You Know Where Marianna Frenzel Will Be
Mustard had the pleasure of speaking with mulit-talented independent pop star and actress Marianna Frenzel about their debut single "YOU KNOW WHERE I'LL BE" and so much more.
Mustard has observed that some humans are classified as role models. Role models are humans who display traits that are morally sound. They often do something that inspires a developing human mind. You think to yourself; I want to do that. And then you do. Because of them. You may not get the opportunity to tell them directly how they positively made an impact on you. But deep within you know they played an important role in your development. As they did for you want to do for others.
Marianna Frenzel, independent pop star and actress, wants to inspire others like her role models did for her. Instead of chasing fame and clout Frenzel wants to use her platform for good. She remarks in our interview that “I didn’t really feel like I had very many people growing up in the public eye growing up that i could look up to in the mainstream media.” It does not take much to be a good human (and role model.) Frenzel is authentic and so is her music.
On her debut single YOU KNOW WHERE I’LL BE she inspires listeners to keep pushing through. Marianna understands just how cruel and difficult human society can be. Frenzel wants to be there for those who may not have the most supportive enviroment. Ever since she was young all Frenzel has wanted to be was a pop star. Now she has the opportunity to make that dream come true.
In our interview below you’ll get the chance to learn more about Marianna Frenzel. Together we discuss Disney Channel, their creative process, and so much more!
1. Mustard is grateful and appreciative to have you join them at Music Shelf. How are you doing today?
Thank you, I'm doing so great! Thank you for having me on, I was excited to be interviewed by you, you have the best questions!
2. Since you were eleven you knew you wanted to be a singer and a songwriter. What were some songs from your childhood that inspired you to become a musician?
Wow great question, starting off so strong! Uhhh whenever I answer this question it's always so hard for me to narrow it down. But what comes to mind immediately is 'Overprotected' by Britney Spears. When I heard that song for the first time I was sat. I had never heard production like that in my life, the way she wrote the lyrics and melody in a way that sounded so cinematic but angsty, and female and pop. I'll never forget it and I remember those lyrics really resonated with me. I also remember not being able to get enough of the Cheetah Girls. I would learn every dance, make my sister learn them (I was always Chuchy obviously, that's why my first email was chuchycheetah@yahoo.com) and I made her perform the songs with me for our whole family. We got in costume, the curls and everything! And we can't forget literally EVERY single Hannah Montana.
3. Growing up you listened to a lot of music from the Disney Channel. If you could have your music featured in any Disney Channel show, which would it be and why?
I mean immediately Hannah Montana or the Hannah Montana Movie. I wished every day I could grow up and be a popstar like that, Miley inspires me so much and I'de be lucky to be half the popstar she is.
4. Disney announces that Camp Rock is returning. Do you sign up to be a camper? Who would you like to collaborate with at Camp Rock?
I'm immediately sprinting, trackstar, in Olympian record time signing up. I don't care that I know my mom wouldn't let me sign up, I'm running away from home and Shay Mitchell and her mom would take me in. Oh the level of hard emotional tween girl feelings Demi got me through was so real. I would give my future kids up for adoption to go to that CAMP.
5. Mustard is currently watching Wizards of Waverly Place for the first time. What spell could the Russos perform that would activate someone listening to your music?
Oh MY GOD! I have to know your thoughts! I would die to feel how I felt watching that show for the first time. Funniest, cuntiest Disney show hands down. "Somewhere deep inside the light, above the white you'll find me. Just spin around with your headphones on, and then 'You Know Where I'll Be'." *waves wand
6. The Lizzie McGuire Movie made a big impact on you. Have you had an opportunity to rewatch the film? If you could say anything to Hilary Duff what would it be?
I've definitely re-watched it so many times. I honestly should watch it again in honor of me releasing my first song since watching that movie was the moment I was first inspired to become a singer. And I've thought about this moment before, about what I would say if I had the chance to meet Hilary Duff... and I think I would just give her the biggest hug, probably cry, and just tell her how grateful I am for the way she used her platform. And tell her that she inspired me so much growing up. That I always promised myself that if I ever got interviewed one day for my music I would talk about how not only did that movie spark something in me but she was a role model to me and someone I looked up to when I had no one to look up to, and I'm so inspired by the way she uses her platform to be continuously such a good role model, and that I just love her so much. And I promised myself that I would try and use my platform to do the same.
7. Hannah Montana, Kelly Clarkson, and Ariana Grande are some of your influences. Which song by each do you consider essential listening?
Essential listening by these absolute icons would be: Always Find Your Way Back Home by Hannah Montana from the end of the Hannah Montana Movie, which definitely played a huge musical inspo to my first single - You Know Where I'll Be. Oh my gosh with Kelly there's so many good ones but I'de say either 'Breakaway' or 'Gone'.
