A diamond in the rough? Meet Marina Diamandis (Created May 1, 2013)

Are you ready for a tongue twister? Try saying Marina Lambrini Diamandis 10x fast. And if you're ready for a brain twister, here's a good one for you: Diamandis, who goes by the name Marina and the Diamonds, is a solo act. And her story, as it stands, makes you wonder how her name isn't lost in the tabloids next to some of music's more outrageous acts. Just who is Diamandis? Here's the story:

According to various sources, Marina Diamandis was born in Wales to Welsh and Greek parents, though she has made claims (for whatever reason) of being from Ancient Greece. She reportedly dropped out of four different music courses at four different universities, and eventually decided to begin 'making her own way' in music. Critics had a field day, and 'fans' were unsure what to make of a girl whose inspirations, as they were, included the volatile Britney Spears.

Regardless of the perception of Marina, one thing was certain – her songs not only had a soulful vibe, but the keyboard-driven tunes helped to showcase what became recognized as one of the genre's unique voices. It also didn't hurt she was showcased as a singer/songwriter who penned most of her own material right out of the gate, and worked to distance herself from other female solo acts who also broke through to the mainstream around 2009-2010.

As the variety in her music made it hard to classify who Marina really is, her cult success was no surprise to anyone was paying attention. Her first single, "Obsessions/Mowgil's Road," was followed later by her "Crown Jewels" EP, which contained three new songs, including an electronic remix of "I Am Not a Robot."

Marina ripped up the British festival circuit before the launch of her debut album, "The Family Jewels," in 2010. The follow-up, "Electric Heart," bowed in 2012, and she recently released the song "Just Desserts" on her YouTube channel.