, Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land (2021), received generally positive reviews from music critics.[b] Subsequently, Marina announced and embarked her tour of the same name, beginning on 2 February 2022.[7] While touring, she reissued an expanded version of her second studio album, Electra Heart (2012), honoring its tenth anniversary.[8] During her performance at O2 Academy Brixton on 22 May, Marina revealed that she would be ending her 14-year contract with Atlantic Records.[9] Later that year, in November, she uploaded an image through X (formerly Twitter) signing a document "for and on behalf of" her newly created independent label record, Queenie Records LLC.[10]
In 2023, there were no developments until Marina gave an update related to her health; she had been diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).[11] Before she knew the cause of her poor health, Marina explained that she had experienced various symptoms related to the condition over seven years, during which she relied on "adrenaline and will power to push [her] through each day." She further stated that while prioritizing healing was "demanding a lot of [her] energy and attention," it was necessary in order to "get back to [her] creative life again."[12] The following year, Marina revealed she had been working on her debut poetry book, Eat the World: A Collection of Poems (2024), due for release in October.[13] She also disclosed in a Rolling Stone interview on 2 April 2024 that she had begun writing new music six months prior, but was not far along in the process.[14] After supporting Australian singer Kylie Minogue for a one-off show, she confirmed to Attitude on 15 July that her next album was set to be released in 2025.[15] That same month, Variety reported the artist had signed with Volara Management.[16]
In an interview with Plastik, Marina reflected on her past studio albums, commenting on the significant aesthetic and compositional shifts over her career. When questioned about whether she would ever consider creating another alter ego, she answered, "My next record is very playful and has a character-led concept, but not in the same way as Electra Heart".[c] Moreover, Marina clarified that she found constantly embodying a single persona too confining, going on to say, "I like freedom and experimentation. This next era is very fun. It has a special energy."[18]
Themes and composition
"We are meeting a Marina who is not guarding her heart so much anymore, [and] has felt so freeing is that [...] I've really dove into my fear of love. It's a courageous thing, particularly if you’ve been hurt in the past. It can be really hard to reprogram yourself, and I've finally been able to do that."
Diamandis,explaining her self-identity affected her creative process to Rolling Stone.[19]
Before the release, Marina spoke with Pride about how the record was inspired from listening to prominent artists from the 1970s and 2000s pop music such as Madonna, Kylie Minogue, and Swedish group ABBA. This caused Marina regaining her innovative process which led her into writing the "emotive" album and characterize it as "bright" and "tragic."[20] She elaborated further with The Washington Post as the album does not constitute as a "very politcal record, [but] it does grapple with what power means, [...] especially for a musician navigating the youth-obsessed world of pop".[21] Marina had also mention the album is a "benefit to women, instead of a loss" and to be fully energized of euphoria and empowerment as each song progresses.[22]
Princess of Power has been described as a synth and dance-pop record, that contains a total of thirteen tracks full of theatrical ballads that expands into visual project.[23] Beginning with its eponymous track, the artist reintroduces herself in "a triumphant chorus" confronting her flaws and evolution ("Stuck in a loveless generation / Ready to go through a transformation"), which made a huge shift internally being a "declaration of intent."[24]
"Butterfly", the following track and lead single morphs into a house-infused chamber pop song that is later identified as "an after-hours dancefloor anthem."[25] The lyricism of the record finds Marina exploring spiritual rebirth and personal growth,[26] which cross-references its biological process of metamorphosis for the insect of the same name.[27] "Cuntissimo" was described as a dreamy electro and techno-pop melodic track that draws inspiration from various women who embodied strength and independence as they are "enjoying their lives without judgment."[28] Marina reflects the central theme for the song is pleasure as she believes women have been denied from it due to patriarchal pressures and now is against from its societal constraints.[29]
"Cupid's Girl", the fifth track is a strong and empowered synth-pop song with fewer elements highlighting new rave and darkwave.[30] This songwriting opens with commentary based on playful or seductive romance which displays "[Marina's] self-awareness and yearning, singing about love's complexities with both humor and depth."[31] The following track "Metallic Stallion" had an opposite meaning that delve into a person questioning its intimacy with one another.[32]