Greedy and Bye by Ariana Grande has gone platinum in my household. Ugh just pop perfection.
And to tie it all together for extra credit: Ariana and Miley Cyrus's cover of 'Don't Dream It's Over' and Ariana and Kelly's duet 'Santa, Can't You Hear Me'. My GOD it's a year long must.
8. Mustard wonders what is your creative process? What are some key elements in a Marianna Frenzel song?
Love this question. My creative process is honestly really interesting. I've found that I have to write everything I make acapella. I hear melodies so suddenly and strongly in my head and it happens in the silence for me, when I'm just letting myself creatively explore. I never force it and for me when I hear it I flow with the inspiration I have for either lyrics or melody and I write the song acapella and then later add chords. Don't ask me why haha, my brain has always worked that way.
9. In addition to being a singer/songwriter you are also an actress. Could you share more about your voice over work in Baby Genius?
Oh that was so much fun! I did that in my senior year of high school, my music director after a school talent show I had won recruited me for the project and thought I'd be good at it which really sparked an interest in voice over for me. I grew up on musical theatre and I was such an animated girl (lol still am), so when I did Voice over work for the first time it really felt like I was able to be creatively free with no judgement because I was being asked to play all types of ways with my voice. So thank you Mrs. Kueppers for seeing something in me. I love doing voice over and would love to explore doing more of it in the future.
10. As an actress what type of projects interest you most? Is there a director you would like to work with?
It's my dream to bring back the genre and authenticity that 2000's Romantic Comedy movies and tv had. Like Legally Blonde, Princess Diaries, She's The Man, Freaky Friday, Aquamarine, or The Holiday by Nancy Meyers. Or TV shows like The OC or Gossip Girl which were both done by Josh Swartz. I want to bring back those types of projects, that genre would be my dream to have a role in. That, and an animated movie or tv show with singing, like a remake of the Bratz TV show. Oh my God it's literally Brat summer right now... I'm manifesting that right now.
11. You played Izzy in "Who the Hell is Michael?" How did you prepare for this role?
Yeah so I recently shot this short film that came out this spring which ended up winning a 2024 LA Short Film Award which is exciting!
I loved playing Izzy's character! She was a very angsty Indie Punk Rock singer, so I felt very much like I was channeling Lindsey Lohan's character from Freaky Friday.
12. Mustard is curious if they made fetch happen when you attended The Mean Girls Movie premiere?
If Fetch were to ever happen, it definitely happened at that Mean Girls Premiere! It was the first premiere I've ever been to and it was so amazing! First off, as we all know Renee Rapp's vocals just literally put everyone to shame!!!! Secondly, the most aesthetic, prettiest premiere ever! It was very much giving Fetch. Paramount did such an amazing job, I was so grateful to have been given the opportunity to be there!
13. One of your goals is to be a good role model. As a condiment Mustard wonders: what does it mean to be a role model?
I love this question! For me I think it means someone that people feel like they can come to when they feel alone, misunderstood. Someone who can just be real with them and make them feel like they can fully be themselves. I want to use my platform to be a good role because I didn't really feel like I had very many people in the public eye growing up that I could look up to in mainstream media. And I do feel like things have progressed and changed a lot nowadays in a lot of ways, but that was a big reason why I was inspired to go into mainstream media. I didn't want to have to change my genre to fit into a "good role model" category or box. You can be a good role model by being authentic and who you are, not being afraid to speak your truth, and using your platform to inspire people to be the best versions of themselves and go after their dreams, while still trying to be a good human. We're all just humans who want to feel loved and understood and I hope I make people feel that way with my songs and my platform.
14. Your debut single YOU KNOW WHERE I'LL BE is almost a week old. How does it feel to have your debut single out in the world?
Honestly it feels insane. It's such a whirlwind of emotions it's kind of hard to explain. The best way I can put it is I've been working my whole life to do this and my life has had the most roadblocks imaginable. But the message I want to put out there is keep pushing through. And I'm so grateful I keep pushing through. I've had people try to take advantage of me in this industry, which has caused a lot of delays, especially just trying to navigate life by myself. I didn't have my family's support behind me, except from my grandparents before they passed away. I didn't live at home from the time I was 15, and things haven't been easy. But in this moment with releasing 'YOU KNOW WHERE I'LL BE', my first single, I'm so proud of myself that I used my struggles to build strengths, and I fought hard enough to choose me for once. And I want to say I'm so appreciative of every single person who's streaming the song and who will stream the song. This is all I want to do with my life, and I will continue working so hard to make music that hopefully makes people less alone in this world and I'm so appreciative of everyone showing support for this song.
