No Permission Needed: 50 Years of True Independence in the Music Industry (ft. Legendary Singer-Songwriter, Denise Marsa)

Imagine being the voice of a massive 1978 hit song and getting no credit... until fans asked the label put your name on the record. In this episode of Let's Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with music industry veteran Denise Marsa. Over a 50-year career, she has gone from performing in the gritty 1970s New York rock scene to currently charting multiple dance hits in the UK. If you want a masterclass in longevity, reclaiming your voice, and true artistic independence, you will not want to miss her story.In this episode, we discuss:The Original "Mystery Lady": The story behind her initially uncredited vocals on Dean Friedman's 1978 hit Lucky Stars and how fan letters compelled the label to properly feature her name on the vinyl. Plus, she sets the record straight on providing the lead vocals for The Flirts' track Helpless (You Took My Love).Surviving the '70s Rock Scene: Navigating the 1970s New York music scene as a fish out of water, avoiding the heavy drug culture, and playing theatrical rock on the same bills as Blondie and the Ramones. She also shares a memorable encounter with Elton John in London.Complete Creative Control: Why she launched her own independent label, Key Media Group, in the late 90s. Denise explains why the greatest freedom as an artist is not needing anyone's permission to release music or to direct and edit her own music videos.The Pass: Breaking down her one-woman show in London, The Pass, and keeping it honest with audiences about why she isn't a household name - proving that success is a mix of timing, luck, and personal choices.A Modern Resurgence: How she is currently racking up eight Top 10 hits on the UK Music Week dance charts with ethereal remixes of Kiss Me in the Rain, Company of Women, and Hole from her recent albums Pivotal and Risk and Heal.You can stream Denise's music everywhere and find her online at denisemarsamusic.com, on Instagram @denisemarsa, or on YouTube at @denisemarsamusic.If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to be notified of future episodes. You can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagram @letstalkmediava. New episodes drop on Tuesdays and Thursdays.