D.C.-based pop artist and fashion influencer Marilyn Hucek is the epitome of style, effortless chic, and impressive talent. The American-Chilean rising star continues to amass a loyal following, with more than 1 million Spotify streams to her credit. Hucek’s empowering anthems move individuals everywhere to never settle for less than what they deserve.
Join contributing writer Cynthia Gross as she connects with Marilyn Hucek in recognition of Women’s History Month. Learn the reason Hucek says she’s “not afraid to fail,” how her multicultural background influences her art, her favorite clothing item in her collection, and her advice for emerging artists.
From an early age, Marilyn Hucek knew that she was meant for a creative career. She grew up surrounded by music and has fond memories of her beginnings. “My parents met in the piano room of my mom’s university,” said Hucek. “She was studying to be a classical musician.” Hucek recalls how her parents loved music, inviting it as a welcome companion into their lives.
“I loved to sing and dance, and when I was 10, I joined the Honors Choir in my state,” Hucek continued. “I remember one Halloween, my brother’s friend came over to our house, and she randomly sat at our piano and started playing ‘A Thousand Miles’ by Vanessa Carlton. I was completely in awe and inspired.”
Soon after, Hucek started piano lessons, later joining the Madrigals and Chamber Choir in high school. Songwriting served as a means for Hucek to process the complex world around her within a focused context. “I remember when my parents would get in fights, or I’d be upset for some reason, I would sit on my bedroom floor, write songs, and sing to myself to feel better,” she shared. “This was before I even knew what songwriting was, but it’s what I was drawn to and what I did for comfort.”
With her dreams of becoming a pop star in hand, Marilyn Hucek auditioned for The Voice in 2017, performing a cover of “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse. However, she did not advance in the competition, and subsequently, journeyed through a phase in which she had all but given up on a music career. That is until an uninvited guest arrived to the scene in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hucek’s father, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s when the artist was 16, had since been placed under the care of a nursing home facility. In order to grapple with the inability to visit him during the stay-at-home order, Hucek penned an original song, “Memories.”
With the release of her warm, nostalgic debut single, Hucek reconnected with her inner songwriter. This time around, her drive ran deeper than a competition into the recesses of her heart – and the outcome is nothing short of inspiring. Hucek’s story serves as a reminder that dreams still come true – often as a result of hard work, consistency, and belief in yourself regardless of the doubting voices of the powers that be. “Memories” now holds even more sentimental value given that Hucek sadly lost her father earlier this year.
Since 2020, Marilyn Hucek has continued to expand her growing body of work, releasing “Internet Romance,” “Boy Drama,” “Girls Girl,” and more. Hucek cites Taylor Swift, Lorde, and Kacey Musgraves as influences, especially given that the trailblazing artists write their own songs.
An unmistakable thread throughout Hucek’s work is the theme of women empowering women, and this should come as no surprise since Hucek “grew up and was surrounded by incredible women,” adding “a lot of my fans and supporters know that I’m bilingual and come from a multicultural background, being American-Chilean.”
“The women in my life were major role models for me. My grandmother, my mom, sister, and aunts were a big and dominant part of my life.” Hucek’s grandfathers both passed away before the artist was born, so women have been the overwhelming majority in her life since day one.
“My upbringing, life experiences, observations, and education have definitely influenced some of the themes in my music,” said Hucek. “I think the biggest superpower you have is to be yourself wholeheartedly. And to understand that the value you bring is your uniqueness. I’ve been really in my feels recently, and I remind myself that that’s the beauty of it. That I should lean into my feelings and emotions and channel them into something positive.”
And Hucek’s bold stance does not back down in the face of fear and uncertainty. In response to an observation about her fearless persona, Hucek noted, “What’s interesting is that many things scare me, but I do things that scare me every day. It makes us stronger. Sometimes it’s my choice, and sometimes, I don’t have a choice. I have to step up to the plate. But I enjoy a challenge. In fact, I seek it out. It’s exciting.”
“The truth is that we are more capable than we think,” Hucek added. “I believe as human beings, we have infinite potential. It’s a mind game. Your mind wants to play tricks on you. So if you recognize that, and challenge yourself on the daily, you get mentally and physically stronger. Like practicing an instrument or exercising regularly. Your mind also needs a workout.”
