Marla Moya - Orinoco Books

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 Harry Nilsson or Stevie Nicks, 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 duo – playing over 1000 shows,
including performances at Glastonbury Festival, Mariposa Folk Festival.
A new chapter begins: under the name Marla Moya, she released her debut solo album
Sanguine Soul in November 2025 via Backseat, produced by her teenage idol 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. Her 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.”
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 – opening 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.