Welcome everyone! Today we're talking to an up-and-coming artist hailing from Jacksonville, Florida. Her name is Dari Marie and you can hear her music exclusively at:

http://www.myspace.com/darimarie
and
http://www.stickam.com/maria__x

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First off for new listeners, how do you pronounce Dari?
DAH-ree. It's an old nickname with an embarassing but awesome story. When i was about 10 or 11, i was still obsessed with pokemon, and my friends and i all made up our own pokemon trainers, and mine was darika. it got shortened to dari and became my name
and now it's just...stuck.

How long have you been playing music?

well, i've been playing for about five years, but really seriously only the past year or so.

What influenced you to begin singing/song-writing?

it's the only thing i can see myself doing in the future. i'm not good at anything else. it's the love of my life.

Are there any particular artists that influence your song-writing?

Actually, when i was younger it was all Michelle Branch, she's got a similar style to what i play. I don't really listen to her much anymore though. Right now i'm getting some real inspiration by The Weakerthans, The Barenaked Ladies, and of course The Beatles.

Your first live performance-where was it, and what was it like to play in public?

Well my first live performance in any sort of music setting was in elementary school and i wasn't really that nervous, but if you mean as a solo artist, it was on February 1st of this year at a local coffee shop called Shelby's. I had like three days notice, cause i was sharing the time with my friend Chris, of Von Thron (check them out by the way), and basically it was amazing. I felt so comfortable up there, even though i forgot the words to two of my songs, which was pretty hilarious. My friends were all there to support me, and those who there who weren't my friends were really polite and receptive, and they loved me, so i felt great.

Tell me why you decided to cover Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah".

Well, it actually has to do with a Stickam former-friend of mine, Marcus, who one of my other songs is written about, actually. I was just playing it one day and i was like, aww i'm gonna learn that for him! And then one day when I was recording at Chris's house I just decided to play it to warm up And it turned out great, so I just put it up!

Your song "The Only One", give us a little background about how/why you went about writing it.

Oh goodness, well, to be honest it's about a guy. duh. Basically, i was totally into him. and still am. He and i get pissed off at each other about every other day, but somehow we get over it and come back together all the time. It's a really deep love song, but i can't say i'm in love with the guy... yet. haha.

Do you ever listen to your own music?

To be honest, i'm listening to "My Only One" right now, since you asked that question about it. And of course I listen to it on occasion to see what I could improve or what I HAVE improved, but I don't really have it on my iTunes playlist or anything, haha.

You're original in that you record your own music in your room with just a microphone, any plans to go into the recording studio and cut an album?

Absolutely. it's happening at the end of this month. It's just that i'm a student (in other words, totally broke), so i can't really afford going into a studio. Luckily, I've got some friends who work at one, and they're going to let me use some time...connections, man.

So what does the near-future hold for Dari Marie?

Well, honestly, college. I'll be moving to a new town and i don't know any venues down there yet. but Tallahassee locals, look out, I'm a-comin. As for dreams, i'd honestly like to try singing with a band. So hopefully while i'm up there i can do that.

Any chance you'll be touring with or without a band?

Absolutely, i really would love to travel and if i can make a little money doing something i love, i'd be more than content.

Any words of wisdom you want to impart to the Radio Revolution audience?

Let me just say that a year and a half ago i was the shyest kid in the world. Don't let your inhibitions get in the way of your dreams. There's nothing to be afraid of!

Thanks for talking to us today, Dari Marie!

No problem, thanks for the interview!

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Just a quick heads-up to all you RR listeners, we will be featuring Dari once we begin our second season of broadcasting in August so make sure you tune in to hear her, and more new up-and-coming artists!

Tim