When it comes to making hooks, Breana Marin is a connoisseur. The R&B/Pop/EDM singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles has written for Keyshia Cole, Bridget Kelly, Mila J and Letoya Luckett – and even received a gold plaque for her work with Fifth Harmony. But credentials aside, Marin herself isn't focused on lines from a resume. She's fixated on the process itself – making songs that connect with a listener or serve as platforms for other artists to jump from.
“I love to inspire, motivate and relate,” she explains. “I've been releasing hooks and it inspires people to write verses, or their own versions of songs – which I love to hear. I love seeing how people interpret the concepts and lyrics.”
Marin has been reinterpreting songs from the very beginning. Raised on Sade, Michael Jackson, and Prince, she honed her skills as a teen in the backseat of her parents' car, singing lyrics to songs on the radio – and standing in front of the TV taking note of Michael Jackson videos. At 13, she began writing her own music.
But it wasn't until college where she started to find her stride. While enrolled at UNLV, she attended an audition at Musicians Institute in Hollywood for P Diddy's reality show, Starmaker. Making it to the second round, Marin auditioned in New York in front of Diddy and MTV executives and ended up getting cut shortly before the show started filming.
“It turned out some of the people who got cut with me were actually students of MI and encouraged me to enroll. Six months later I moved to LA and began taking classes at MI.”
Marin's move to Los Angeles propelled her career. While attending MI, she met songwriter Andre Merritt, known for his work with Rihanna. And through mentorship with him, she learned what it takes to be a professional songwriter in the music industry.
Since then she's worked with Grammy award-winning producers, writers, and artists. and has music featured in television shows on various networks like Starz, OWN, and Showtime.
In addition to crafting hooks, Marin has a project called StarGzrLily, an alter ego of sorts that experiments with strange sounds, voices, and vibes – yet remains within the framework of urban pop. StarGzrs “Pills & Potions remix has racked up over a million streams on Spotify.
She says, “I want people to feel warm and fuzzy when they hear my vocals and instantly connected when they hear the lyrics. I want you to either feel like you need to change your life… or feel like you're sharing a moment with one of your friends.” Breana Marin is currently recording new music. She plans on releasing more hooks, vocal kits, and singles in the near future.