“Mariska is a real talent. Their writing is original and strong, their voice is fresh and emotional. One to watch.”
- Roddy Matthews, LCCM
Mariska Martina’s music is a vibrant mélange of jazz, folk, and pop, interwoven with the Latin roots of their Peruvian heritage and the classical depth of their first love, the cello. This distinctive blend, coupled with a charming accent from growing up in the Netherlands, creates a musical brew that lingers long after the last sip.
“They remind me of a young Joni Mitchell”
- Bronwyn Bidwell, iSing Magazine
Born to a Dutch father and Peruvian mother, Mariska Martina spent the first 20 years of their life as a cellist in the Netherlands. They performed with the Euregio Youth Orchestra for five years and studied under Ran Varon at Utrecht’s Conservatory (HKU). In 2015, Mariska moved to London to pursue new musical horizons. They began with an HNC in songwriting under Roddy Matthews at the London Contemporary School of Music (LCCM) before completing a BMus in jazz performance. Since then, Mariska has graced London’s top venues, including Crazy Coqs, Ronnie Scott’s, and Toulouse Lautrec with their signature soulful and soothing sound.
“Mariska has the kind of voice that makes you sit up and take notice.”
- Hope FM
Mariska enjoys a global listenership, with thousands of monthly listeners in France and dedicated fans from Chile to South Korea. They have released two original EPs in close collaboration with renowned musician Roddy Matthews (known for his work with Ab Fab and George Michael), one jazz EP featuring world-renowned saxophonist Dave O’Higgins, and several singles, including the theme song for the Amazon Prime series Mafia Ties.
Private Showcases:
19/02, 00:30, rm 715 - British Underground Unplugged
20/02, 23:00, rm 911 - Duncan Showroom
20/02, 23:30, rm 1017 - Richard Flohil story-time
21/02, 23:00, rm1017 - True Stories & Tender Songs
Other Concerts:
24/02, 20:00 - Bar de Courcelle, Montreal, solo gig
02/03, 19:00 - Rivoli, Toronto, supporting Irene Torres
04/03, 19:00 - Sellers & Newel, Toronto, An evening with Richard Flohil
In May 2018 they released her debut-EP Something Blue, produced by Roddy Matthews, which showcases their many different talents and influences. The EP has a strong mental health theme with the title song Something Blue telling a story of sexual abuse. Listen to Something Blue below and find the full EP on Spotify, Deezer, iTunes, and all other online music streaming services.
In September 2018, Mariska Martina released their first single Tied Together, especially written for Amazon Prime Series Mafia Ties. The track has been warmly received with Mafia Ties-creator John Wilson even calling it “Grammy-worthy”. Listen to track below, or on any online music streaming service.
In April 2019, Mariska Martina released a jazz EP. Someday features the talents of Dave O’Higgins and Harrison Cole, along with Rod Oughton, Thomas Higgins and Liam Burton. The EP was produced and arranged by Mariska Martina and pianist Liam Burton and was released on April 29th at Toulouse Lautrec. Misty is permanently part of Deezer’s worldwide playlist ‘Women In Jazz’. Hope FM said: ‘Mariska has the kind of voice that makes you sit up and take notice.’ Listen to the title track below, and find the full EP on Spotify, Deezer, iTunes, and all other online music streaming services.
On November 3rd 2019, Mariska released their second original EP. Feathers is a four-track ode to self-love and hope in which Mariska sings about different aspects of mental health. During the launch at O’Neill’s Wardour Street, £600 were raised for MIND UK. The EP was named after the popular Emily Dickinson poem ‘Hope Is A Thing With Feathers’. Eartothegroundmusic called the EP’s third track Love Isn’t Enough “poppy, energetic and hopeful” and Lefuturewave said: “You can say without a doubt that Uncover Your Heart is a modern gem.”
Listen to Uncover Your Heart below and find the full EP on Spotify, Deezer, iTunes, and all other online music streaming services.
Mariska Martina in 2025
In 2025, Mariska is playing several residencies around London, including at Café Bohème, the Oxo Tower and La Mela. They also play with a number of established musicians such as Emmet O’Connor, William South and Meg Cavanaugh.
In 2024, Mariska started the Vestry Sessions concert series in collaboration with Saint Mary’s of Walthamstow. The Vestry Sessions are monthly, curated 1-hour shows in the heart of their community, with themes ranging from film to William Morris. They also run Vestry Junior, a concert series aimed at 6-12 year olds which used storytelling combined with song to pique children’s interest in music.
They are currently working on their debut album, slated for release in the summer of 2026.