Marina Maximilian Blumin | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Marina Blumin |
Born | 15 December 1987 |
Origin |
Dnipropetrovsk, Soviet Union (now Ukraine) |
Genres | Jazz, Pop, Cabaret |
Occupation(s) | Singer, Songwriter, Actress |
Years active | 2002–present |
Labels | Helicon |
Associated acts | Common Band, Avi Elman |
Marina Maximilian Blumin (Hebrew: מארינה מקסימיליאן בלומין; born 15 December 1987), known as Marina Maximilian, is an Israeli singer-songwriter and actress. She was the runner up of the 5th season of Kokhav Nolad (Star is Born).
Marina was born in Dnipropetrovsk, Soviet Union (now Ukraine) on 15 December 1987. At the age of three, she immigrated to Israel with her parents. The family lived with friends in Ramat Gan before settling in the Pardes Katz neighbourhood of Bnei Brak. From a young age, she studied piano with her mother, Ella, a classical pianist, and sang in a choir. Marina later went to the conservatory where her mother taught.
Marina graduated from Ironi Alef high school in Tel Aviv. She began performing at jazz clubs at the age of 15, after pianist Rick Birman took her under his wing. She performed at the Red Sea Jazz Festival in Eilat. She sang with the Common Band, an Ethnic-Fusion-Rock-Jazz band in festivals and clubs, and performed a solo, Beit Sefer LeMiskhak ("Acting School") on Ohad Ben Avi's debut album.
In 2007, Marina auditioned for the 5th season of Kokhav Nolad and was accepted. During the show, she mostly sang Israeli pop and folk songs, adding her own jazz nuances. She sang "Halomot" ("Dreams") by Ruhama Raz, "Shir Ahuvat HaSapan" ("Song of the Sailor's Lover") by Rita, "Bluz Kna'ani" ("Canaan Blues") by Ehud Banai and "Vidui" ("Confession") by Alexander Penn (sung by Yehudit Ravitz). In the end, Marina qualified for the final along with Bo'az Ma'uda and Shlomi Bar'el, and came in second, with Nurit Galron's "Nifradnu Kakh" ("That's How We Finished"). The prize was a contract with Helicon CD Company.