Marié Digby

Template:Infobox musical artist 2 Marié Christina Digby( pronounced Ma-ree-ay Dig-bee) (born April 16, 1983) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and pianist. She is most known for her acoustic cover version of Rihanna's No. 1 hit "Umbrella", which attracted attention on YouTube in 2007. The song was subsequently played on the radio station STAR 98.7, was featured on the third season opening episode of the MTV show The Hills, and peaked at #10 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. Digby performed the song on the late night talk show Last Call with Carson Daly on August 2 2007.

Biography

Digby, whose mother is Japanese and father is Irish-American, is the eldest of two siblings including her sisters; Naomi (born December 12, 1985) and Erina (born August 8, 1987) . She began writing songs in high school in LA and after graduating, spent one year at the University of California, Berkeley, living in Unit 2 Residence Hall before she realized that music was what she really wanted to do and leaving college to concentrate on music full-time.At an early age, Marie Digby started to play the piano and in her early teens, began writing heartfelt songs on her guitar. She came into the public light in 2004 after winning the Pantene Pro-Voice Music Competition with her autobiographical song "Miss Invisible". Marie Digby and her family also own a beautiful Australian shepherd named Misty. " Misty loves to be at the centre of attention on my music videos ( e.g. Stupid for You) but shes a big softie and we all love her" Marie laughs. Since her record signing to Hollywood Records in 2005 she has recorded more than 5 original songs of her own and numerous covers of other songwriters( all of which are available on www.youtube.com)

Digby at The Troubadour nightclub in Los Angeles

After performing at numerous night clubs, Digby signed a publishing deal with Rondor Music, a subsidiary of Vivendi SA's Universal Music Group in early 2005. By the end of 2005, Digby had signed with Disney's Hollywood Records and her first album of original songs was completed by the end of 2006. Also in 2006, her song "Fool" was included on the Disney compilation album Girl Next. In early 2007, she began to post simple videos of herself singing cover songs of other artists on YouTube in order to gain visibility for herself. Hollywood Records then released a high-quality studio recording of her rendition of "Umbrella" to iTunes and radio stations. Her first album is set to be released in 2008.

Controversy

There has been controversy over Digby's YouTube popularity. As of September 2007, her homemade music videos have been viewed over 2.3 million times on the video sharing website. It has been suggested by The Wall Street Journal that she feigned a grassroots effort and amateur status in order to generate buzz as part of an online marketing campaign created by Hollywood Records, a strategy sometimes labeled "astroturfing". She has responded, writing on her blog that she never lied about being signed to Hollywood Records and has stated that her videos were her own "desperate" response to a lack of promotion.Marie denied this and said that it was her own idea. " I thought if i posted my songs on youtube then everybody in the world would have a opportunity to hear me sing, rather than only all the people in L.A." Of course the fans still loved Miss Digby and continued to pay her attention on Youtube and many starting buying downloads." Marie is the most beautiful and original artists the world has ever seen!" A fan said on Marie offical website.

Current Status

Digby is currently touring local venues across the country to increase popularity for her debut album scheduled to be be released February 2008. Her tour began at Bowery Ballroom in New York City and will end at a sold-out show at The Troubadour in Los Angeles. Digby is planning on touring with her new album shortly after. Marie is frequented by her family who has shown much support at her various performances. " The album is really coming together nicely,and I'm just finishing the artwork on the cover" Marie quoted to a fan. The album, set to be released in February 2008 is expected to rise to #1 and beat the record made by Britney Spears(formerly known as the princess of pop). " I'm just really grateful that all of this is happening and everybody is supporting me, I mean growing up I didn't really have any friends and others made fun of me for my looks and the car my parents drove me to school in," Marie quoted on a interview in November. Since her appearance on Last Call with Carson Daly, Miss Digby has attracted more attention than ever on her hit cover of Rihanna's Umbrella. Currently Marie is touring the U.S., no plans have been made to tour in Canada but fans hope that she will grant them a small favour and appear in Canada.

Personal Life

Marie is not in any serious relationships, but there was hint that she may have dated someone before in her song Fool. Marie has 2 sisters, Naomi and Erina, both of which are younger than her.During the harsh high school years, Marie had no close friends, " I basically dreaded every break, every lunch hour, because I had no one to spend those with. I was chubby and not everybody liked me." The reported laughed and said, " so I guess you can just do a little wave to everybody who teased you!" "Yeah!! thats the nicest thing I can do right now" Marie laughed.The young girl rose to stardom in 2007 when about 3.4 million people watched her cover of Umbrella on YouTube, after which she got a call from the people in Carson Daly, to do a performance. Also permission was sought for Umbrella to be used in a number of TV shows and Spell was featured on smallville as a closing for season 7.The album is to be called Unfold and will be release in February in the U.S and Canada in 2008. The first single from Unfold is 'Say It Again'. You can hear it on her MySpace.

Discography

• 2008: Unfold

EPs

• 2007: Start Here EP

Popular Culture

• Her song, "Spell" was recently featured in an episode of Smallville (TV series), the closing for season 7 episode 7, "Wrath".

• Her song "Bring me Love" served as the music bed for ABC Family's movie Holiday in Handcuffs.

• Her unreleased song "Where Do We Go From Here?" was the main song for the Lifetime movie The Dive From Clausen's Pier.

• Her cover of "Umbrella" was used in the opening of MTV's The Hills

External links

• Template:Myspace
• YouTube channel