Marina And The Diamonds has a new album

Different approach: Written entirely by Diamandis, Marina And The Diamonds new album focuses more on relationships and self-fulfillment. Photos: Warner

The idea was simple, if ambitious, said Marina Diamandis.

For her second album under the name Marina And The Diamonds, this Welsh singer set out to critique the homogenising effects of the commercial pop system — with its professional songwriters and producers hired to make singles for a rotating cast of stars — while using that very system to widen her fan base.