Help Marina Marqueza Make Their Dream Music Video

I'm Marina Marqueza, a Japanese-Venezuelan independent singer, producer, and artist based in Salt Lake City, Utah (I use they/them/theirs or she/her/hers pronouns). Art is my absolute passion; I've been singing, writing, and performing in various genres and mediums since I was a child. But as an independent artist with no label I've always been limited to what I can afford and access by myself. I’m so proud to have self-released my debut album Orbit Pluto this year despite the huge drain on me both monetarily and emotionally. I at times have limited access to resources, but I have a loving support system gently holding me through every challenge, especially as a queer person of color in Salt Lake City. I would not be here without the many favors and help I have received, and affirming friends, family, and online community remind me lovingly that I deserve to pursue my dreams. I have reached the limit of what I can afford alone, so I humbly ask for your help in the next stage of my musical dream:

***I am in the works of creating a music video for my song called The Matrix off of my album Orbit Pluto and I need your help. Day 1 was a success! With your help, we need to raise $1500 by August 1st to finish the music video!***

I am so lucky to be collaborating with an incredible SLC-based Palestinian writer/director Julia Freij and her crew. Julia believes in my vision and has the expertise and skills needed to make The Matrix truly special. We have been working together the past few months and she has written a beautiful script that I feel truly captures the spirit of my dream video. 

CONCEPT: The Matrix video will be a statement on my personal experience as a non-binary/genderfluid/gender non-conforming person of color, paying homage to my particular spectrum while also parodying the absurdity of the gender binary and the limitations it places on my body. I will perform societal archetypes of what a "man" and a "woman" are supposed to look like, and through gender performance I will express that I happily embody these contradictions. As I metaphorically show you the blue pill and the red pill, I will say fuck this and I'll take both and become the purple pill-pulling the viewer into a fluid journey as I swallow the status quo of gender, contradicting itself, myself and yourself at every turn. The Matrix will be relatable not only to non-binary folx, but to anyone who has experienced the feeling of not fitting into society's many restricting and ultimately violent binaries. I put my whole heart into crafting every detail of my art with intentionality, and this video will be a visual representation of my process; expressing where I currently am as an artist through Julia Freij's clarity and direction.

EXPENSES: 

-Locations that require rental fees by the hour
-Wardrobe
-Equipment rentals 
-Travel/gas
-Feeding the crew for 2 shoot days
-Any other miscellaneous costs

We are shooting The Matrix in two separate days. Day 1 was a success! With your help, we need to raise $1500 by August 1st!

***Any expense I am unable to raise funds for I am paying out of my own pocket, which is why any help I receive will not only go towards the video but ensure that I don't have to spend more time paying off debt. After funding the main expenses, funds will go towards compensation for every member of the crew who has volunteered their time and effort to be a part of this video and believing in me, an artist who otherwise would not have this kind of opportunity.***

Thank you to every person taking the time to read this and give me a chance. I know the themes I am exploring about feeling trapped by the gender binary will resonate with many people-across gender spectrums and the world. As a queer person of color, the vulnerability of my process has been life-saving on many occasions for me personally, and I believe that the broader of a platform I have, the more people I can affirm through my music. I am not the only artist who has become discouraged from pursuing the arts due to discrimination, exclusion, and disenfranchisement, and I want to show the world what people like me are capable of. Every dollar you donate is not only funding this project but a dream come true. If you can't donate, I hope you take a moment to share my campaign on your social media and with anyone who may want to support a non-binary Japanese Venezuelan person and a Palestinian woman trying to bring my Utah-based music video to the world through an unapologetically queer lens <3

You can also donate directly:

Venmo: @marinathediatom
Cashapp: $MarinaMarqueza



If you want to learn more about me and hear my music, my debut album Orbit Pluto is out now on all major platforms! You can also stream for free here:
https://soundcloud.com/marinamarqueza/sets/orbitpluto

Order your physical copy of Orbit Pluto here:
https://www.graywhaleslc.com/p/20576405/marina-orbit-pluto

PRESS:

Interview/performance on ABC4 Good for Utah:
https://www.abc4.com/news/local-news/local-musician-to-perform-on-center-stage-at-utah-pride-festival-and-parade/

SLC City Weekly interview "Genre Fluid" here: 
https://www.cityweekly.net/utah/genre-fluid/Content?oid=13371737

Recently featured #1 in top 10 Salt Lake City artists to watch:
https://www.cityweekly.net/utah/radar-on/Content?oid=13456285

Podcast with SLUG Mag:
https://www.slugmag.com/soundwaves/episode-306-marina-marqueza/

INSTAGRAM:
@marina.marqueza
@jpegjulia

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/marinamarquezamusic/

Contact Julia Freij: [email redacted]
Check out Julia's work on www.vimeo.com/2736011861


Photo by Ivan Chachagua (@icy_92)


ありがとう, gracias, and thank you so much.
<3