Marié Christina Digby ( ; born April 16, 1983) is an American singer-songwriter best known for her acoustic

cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...

Rihanna Robyn Rihanna Fenty ( ; born February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, businesswoman, and actress. One of the List of music artists by net worth, wealthiest musicians in the world, List of awards and nominations received by Rihanna, her vario ...

's "

Umbrella An umbrella or parasol is a folding canopy supported by wooden or metal ribs that is mounted on a wooden, metal, or plastic pole. It is usually designed to protect a person against rain. The term ''umbrella'' is traditionally used when protec ...

", which was featured on the

MTV MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...

show '' The Hills'' and peaked at #10 on the

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chart. Her debut album, '' Unfold'', was released on April 8, 2008. Digby has since released several studio albums, EPs and singles, including one Japanese cover album.

Life and career

1983–2005: Early life

Digby was born in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

and is of Irish and

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

descent. She began writing songs during high school in

. After her freshman year at the

University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California), is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Berkeley, California, United States. Founded in 1868 and named after t ...

, she won the 2004 Pantene Pro-Voice competition with her song "Miss Invisible". The grand prize for the concert included working with a professional producer on an album, $5,000 and performing on stage with other top performers. Digby subsequently signed with

Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...

Hollywood Records Hollywood Records is an American record label owned by the Disney Music Group which focuses on pop, rock, alternative, hip hop and country genres, also specializing in recordings for a more mature audience not suitable for the flagship Wal ...

2006–2010: ''Unfold'', ''Second Home'', and ''Breathing Underwater''

In 2006, she completed her debut album, but its release was postponed. The same year, her song "Fool" was included on the Disney compilation album ''Girl Next''. In early 2007, she began to post simple videos of herself singing cover songs of other artists on

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in order to gain visibility. Hollywood Records then released a studio recording of her rendition of "Umbrella" to

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and radio stations. Digby's first official single, " Say It Again", was released to radio stations on January 18, 2008. Her debut album, '' Unfold'', was released on April 8, 2008. Digby released a Japan-exclusive collection of

cover songs on March 4, 2009, titled ''Second Home''. Digby's second English album, ''Breathing Underwater'', was released across Asia in summer 2009 and in North America in September 2009.

2011–present: ''Your Love'', ''Winter Fields'', and ''Pop Covers''

On September 16, 2011, she released the album ''Your Love''. In 2012, Digby did an Asian tour for the album, including shows in Singapore and the Philippines. Her Singapore live show was held on October 18, 2012 at the Esplanade Concert Hall. In August 2012, she shared that she was preparing for her first independent album in 2013. Digby released the song "Neon Rain" in February 2013, and also released duet singles including "Falling for You", a duet with JayR, and "The Keeper", a duet with

Kina Grannis Kina Kasuya Grannis (born August 4, 1985) is an American guitarist, singer and Internet personalities, YouTuber. Grannis was the winner of the 2008 Doritos Crash the Super Bowl contest, earning a recording contract with Interscope Records and ha ...

. Her fifth studio album ''Winter Fields'' was released on October 29, 2013. She also conducted regular live shows on the Stageit platform on a Pay What You Can ticketing basis. In December 2015, Digby released the song "Jet Streams" as a free download on

Bandcamp Bandcamp is an American online music distribution platform founded in 2008 by Oddpost co-founder Ethan Diamond and programmers Shawn Grunberger, Joe Holt and Neal Tucker, with an office and record store in Oakland, California. Acquired by Epic ...

. She also independently released a remake of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". On February 9, 2018, Digby independently released the EP ''Wildfire''. On June 22, 2018, Digby released the album ''Pop Covers''. It includes ten covers of popular songs.

Charitable involvement

In 2009, she sponsored a songwriting contest for Bronx teenagers through "The Generation Project", a non-profit organization that facilitates donor-designed charitable gifts to children in low-income areas. The winner of the contest—a special education student from the Bronx—received a new guitar with accessories.

Discography

* '' Unfold'' (2008) * ''Second Home'' (2009) * '' Breathing Underwater'' (2009) * ''Your Love'' (2011) * ''Winter Fields'' (2013) * ''Chimera'' (2014) * ''Wildfire'' EP (2018) * ''Pop Covers'' (2018)

Songs in other media

Awards and nominations

References

External links

Marié Digby's YouTube Channel
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Digby, Marie 1983 births Living people 21st-century American women singers American alternative rock musicians American child singers American contemporary R&B singers American women pop singers American women rock singers American women singer-songwriters American people of Irish descent American pop rock singers American women guitarists American women musicians of Japanese descent Guitarists from Los Angeles Japanese-language singers of the United States Avex Group artists Hollywood Records artists University of California, Berkeley alumni 21st-century American singer-songwriters Singer-songwriters from California YouTubers from Los Angeles