"Handmade Heaven" | ||||
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Single by Marina | ||||
from the album Love + Fear | ||||
Released | 8 February 2019 | |||
Studio | Golden Age (Los Angeles) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:29 | |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
Songwriter(s) | Marina Diamandis | |||
Producer(s) | Joel Little | |||
Marina singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Handmade Heaven" on YouTube |
"Handmade Heaven" is a song recorded and written by Welsh singer and songwriter Marina for her fourth studio album, Love + Fear (2019). The song was produced by Joel Little and serves as Marina's first solo release following a name change in 2018. It was released for digital download and streaming as the album's lead single on 8 February 2019 by Atlantic Records. Two versions of a remix of the song, produced by Irish DJ Krystal Klear, were released in March 2019. The song's lyrics were inspired by climate change and serve as an ode to Marina's passion for nature. Marina chose the track to be the lead single because she felt its sound was distinctive and different from the rest of the album.
Musically, "Handmade Heaven" is a slow-building synth-pop, pop, and electro ballad that was compared to the works of Lana Del Rey, Lorde, and Madonna. Some reviewers described it as a musical departure from her previous releases. The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, who called it a return to form for Marina. It was also described as romantic, poetic, and dreamy. Commercially, the song did not enter the Official Singles Chart in the United Kingdom, but reached the download component chart where it peaked at number 52. It also charted in Scotland and appeared on the official digital charts in France, Greece, and New Zealand.
Two accompanying music videos for "Handmade Heaven" were produced and both released in February 2019. The first one was directed by English director Sophie Muller and filmed in Estonia. It depicts Marina exploring a large forest during the winter. A separate vertical video, featuring different footage from the shoot, was released later in the month. "Handmade Heaven" was included on the setlist of her fourth concert tour, the Love + Fear Tour (2019), and used as the show's opener. A live one-shot video filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic and featuring Marina performing the song on piano was released in May 2020.