Gwent star storms top 40 (From South Wales Argus)

Gwent star storms top 40

4:40pm Monday 8th February 2010

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GWENT-born music sensation Marina Diamandis shot into the charts on Sunday with her debut single entering the top 40 at number 12.

Miss Diamandis, singer-songwriter with Marina and the Diamonds, went straight into the top 20 with her first single “Hollywood” and is now preparing for the release of her first album “Family Jewels” on February 22.

Twenty-four-year-old Miss Diamandis was born in Brynmawr and lived in Abergavenny as a young girl with her Greek father and Welsh mother, who still lives in the area.

She went to Monmouthshire's Llanvihangel Crucorney junior and infant school and Monmouth School for Girls before living in Greece and London.

The self-taught piano player launched her music career by approaching 14 different record companies, and recently came second in the BBC's Sound of 2010 list which features the best acts to look out for in the next 12 months Speaking to the Argus last month, Miss Diamandis said she still has family ties in Gwent and feels her connection with South Wales helped to shape her career.

"Wales has influenced me," she said. "I grew up around nature and had quite a normal upbringing, I didn't have a lot and it was very simple, which I really like.

“I would love to live like that, but now I'm in an industry which is glitz and glam."

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