In Conversation: Marilyn Hueck

Written by Kayla Barnak

Photo by SOMA

Slipfast sat down with up-and-coming artist Marilyn Hucek to talk about her latest album, MARILYN, which was recently released on October 24, 2025, as well as her creative processes, musical influences, and what she hopes listeners take away from her self-titled record. 

Slipfast: What was your creative process like for your record, MARILYN?

Marilyn: I’d say the writing process was a year in the making, but then with production, mixing, and mastering, it was about a year and a half in the making. It definitely took a lot of time. I traveled between Nashville and LA for the writing and production parts of it, and I feel like this album, for me, is about my journey through womanhood and my experiences in life through grief, love, and pressures in society. I feel like you can feel that transformation as you listen through the album. It’s about growth and seasons of life.

Slipfast: You mentioned traveling between Nashville and Los Angeles. What inspiration did you gain from those cities while making this record? 

Marilyn: I would say [in] Nashville, I really leaned on the songwriting being a big foundation and fundamental to the song itself, so that’s been a huge inspiration for me as an artist, really putting value in the songwriting. That’s kind of the basis and the foundation. Then, with LA, I think it was [about] incorporating more of those kinds of pop catchy melodies and pop productions. I feel like my album is definitely a combination of the songwriting but then also blending in the pop commercial aspects too. 

Slipfast: When you were writing MARILYN, which song was done first, and when did you know the final song made the album complete? 

Marilyn: Honestly, I couldn’t have predicted the order, but “Neil Young” happened to be first. I was in Nashville [..] and I remember I was on a hike alone when the melody and the chorus came to me out of thin air. “You might not remember me, but you remember Neil Young,” and I saved it in my voice notes and brought it to the producer the next week, and we hashed out my vision. In terms of writing, “Naked” was the last song to be written. I moved to LA and I had left everything I knew, my friends, my loved ones, my belongings, everything. I packed a small suitcase and moved there for 9 months, and it was a real test of being on your own, starting fresh, and starting new. But I felt like in the process, I kind of lost a sense of myself. Then you start to realize how grateful you are for the people who make you feel like you. That’s where “Naked” stemmed from. Production wise I would say “Pressure Makes Diamonds," it almost didn’t make the record but then I was like ‘no, this fits because it’s about my journey,’ and I didn’t know that people would relate, but now I’m so glad that I had it on the album because since releasing, a lot of people have come up to me or messaged me saying ‘I love “Pressure Makes Diamonds.”’ 

Slipfast: Who would you say are your biggest musical influences, and when you’re writing or producing, do you feel like you channel them in your work?

Marilyn: I would say that I’m really inspired by female singer-songwriters like Stevie Nicks, Taylor Swift, Carly Simon, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, and Jewel, just to name a few. There’s this one record by Jewel I think it’s "You Were Meant For Me," and it almost sounds like she’s crying. Her vulnerability on there is really inspiring. When I’m recording, I’ll try to really get in the moment and project those emotions in real time. Another artist I really love is Kacey Musgraves because I love her songwriting. I love the sound and calmness of her voice, and I feel like, depending on my song, I can have that calmness, so then I have the power too. 

Slipfast: What is one thing you hope listeners take away from this record? 

Marilyn: I hope listeners can feel seen and understood and know that they’re not alone in their feelings or vulnerabilities, and know that there’s strength in being vulnerable and give them strength to talk about it and be okay in their feelings. This album has been such a healing process for me, so I hope also that it helps listeners heal with whatever they’re going through. Alzheimer’s is such a near and dear cause for me, but also losing a parent, losing a loved one. I know with Alzheimer’s it’s not talked about enough, so I want listeners who are going through it to know they’re not alone. 

Listen to MARILYN on Spotify and Apple Music

Follow Marilyn Hueck on Instagram