Maria Minerva
Maria Minerva (2014)
Background information
Birth nameMaria Juur
Born (1988-03-15) 15 March 1988
Tallinn, Estonia
GenresElectronica, outsider house, nu-disco, avant pop, hypnagogic pop
Occupation(s)producer, songwriter, singer, DJ, radio host
Instrumentselectronics, vocals
Years active2010–present
LabelsNot Not Fun, 100% Silk, Pudru Kuul
Websitewww.mariaminerva.com

Maria Juur (born 15 March 1988), better known by her stage name Maria Minerva, is an Estonian musician and activist.[1]

Artistry

Maria Minerva's music is described by critics as a unique blend of avant pop,[2] electronic,[3] and experimental[4] genres. Her work is known for its ethereal and atmospheric qualities, combining dreamy melodies with unconventional production elements[5] and references to various styles of dance music, such as house,[6] disco,[7] electro, and eurodance.[8]

Critics have described Maria Minerva's vocal style as dreamy, haunting, mysterious,[9] or Lynchian,[10] but also as casual and slightly off-key, receiving comparisons to Grimes, Nite Jewel, Blossom Dearie, Brigitte Bardot,[11] Nico,[12] and Billie Ray Martin.[13]

She has cited Cosey Fanni Tutti, Laetitia Sadier, and Laurie Anderson as influences.[14]

Personal Life

Maria graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts and Goldsmiths, University of London, where she studied with British cultural theorist and music critic Mark Fisher.[15]

Her father Mart Juur is an Estonian humorist, writer and media personality.[16]

As of 2018, Juur was a member of the Estonian Greens political party.[17]

Maria Minerva was awarded the “Extraordinary Ability” United States EB-1A green card for her achievement in electronic music[18] and subsequently became a naturalized U.S. citizen,[19] residing in Los Angeles, California.

Critical Reception

Maria Minerva is amongst the most internationally acclaimed Estonian electronic artists of the 2010s.[20][21] She is the recipient of two Estonian Music Awards.[22] Her releases have received critical acclaim from music publications such as Pitchfork Media[23] and The Fader.[24] One of Maria Minerva's early supporters was the influential pop critic Simon Reynolds.[25]

She was named as one of the seminal Los Angeles artists by The Guardian[26] and appeared on Estonian World's annual "Top 12 Most Outstanding Estonian Women in the World" list.[27]

Collaboration with Cherushii

Chelsea Faith a.k.a. Cherushii was one of the 36 victims of the 2016 Oakland warehouse fire.[28] In 2019, the EP Cherushii & Maria Minerva was released, which had been nearly completed before Cherushii died[29] and includes repurposed tracks from previous Cherushii releases.[30][31][32][33][34]

Discography

  • Sacred and Profane Love 12" EP (100% Silk, 2011)
  • Cabaret Cixous CD/LP (Not Not Fun, 2011)
  • Noble Savage 12" EP (100% Silk, 2011)
  • Tallinn At Dawn CS (Not Not Fun, 2011)
  • Nii hea with Ajukaja, 10" Single (Pudru Kuul, 2012)
  • The Integration LP with LA Vampires (Not Not Fun, 2012)
  • Will Happiness Find Me? CD/LP (Not Not Fun, 2012)
  • Bless 12" EP (100% Silk, 2013)
  • Histrionic LP (Not Not Fun, 2014)
  • C U Again with Ajukaja, 12" EP (Pudru Kuul, 2014)
  • S/T with Cherushii, 12" EP (100% Silk, 2019)
  • Soft Power, CS (100% Silk, 2020)

References

  1. ↑ Hasa, Romi (August 26, 2021). "Maria Juur, Õismäe tüdruk Los Angeleses" [Maria Juur, Õismäe Girl in Los Angeles]. Eesti Naine (Delfi) (in Estonian). Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  2. ↑ "Stream Maria Minerva's adventurous new album for Not Not Fun in full". Fact Mag.
  3. ↑ "Maria Minerva". Dazed Digital.
  4. ↑ "009: Experimental chanteuse Maria Minerva announces full details of new album". Fact Mag.
  5. ↑ "Review: Cabaret Cixous". Resident Advisor.
  6. ↑ "Premiere: Cherushii & Maria Minerva 'Boyfriend Shirt'". DJ Mag.
  7. ↑ "Sunken Disco: Maria Minerva Talks Downloads, DJing & Dance Music'". The Quietus.
  8. ↑ "Review: Cabaret Cixous". Pitchfork.
  9. ↑ "Maria Minerva: The Rise Of Estonian Chillwave". NPR.
  10. ↑ "Why Lana Del Rey, Cults, and More Indie Heartachers Lurk in the Shadows of 'Twin Peaks'". SPIN.
  11. ↑ "Review: Cherushii & Maria Minerva". Pitchfork.
  12. ↑ "Maria Minerva". Interview Magazine.
  13. ↑ "Ajukaja & Maria Minerva: C U Again EP". Boomkat.
  14. ↑ "Maria Minerva". PRS for Music.
  15. ↑ "Perspective: Maria Minerva remembers Mark Fisher's Infectious Intellectualism". Crack Magazine.
  16. ↑ Ulrik Noergaard (2011-03-31). "Maria Minerva | Dazed". Dazeddigital.com. Retrieved 2016-09-25.
  17. ↑ "Tallinn Music Week celebrates its 10th anniversary". Euronews. 2018-04-10. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  18. ↑ "Alien of Extaordinary Ability: An Interview with Maria Minerva". Fanzine. 2016-01-16. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  19. ↑ Hasa, Romi (August 26, 2021). "Maria Juur, Õismäe tüdruk Los Angeleses" [Maria Juur, Õismäe Girl in Los Angeles]. Eesti Naine (Delfi) (in Estonian). Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  20. ↑ "009: Maria Juur – eesti elektroonilise muusika saadik maailmas". Globaalsed Eestlased. 2016-11-29. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  21. ↑ "The Crowned Queen of Estonian Underground". Müürileht. 2015-02-14. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  22. ↑ "Curly Strings makes a clean sweep at Estonian Music Awards". ERR. 2016-01-16. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  23. ↑ Lindsay Zoladz (2011-11-30). "Maria Minerva: Sacred & Profane Love EP Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2016-09-25.
  24. ↑ "Artist: Maria Minerva".
  25. ↑ Reynolds, Simon (7 October 2011). "Female Artists With a Penchant for Synth Sounds". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-09-25.
  26. ↑ "The Sound of LA". The Guardian.
  27. ↑ "Top 12 most outstanding Estonian women in the world". 8 March 2015.
  28. ↑ Maria Minerva (9 December 2016). "The Rave Queen Next Door: Remembering the Life and Legacy of My Friend Cherushii". Vice.
  29. ↑ Moreland, Quinn (March 5, 2019). "How Maria Minerva Finished Her Record With Cherushii, Who Died in Oakland's Ghost Ship Fire". Pitchfork. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  30. ↑ Brown, Harley (February 19, 2019). "Cherushii & Maria Minerva". Pitchfork. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  31. ↑ Clements, Miles (February 8, 2019). "CHERUSHII + MARIA MINERVA: SELF-TITLED". L.A. Record. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  32. ↑ Matthew, Terry (September 4, 2019). "Days Without You: Cherushii and Maria Minerva Made Beautiful Music". 5mag. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  33. ↑ Murray, Eoin (February 7, 2019). "Premiere: Cherushii & Maria Minerva 'Boyfriend Shirt'". DJ Mag. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  34. ↑ Henry Bruce-Jones (15 January 2019). "100% Silk to release posthumous Cherushii & Maria Minerva collaboration". Fact Mag.
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