Marielle Kraft / Ava Panza

When you hear Marielle Kraft’s music or experience her candid live shows, you feel as though you already know her. The Nashville-based indie pop singer/songwriter, originally from Rhode Island, displays craftsmanship beyond her years, evident through her use of salient detail, raw emotion, and poignant word choice to describe moments “exactly as they feel.”

In spring 2018, she was crowned Grand Champion of the Mid-Atlantic Singer-Songwriter Competition, and the following June she delivered a Tedx Talk at Firefly 2018, discussing the importance of honesty rooted in her songwriting process.

Kraft’s debut studio EP, The Deep End officially released on July 12, 2019, is described by The Music Mermaid as “song after song of mini pop addictions.” In February 2020, she co-released an “anthemic” and “heart-filled” single with Joshua Howard entitled, “In It Together,” which quickly gained traction across platforms. 

Her October single, “Portland,” breathtakingly captures the moment we find ourselves in, and speaks volumes of the young artist’s songwriting abilities.

Kraft has shared stages with names as big as Jon McLaughlin, Ava Max, and Betty Who. Her “winning personality,” “genuine connection,” and “gift for storytelling” on stage have fueled the ever-growing crowds at each of her shows–with no signs of slowing down. 

Without missing a beat, Kraft released back to back singles to kick off 2021, both of which gained major traction on Tiktok before becoming fully studio produced releases. “Everyone But Me” (February) and “We Were Never Friends” (March) feature a more developed sound than seen from Marielle before, and have cultivated her biggest streaming debuts to date. With more new releases on the way, she is on track for an even bigger 2021.

Since leaving her full-time teaching career to pursue a life committed to creating music, Kraft has the potential to follow in the footsteps of artists like Julia Michaels and Maisie Peters.

Ava Panza is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist originally from Marlboro, New Jersey. She plays a mixture of indie, R&B, and rock music, rich with harmonies and full of lyrics about her personal life experiences. Panza hopes she can help women accept their own feelings with the support of her music.