Marla Moya

You hear her once – and you don’t forget. Marla Moya sings with a raw warmth and clear emotionality. Her songs are honest, unpretentious, and carry a quiet intensity – both timeless and rooted in the now. Her music echoes legends like Fleetwood Mac or Harry Nilsson, while resonating with the spirit of contemporary indie artists such as Angel Olsen and Weyes Blood.

In recent years, Marla toured around the world with her former partner – playing over 1,000 shows, including performances at Glastonbury Festival, Mariposa Folk Festival and live sessions at the BBC. A new chapter begins: under the name Marla Moya, she released her debut solo album Sanguine Soul in November via Backseat, produced by Robert Francis in Los Angeles.

Joining her are world-class musicians like Joachim Cooder (Buena Vista Social Club) and Doug Pettibone (Tracy Chapman, Keith Richards). The album was recorded live to tape – without a click track – a deliberate choice in favor of feel, space, and soul over perfection.

These songs trace the arc of transformation – of letting go, rediscovering oneself, facing fear, and holding onto hope. “Even though it doesn’t feel like a classic love-song album to me,” Marla says, “a golden thin thread runs through almost every track. Which makes sense – in the end, everything in life revolves around love.”

Sanguine Soul is an album full of movement – between light and shadow, longing and belonging, the desire to be seen and the strength to stand alone. Marla Moya’s songs are both intimate and expansive – they open emotional spaces while staying grounded. In the end, you're never quite sure: is that a laugh or a cry? Probably both. And that’s exactly why she stays with you.