She retired from pop music in 1992 but is back in business and touring Australia for the first time, including Wollongong.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Martika, known for her hits “Toy Soldiers” and “Love Thy Will be Done”, will headline the Totally 80s concert hitting WIN Entertainment Centre on July 30.
The 47-year-old, born Marta Marrero, first came to fame in the American television show Kids Incorporated, then broke out as a solo artist in 1988.
She said it was incredibly overwhelming as a teenager, who was still living at home, doing multiple interviews every day for 10 months at a time and “wasn’t prepared”.
Two albums in four years saw Martika travel the world with her mum by her side and exposed to a grueling promotional schedule.
Working in showbiz from a young age eventually took its toll, pushing the talent to step out of the limelight and become a “normal” young adult.
“Even though I was seasoned for it, it’s different once you start travelling all over the world,” Martika said.
“I didn’t have a whole lot of role models or mentors around me to teach me the skills to really navigate that lifestyle.”
In the early 2000’s Martika re-emerged into the music world with various projects. While in 2004 she was thrust into the spotlight again when rapper Eminem sampled “Toy Soldiers” on a song from his Encore album.
Today she feels grateful to be greeted by crowds dying to hear her songs and to be part of “a tour on this level”.
“My whole thing is keep on following the music and let it take me to where I need to be.”
Martika will hit the stage with other 80s superstars – Limahl, Katrina of Katrina and the Waves, Paul Lekakis, Stacey Q, Wa Wa Nee and Real Life – Saturday July 30 at WIN Entertainment Centre.
For tickets visit: www.ticketmaster.com.au