Recently, the pop songstress incorporated cold exposure into her fitness routine via cold showers and cold plunges. “It scares me every time,” she said. And Hucek admits that she was not always as comfortable on stage as she is now. “When I first started performing live in front of people, I was scared, but I did it anyway,” she shared. “I was shaking on stage.”
But by facing challenges head-on repeatedly until they do not feel quite as threatening, Hucek notes that there is no limit to what you can accomplish. “At the end of the day, it’s your desire to grow and learn. I’m not afraid to fail because I know that I have to fall to rise.”
Marilyn Hucek’s brand is synonymous with style, so it was inevitable that the conversation eventually turned to fashion. Hucek worked in the corporate fashion industry for Ralph Lauren in New York City before embracing a full-time music career, and she views fashion as “another form of self-expression and art.”
“In terms of my signature style, I love being experimental and taking risks, but I also love the idea of timeless fashion, especially as we keep in mind sustainability, and the circular fashion industry,” explained Hucek. “One of my favorite clothing items in my collection is my leather jacket that is made out of recycled leather. It stands the test of time, and I use it over and over again.”
Marilyn Hucek is an unmistakable star in the making, and her advice for emerging artists reverberates from the inside out: “Believe in yourself. Anything is possible, if you believe it is. You have to be your #1 cheerleader, even when it seems like you’re the only one at first.”
Easier said than done? Absolutely, Hucek acknowledges, since it involves shifting your mindset. “I practice daily affirmations, which have helped my mind get to that place,” she added. “My dad always said, ‘There’s nothing to it, but to do it,’ which for me means just do it! And you can do it.”
Be sure to connect with Marilyn Hucek on Instagram or via your favorite digital service provider. Join her mailing list to stay in the know on her upcoming releases, including her forthcoming EP.
“I try to bring raw emotion, a real story, and true openness in my music, which I hope can inspire and help others with what they may be going through in life,” said Hucek. Grounded by her captivating sound that continues to win over new and seasoned audiences alike, Hucek’s EP is slated to showcase her vulnerability and authenticity like never before. And if the past is any indication, the outcome will surely impress upon us all.
Maryland-based singer-songwriter Cynthia Gross seeks to inspire an awakening to all we are and all we can become. With a passion for language in all of its forms and more than a decade of experience as a professional ghostwriter, she is a light seeker who understands the power of each individual’s voice to create positive, meaningful change.
Subscribe to Alchemical Records today to support our efforts online and in print.
Join the Alchemical Records Street Team to promote these and other artists, live music, and music community organizations & events while receiving cool perks from artists throughout the region.
Recent Articles The genre-bending act, Shadowkasters, spearheaded by versatile multi-instrumentalist Bryce Avary, returns with an eighth studio album. SHADOWKASTERS self titled album artwork Shadowkasters, which
More to Watch Santa Barbara-based post-punk band, Versus The World, work on picking up the pieces with their latest single “Goin’ Out For Smokes.” Versus
As a producer bringing some major events to Capital Pride this year, Zach Renovátes admits that he was keen to get Betty Who on the lineup. After having seen several of her live performances already, Renovátes knew the Australian would make a fine marquee addition to the “Kinetic Presents Candyland” event at Echostage June 10.
Fortunately, she was both available and interested.
“Something that I personally saw was that [Betty Who] is one of the most pro-LGBT singer-songwriters I’ve ever ever seen perform live,” Renovátes said, adding that the D.C. audiences at her concerts come largely from within the gay community. “So she absolutely knows that we as queer people make up a huge percentage of her fan base.”
The June 10 event is the main draw of a weekend of collaborations between Kinetic Presents and the Capital Pride Alliance in celebration of D.C. Pride 2023. Other big names who will play at various venues around the District include DJs Abel and Cindel, Dan Slater, as well as Jerac and Paulo Fragoso. It’ll be a pride-filled musical weekend indeed, with Echostage, Sax, Bunker and Bliss Nightclub hosting the pulsing sounds of revelry. And there’s also the big parade on June 10.
Alchemical Records is a Washington, D.C. based music publication. We cover the Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Richmond, VA metro area music scenes, including band interviews, articles about your favorite musicians, new music and concert dates.
