Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariah Bonner.
Hi Mariah, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the third of six children. Growing up my family spent time between Reservoir Hill in Baltimore, and a farm in southern Maryland where my dad is from. We were a musical and artistic family.
My mother took me to weekly ballet lessons starting at the age of six, and on weekends when I would visit my grandmother in the country, we’d spend hours together watching classic movies and musicals.
My dad played guitar, and I also learned the tunes of Jimmi Rogers, Johnny Cash, and Merle Haggard.
At the age of 10, my dad moved us all to France where I studied ballet, took theatre classes, and was eventually discovered by a model scout as I strolled down the Champs Elysées after dance class, at the age of 14.
A few years later, I landed my first role in a French television film called “Qui Mange Quand?” (Who Eats When?) and decided to pursue a formal training in acting. What better place to go than England, known for its incredible actors, playwrights, and poets? I attended The Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, and discovered there the art of telling stories through song.
I graduated with a BA in the Arts and moved to Los Angeles where I pursued my artistic career, playing in a variety of films such as The Social Network and the Universal Soldier series, and on television in series like Scorpion and Rules Of Engagement. I also founded and led a play-reading group called Blue Tiger Salons.
One day, on a film set, the director noticed me humming a tune, and asked if I would like to record the original song he had written for his short film, “Ma Cité, Mon Histoire.”. That was my first recording experience and I loved it. The film is featured on my YouTube channel.
When I moved back to Baltimore in 2017, I met pianist and composer Marcus Dagan, with whom I began to perform. We went on to coproduce three albums, and appeared on stage in New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Baltimore.
These days I perform in Salta City and Baltimore. My repertoire ranges from American standards to French ballads, western and folk classics, boleros, bossa novas, and more. Some of my influences are Linda Ronstadt, Dalida, Edith Piaf, Reba McEntire, and Annie Lennox.
I also write a blog on Substack about life as a performer, my experiences living in Argentina, and my travels.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. Although I consider myself lucky, I can also say that I have worked hard and continue to do so. Struggles have included living on the other side of the country, an ever growing entertainment industry which has made it extremely competitive, and changes in how to promote and market oneself as an artist.
In my particular case, another challenge was that when I finished my studies in London and began to audition for roles, I had to put on an English accent for the auditions. I felt like I wasn’t really able to be myself so I moved back to the US, to Los Angeles. But there I didn’t know anyone and was across the country from where my family was. It was a little lonely until I made friends and developed a network.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Singing was part of my program of study at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. There I learned about putting acting together with singing to tell a story: the art of cabaret. Cabaret is like a conversation with the audience. Together the two of you share in the intimacy of a song, in the joy or the pain of a piece of music.
My repertoire is varied including French songs, American Standards, South American boleros, and American country and folk classics. These can go together in a themed show and the songs are woven together to tell a story.
I am proud of the fact that I have successfully transitioned from acting into cabaret performing. I manage my own career and although it means I have to hustle for bookings I am able to have control of my time, and schedule.
I believe that my international background sets me apart by lending authenticity to my multilingual and culturally varied song selection.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Artistic expression is vitally important to me. Something feels like it’s missing in my life if I am not expressing my talent, my voice. It feels natural to me, almost like breathing air.
I have always felt that the beauty of music is that it needs no language; it is a language in and of itself. You don’t necessarily have to understand the lyrics of a song to be moved by it.
A song can go beyond the surface to the heart and the soul and that’s what I love about what I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.TheMariahBonner.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themariahbonner/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themariahbonner/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MariahBonner
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4LvoLmjZDmqETyFn5cwEMY?si=Y1Xn2FJeQhiLixe81r1PEA
