V Wanna Know pairs some of the biggest names in music and fashion with experts in various fields of interest, exploring some of the niche, less obvious interests of icons and talents.

On the second episode, we’re delving into the psychology of fandom with Welsh-Greek singer-songwriter Marina.

Formerly known as Marina and the Diamonds, the performer is one of the most identifiable names of the past decade, releasing chart-topping songs of the 2010s including “Primadonna” and “How to Be a Heartbreaker” from her sophomore album Electra Heart, which is certified gold in the US and UK. 

Marina’s fifth studio album, Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land, will be out on June 11. 

A bubblegum pop icon, Marina has always been culturally engaged and vividly expressive through her music. Rather than keeping her themes light and breezy, the artist uses pop music as a medium for expression on topics ranging from social injustices to modern womanhood, reflecting on the structures of worldly and societal standards—her recent single “Man’s World,” for example, is a keen reflection inspired by the statistic that only 2% of popular music producers are women, while her newest single, “Purge the Poison,” has nearly academic lyricism of worldly observations.  

In this episode of V Wanna Know, