Denise Marsa Enters "PIVOTAL" Stage of Her Career

This has been a significant year for the award-winning singer-songwriter and keyboardist Denise Marsa. First, in late March, she gave us the sonically and lyrically evocative ‘Kiss Me in the Rain’, which saw the Until Dawn Remix hitting the top ten, peaking at #6 on the UK industry Music Week Commercial Club Charts just a few weeks ago. Then she dropped the infectious and uplifting ‘Rainbow’ (Until Dawn Remix) to coincide with Pride Month and all things connected to love. This summer, Denise showcases the release of her newest album, ‘PIVOTAL’. Her message is on point, in lieu of her recent success and considering the decades she has been creating and producing her own music.

‘PIVOTAL’ is a mix of genres with Marsa’s voice being the wind in the sail. The self-taught keyboardist, singer-songwriter, and producer, renowned for her innovative blend of alt-indie pop, is a composer who steps out from the restrictions of boundaries and labels. Marsa decided to start her own label, KeyMedia Group, when she released her debut solo album ‘Self’, in 1998. The album garnered stellar reviews in both indie and mainstream press.

Denise Marsa’s musical journey is one defined by individualism, tenacity, and the goal to make music that maintains its originality. ‘PIVOTAL’ is destined to captivate listeners with its compelling storytelling, infectious melodies, and thought-provoking themes, solidifying Denise Marsa's place as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary music today. An album that is poised to be a testament to the art of songwriting and the collaborative nature of music, Marsa’s next offering escapes definition, navigating romance, self-discovery, and personal triumph. Visit Denise’s website for more info.

We had the chance to catch up with Denise, below.

PIVOTAL builds and takes listeners on a journey. How does this structure reflect your career or
personal journey?

Interesting question and analogy. I think, regarding my journey, I mostly stay in the now.
However, when I am working on music I think ahead; I envision how I want the song-to-sound
production wise. That inspires the writing and always has. I think the theme running through
PIVOTAL is that the songs span now and tomorrow in their perspective. Very little looking back.
Even on ‘Dry Spell’ it talks of actions from the past, however asking in the now, “was it worth it?”
hindsight. Same as “Swimming”; it’s about being in the moment and grabbing the love, without
defining it. As in the relationship.

My career is flourishing more than ever now and that is in part due to the fact I can promote my
work and I have a wonderful team helping me. KeyMedia Group is an indie record label, and it
takes much longer to do many things, except write a song! They always comes out like a
Frisbee being thrown to an eager dog from its owner!

You’ve had a celebrated career with many achievements. How does this single ‘Don’t Count
Yourself Out Yet’ reflect your evolution as an artist?

Thank you for acknowledging my achievements, I am often too busy to stop and appreciate
them; it feels good when others do. ‘Don’t Count Yourself Out Yet’ has been my motto, my
theme song since day one though I just recently wrote it. When I first got started in the music
business years ago, I heard so many no’s and you can’t do this or that and I decided very early
on to form my own path and to make my own rules. Being an artist can be a tricky business, and
in my mind, to have the greatest impact, you want to make your music your own. Creating its
own lane. Not giving up, not counting myself out, has been the loudest voice in my head. It
keeps me going and it keeps my creative juices flowing.

What do you hope listeners will take away from your new album PIVOTAL?

I hope they enjoy listening to it, perhaps it brings them to think about their own lives,
relationships with others and themselves. It makes them smile and feel good. They get into a
groove doing whatever they are doing while listening!

Your work extends beyond music into public relations and advocacy. How do these different
aspects of your career influence each other?

Conviction has been a great inspiration for me. When you believe strongly in something,
whether it’s your work or your goals or dreams, and you have the ability to express yourself
creatively, it’s fuel to the flame we call life. Perhaps that is what we all are, a flame…

Can you tell us more about your work with the West Hollywood Visibility Committee and the Etheridge Award?

I lived in West Hollywood for 12 years; it was a co-publishing deal with Warner/Chappell that
brought me there in the 90s. I love California and still spend time there regularly and have made
very good friends there. One friend was, at the time, on the committee and knew of my work in
PR so she put my name forward. I created a proposal, and they accepted it. The goal of the
committee at the time was to shine a light on the great accomplishments within the community
and to bring help and support to the parts of the community that were not as visible. How to
navigate some of the challenges of lesbian relationships. There is struggle and dysfunction in
many communities, in families, in schools, in our world. Addressing the issues is the first step.
It was important for the committee to recognize the community leaders that brought positive
attention to the lifestyle. The Etheridge Award, named after Melissa Etheridge, was given that
year, (its second year) to Senator Sheila Kuehl. Kuehl, is a former Hollywood child star and was
California’s first openly gay state legislator, having previously served in the California State
Senate and the California State Assembly, where she was the Assembly’s first female speaker
pro tem.

How do you balance running KeyMedia Public Relations with your music career?

It has taken me a long time finding the best clients for me to work with. I work now with only two
and we have a long-term trusting relationships. Dr. Kela Henry, family doctor and award-
winning author, and William May, a poet. I also finally found a perfect assistant, social media
manager and overall confidante. Meggie Dimitrova is from Bulgaria; however, she lives in
Portugal. We are in sync, though we have never met. We speak every week and work on
projects daily. She is smart, funny, clever, committed to her work, and very talented. She is a
rock as are our clients.

Your music often carries messages of love and equality. Why are these themes important to
you?

Without both, we are lost souls, and only partially expressed. We are only half a flame or
perhaps a flame struggling to keep its shine, its amber and warmth.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of your music career so far?
This interview!

With PIVOTAL out now, what are you most excited for your fans to hear on this album?

I am looking forward to their diving into all the tunes, and to listening to how people once
listened to albums, (and some still do) as a body of work. Play it, top to bottom, first to last. Play your favorite song 8 times! PIVOTAL is on all streaming platforms, and I am considering making some CDs and vinyl copies. If people want us to, we will!

Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations for the next chapter of your career?

Next chapter? A book! Ha! I’d like to have more songs in films. And maybe even write a
soundtrack for a movie. I’d love other artists to record my songs or perform they live. I also
would love to perform PIVOTAL live and film it. Maybe work on a full production of my show
THE PASS as well.

What advice would you give to aspiring singer-songwriters who look up to you?

Be yourself. Practice and write as much as possible. Find your own voice – I did not listen to
other artists that much when I first started writing. I wanted to find my own sound. I listened to a
handful of albums I liked over and over from artists I admired. Then I went to work. What do I
want to say as an artist? How can I contribute, and in a new way, to the landscape of
contemporary music? Also know the business, know what you want long-term, and read
everything you sign. Find the most compatible people to work with; maybe not the most
talented, or biggest however they are good, and they get you. They believe in you. Do not give
up, why would you? Do what you love, no matter what.