15. This single was written after a painful experience. Would you consider songwriting healing?
For me it's very healing, but in a very specific way. I'm such an analytical person, so even when I'm emotional I have to sit and externally process my feelings with a friend and think through how I'm going to approach it, think of things from all the sides (like every single side because I'm also a chronic overthinker and have a lot of anxiety lol) and I'm really big on learning something from everything that happens to me in life. Meaning like how can I grow from this, what tools can I take with me into the next scenario where I have to deal with a stupid boy in my love life. Lol, just kidding. But I have to do all that before I sit down to write. I'm definitely not the "woah is me drown in my sorrows" type of artist. I'm an emotional 'big back'. So meaning we're having big feelings and big thoughts and we have to deal with those first before we do other big activities, like songwriting. Mental health first bestie.
16. You released YOU KNOW WHERE I'LL BE to help encourage others to choose themselves. What advice would you give to those who may be struggling to do this?
So that kind of goes back to what I was just saying. You can never give an opportunity to someone or something your full self if you don't do you first. I know we're 'lover girls and gays' out here but we need to choose us. And in this case, for the context of this song, if the person you are talking to is so consumed by their own problems that they can't even choose themselves they definitely did not have room to choose me. Even though they wanted to, and even though I wanted to choose them. So I had to choose myself. We have to heal and literally take the time to work on that healing, and the timing is right with someone when both people are in a space where they not only can choose each other and make space for each other, but can also choose themselves. It's gotta be a mutual relationship, like best friends, where we both have capacity to lift each other up. Not one person expecting the other person to "fix them" or mommy them.
17. Mustard wonders how Marianna Frenzel practices self-love?
So for me that really means making a really conscious effort to equally set aside quality time with friends and making sure I'm always evaluating if I have friends around me that are intentional about our friendship too. And then when I do take time for myself, allowing myself the space to listen to what I need. So if that's songwriting, then I need to push myself to do it. If that's praying, then I need to take the time to do that. If that's having a sweet treat and getting sunshine then doing that. I don't think there's this recipe for self love and self care routines. I think it's about working on listening to what your body and your heart needs and trying your best to tend to that. Which is hard when life moves so fast. Mental health is always something I'm trying to get on top of and pay attention to, I have depressive episodes all the freaking time it's exhausting girl, but for me every time I remember and take time to do that is when it really feels like I'm practicing self love and choosing myself.
18. Last May you had a showcase at The Troubadour in Los Angeles. Can you share more about this gig? Do you have a pre/post show routine?
I got asked to perform The Troubadour in LA and it was the first time I actually got to perform in front of all my friends in one room. It was all unreleased songs, 10 songs to be exact, with only two rehearsals, and I swear I blacked out. But it went really well and preparing for that show and performing was the happiest I had felt for a long time. I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to sing there. I have a couple shows coming up soon in LA, at least one this fall of 2024, but I really hope I get to perform there again soon.
19. A human invites their friend to see Marianna Frenzel perform. What five words best describe your live shows?
Hmmmm what would I tell a human being is the best way to describe my live shows...
'Big Pop Performances' (in a) 'Safe Space'.
20. What is on the horizon for Marianna Frenzel?
There's going to be a music video for this single coming out very soon sometime this month, which is self directed and edited by me which I'm beyond excited for you to see.
I have a show coming up this fall in Los Angeles for the release of "YOU KNOW WHERE I'LL BE" and my next upcoming single.
And an EP following that! I can't wait for you to hear the other things I have in store and get to perform very soon!
21. Where can readers listen to your music?
You can listen to my single "YOU KNOW WHERE I'LL BE" here on Spotify:
And here on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/you-know-where-ill-be/1755671305?i=1755671306
Please keep adding 'You Know Where I'll Be' to your playlists. It helps so much and I love seeing what playlists everyone’s been choosing to add the song to!
And you know where I'll be on socials to keep up with more music and keep up with life and updates...
Instagram @mariannafrenzel
Tiktok @mariannamakesmusic
Talking in the aisle
Is this your first introduction to Marianna Frenzel?
What is your favorite Disney Channel show?
How do you push through the rough times?
Music Shelf with Mustard is a publication that interviews independent musicians from all across the globe. It is read in 32 states and 19 countries. Check out previous interviews here.
Music Shelf with Mustard originally began in early 2021. Inspired by independent musicians on social media application TikTok Mustard knew they had to do something to help share their music. Shortly after Music Shelf with Mustard was born. Its goal is to highlight independent artists from all across the globe. Mustard appreciates you taking the time out to read this interview.