The album concludes with "Final Boss", bringing its playful nature in old school gaming mostly referencing the notorious final boss. It signals the latter end ("Guess I beat you at your own game") with a comedic outro questioning if someone won or lost ("Game over").[33]
Aesthetics direction
While performing at music festivals such as Coachella and the Governors Ball in the United States, Marina has maintained a cohesive image with often drawing a five-pointed star on her cheek,[34] resembling her previous character Electra Heart. Notably, she wore a bubbly-pink tartan corset paired with a taffeta mini-skirt by Erik Charlotte,[35] a curled platinum blonde wig,[36] and a pair of ballerina-like high heels.[37]
"Butterfly" was shown to be reminisced by American singer Madonna and featuring various liminal spaces. It opened with a darkened bedroom featuring Marina, wearing an outfit resembling the Jean Paul Gaultierpink conical-bra corset worn by Madonna. She soon choreographs and sings in multiple "vintage-styled" rooms.[38][39][40][41]
Promotion and release
The studio album was preceded by the release of three singles and three music videos. It was reported the singer began to distribute gift bags on 31 January 2025, containing living caterpillars with care instructions on how to nurture them.[42] This "immersive campaign" culminated in its lead single titled "Butterfly" released on 21 February; an accompanying music video was released the same day directed by Aerin Moreno.[43] "Cupid's Girl" was released as the second single on 21 March, accompanying a visualizer directed by Logan Rice.[44] The track was met with mixed reviews with The Harvard Crimson describing the song catchy but "falls flat" leaving her audience "wanting [an] emotional depth provided by the earlier songs in her discography".[45]
Marina soon introduced her third single "Cuntissimo" on 10 April and received a music video the next day, directed by Olivia de Camps. V named the song as a "campy ballad in defense of female autonomy [with] touches of Victorian-era lilts."[46] Marina name-drops a Mexican and American actress ("Salma Hayek in the sun") in the song, which caught her attention. Hayek quickly responded in a video message with excitement and thanking "for [having] my name in such an amazing song!"[47] This resulted announcing her sixth album Princess of Power, including its artwork and an expected release date in June,[48] and was made available for pre-order via her website and different streaming services.[49] All three released songs were later performed live on the same day at Coachella 2025. This marked her first live performances of the year.[50] Shortly after, Marina unveiled its complete track listing through social media consisting of thirteen songs on 22 April.[51]
Princess of Power was independently released on 6 June 2025; it was available worldwide for compact disc (CD), digital download, streaming, and on vinyl records.[d] This marked Marina's first self-released studio album since her acoustic extended play Froot (2015).[53] A music video for "I <3 You" was released the same day.[54] Three days later, Marina revealed her upcoming concert tour of the same name and is slated to embark this year, from September to November,[55] visiting arenas in North America. The tour will be supported alongside Australian singer Mallrat, with American hip-hip duo Coco and Clair Clair.[56]
Princess of Power received positive reception from music critics upon its release. According to review aggregator Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating from mainstream publications, the album received a weighted average score of 70 out of 100, based on four critic reviews.[57]
Variety opined that the European disco-esque album flourished from its revamped electronic rhythms with "hilarious and risque lyrics." Jem Aswad suggests that, whilst most artists of a similar age see their career's "leveling off," this album shows that "Marina's [career] is finally beginning for real."[62]Vogue also gave a cognate review, believing the artist's "newfound sense of freedom and purpose" after exiting her former record label. Liam Hess saw how Princess of Power returned to its "most playful provocateur" of pop music, showcasing roguish behaviour and "self-possession".[63]Pitchfork somewhat gave a mixed review acknowledging the returning themes of feminism, seeing the similarity of Electra Heart, yet being a maximalist disco-pop record. Jaeden Pinder felt that every track "rolled off a conveyor belt" with the songwriting falling into a "childlike cliché."[61]
Commercial performance
Princess of Power debuted at number seven on the UK Albums Chart, considerably higher than her previous album which peaked at number seventeen.[64] It was moderately successful across Europe, reaching the top twenty in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. In the United States, the album debuted at number forty-two on the Billboard 200, consisting of 10,000 pure album sales.[65]
↑ "OLiS - oficjalna lista sprzedaży" (in Polish). OLiS. Archived from the original on 19 January 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2025. Note: Change the date to 06.06.2025–12.06.2025 under "zmień zakres od–do:".
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