Happy Loner is a promotional single by Marina Diamandis, released under her current stage name 'MARINA'. Appearing on the deluxe edition of her fifth studio album, Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land, it is the 11th track on the album.
The song was written alone, and co-produced by Marina, with James Flannigan credited as the main producer.
Background[]
According to Marina, Happy Loner was written during January 2020, but said she can't relate to it as of December 2021.[1] It was finalised late in the production process near the release of Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land when the tracklist was being created.[2]
On September 11, the song's existence was first revealed, when Marina shared a snippet of the song to Twitter, with the caption "happy loner".[3] It was originally captioned "happy loner - home demo", but the post was deleted and reposted with the current caption.
On April 14, 2021, When the tracklist was revealed,[4] fans were disappointed to find the song was not included. A month later in an Q&A, Marina expressed her opinion that the song should be released,[5] but has noticably said the same about other album outtakes in the past.
On June 25, after her Ancient Dreams: Live from the Desert performance, Marina confirmed a deluxe edition of the album, on the "DOM POP" podcast.[6] She then went onto explain why "Happy Loner" did not make it onto the standard tracklist:
❝ If you like [the demo snippet], you will freak out at the finished one because it's more beautiful than I could have even imagined or aimed for, and the thing is I recorded it with my producer and then I just didn't hear [...] a final version until way after I decided what was going on the album, and I was like "shit, this is really good". You'll be happy with it, it's a beautiful ballad. ❞
She went on to give an estimated release date of "during or after fall" (September - December 2021) for the deluxe edition.
On October 7, Marina tweeted "new song for you next month (i think?)".[7] Whilst initially it was not known what song she was planning to release, a month later she replied to a comment on Instagram: "happy loner is out soon".[8][9]
On November 29, Marina posted to Instagram "friday,"[10] with the image text saying "Tendency to Be a loner."
On December 3, at local midnight time, Happy Loner was released digitally as a promotional single for the deluxe edition, and has no artwork.
On January 6, 2022, Marina revealed she had shot a music video for the song, which would premiere on the 7th.[11]
Videos[]
| Video | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Happy Loner | |
| Premiere | 07 Jan 2022 | |
| Length | 3:13 | |
| Director | Brendan Walter | |
| Producer | Jesy Odio | |
| Production company | Teenager | |
| Editor | Leah Putnam | |
Behind the Scenes
_1-001.jpg "IG Post (6 Jan 2022) 1-001.jpg (268 KB)")
_1-002.jpg "IG Post (6 Jan 2022) 1-002.jpg (249 KB)")
Official Versions[]
| Version | Released on | Date | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ | Single/Album | Happy Loner • Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land (Deluxe) | Single: 03 Dec 2021 | 3:13 |
| ▶ | Alt. Mix | YouTube | 03 Dec 2021 | 3:13 |
| Demos | ||||
| [12] | Home Demo (Snippet) | N/A - Shared on Social Media | 12 Sept 2020 (Snippet 1) 03 Dec 2021 (Snippet 2) |
0:46 |
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Waking up late, I feel demotivated
Everything's wrong, guess my thoughts escalated
When I'm alone, things are under control
When I'm alone, I can turn off the world
[Pre-Chorus]
I try to escape, but I can't lose my mind
That's why I can't live a conventional life
[Chorus]
'Cause I'm happy being a loner
Happy being a loner
I'm sick of it all, I wanna give it up
But I'm on the edge
And I feel like everything's too much, too much (Mm-mm)
Too much, too much (Mm-mm)
[Verse 2]
They don't understand why I like being alone
I don't wanna be so accessible
Emotionally I'm on the edge of a knife
That's how I learn, that's how I learnt to survive
[Pre-Chorus]
If I'm alone then you'll never find
The truth about me that I'm losing my mind
And it's too hard to pretend
So I stay away from my friends
[Chorus]
'Cause I'm happy being a loner
Happy being a loner
I'm sick of it all, I wanna give it up
But I'm on the edge
And I feel like everything's too much, too much (Mm-mm)
Too much, too much (Mm-mm)
[Bridge]
I pick up on everybody's energy
Always used to feel like there was something wrong with me (Wrong with me)
When the world is overwhelming, I need to breathe
[Chorus]
'Cause I'm happy being a loner
Happy being a loner
I'm sick of it all, I wanna give it up
But I'm on the edge
And I feel like everything's too much, too much (Mm-mm)
Too much, too much (Mm-mm)
Too much, too much (Mm-mm)
Too much, too much (Mm-mm)
Credits[]
Personnel[]
- Marina Diamandis - Vocals, Producer
- James Flannigan - Producer
- Bella Corich - Assistant Production
Technical[]
- Programmed By – James Flannigan
- Mixed By – John O'Mahony
- Producer – James Flannigan, Marina Diamandis
- Mastered By - Greg Calbi
- Written By – Marina Diamandis
References[]
- ↑ https://twitter.com/MarinaDiamandis/status/1466848586780532750
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/episode/29eAlwgpJ5k4dWlHXvv1kH
- ↑ https://twitter.com/MarinaDiamandis/status/1304611131835576321
- ↑ https://twitter.com/MarinaDiamandis/status/1382363681120391169
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni6BoQNejE8
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/episode/29eAlwgpJ5k4dWlHXvv1kH
- ↑ https://twitter.com/MarinaDiamandis/status/1445980798457319428
- ↑
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CV5zwf8gY_-/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CW4e6ztpaSN/
- ↑ https://twitter.com/MarinaDiamandis/status/1479163662346510339?s=20
- ↑ https://dbree.org/v/2aa160
 | |
|---|---|
| Tour • Merch • Photography • Collaborators | |
| Discography | |
| Releases | Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land |
| Tracklist | Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land • Venus Fly Trap • Man's World • Purge The Poison • Highly Emotional People • New America • Pandora's Box • I Love You But I Love Me More • Flowers • Goodbye • Happy Loner • Pink Convertible • Free Woman |
| Non-Album | |
| Unleaked | Cause I'm A Woman • Not Over You • The Painter |
| Misc | Stay All Night • Sway With Me |
| Other Eras | |
| Mermaid vs. Sailor • The Family Jewels • Electra Heart • FROOT • LOVE + FEAR • Ancient Dreams • Sixth Studio Album (Upcoming) | |