Today we’d like to introduce you to Martha Marie.
Martha, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I was always a bit of a ham. Like a lot of children, I would put on various performances in my room and living room for my family, or just for myself. It didn’t matter if anyone was watching; I just loved the spectacle of it all. In my elementary school years, I started getting involved in small productions of plays and music ensembles, and once I figured out that was a viable career option, I shot off and never looked back. I continued to work in academic and local theatre and music scenes in Austin until I went to University in rural Illinois. It was there that I discovered I had a bit of a knack for directing. I had gotten together a small troupe of performers the year before and decided to turn that into a production company. Whilst getting my degree in Music Business, I ran the company from afar, coordinating rehearsals and writing contracts, coming back during school breaks to perform. With my degree in hand after four years, I moved back to Austin and have been using any spare time I have to run that same company, Kira Kira Entertainment. I’ve also had the opportunity to start up a small music festival with a friend of mine, the Texas Idol Festival.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do, why, and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
Like I mentioned above, I’m the Founder and Creative Director of Kira Kira Entertainment, Texas’s premier pop culture production company whose mission is to share Kawaii Culture through the performing arts. We have a main troupe, Hoshigumi, who puts on themed shows throughout the year in the form of dinner theatre productions and jukebox musicals. In addition to that, we manage and promote six artists under our roster that include soloists, dance groups, cosplayers, and variety performers.
In 2016, a friend of mine came to me with the idea for a music festival that showcases Japanese idol music, so we jumped in and created the Texas Idol Festival. For each 1-2 day festival, we hold auditions for cosplayers, dancers, and singers to perform. We pick our chosen few, have them prepare a set, and then at the end of it bring everyone onstage for a grand finale! It brings my Florenz Ziegfeld dreams to life.
When not directing other people, I do performances of my own, mainly singing, as well as modeling. I’ve walked the runway for J-Fashion inspired brands such as Puvithel, and I currently model for the online publication known as The Chateau, or Cat Girl Manor. I also do quite a bit of teaching. I started a voice studio at the end of last year, giving lessons to those in the Texas idol community, and make a series of videos for the Overseas Idol Collection on how to book your own performances or start your own group. On top of all that, I have a YouTube Channel where I discuss and play visual novels, review and rank anime, and cook tasty food.
How can artists connect with other artists?
It can be lonely, but a lot of times I’m surrounded by my cast who can help me when I’m in a down mood. That makes it easier for me than it is for say a freelance artist who sells paintings or digital art and works at home by themselves. For artists in that situation, social media is so important. Even though I’m around lots of people, other performers and directors I’ve met through social media have helped me through times of loneliness when I couldn’t bring myself to be vulnerable in front of the other Kira Kira members. Go on social media and follow other artists. Leave comments on their work, talk to them. You’ll end up making friends, and you can share your joys and your struggles with them, and they will with you too. We’re all looking for a connection in this world. A few nice words can start a connection that can last a long time.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
If you go to anime conventions in the state of Texas, chances are you may have already seen my work. Kira Kira or the Texas Idol Festival have shows at Ikkicon, Anime CTX, A-kon, San Japan, Delta H Con, and more! If you don’t go to conventions or can’t make it to one, you can always watch the recordings of our shows and our web series, Kira Kira Clubhouse, on our YouTube Channel. We also have a Patreon, which helps A LOT. Without the support of our patrons, we wouldn’t be able to rent out rehearsal space, create costumes, or serve food at our shows. A lot of what we do is made possible by our audience, so if you’d like to become a patron or just share the Patreon with others, please do so!
If you’d like to see my modeling work, you can look up The Chateau – Cat Girl Manor on Facebook and like that page, plus check out their website for more photos. Any runway shows and other appearances are announced on my social media at xomarthamarie. My YouTube Channel is also under Martha Marie, so just look for the loud Texan ranting about visual novels, and you’ll have found me!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.kirakiraentertainment.com
- Email: martha@kirakiraentertainment.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/xomarthamarie
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KiraKiraEnt
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/xomarthamarie
- Other: http://www.patreon.com/kirakiraent
Image Credit:
Lightning Savage Photography
Milky Kitty Photography
Allison Eve
Yinyue Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
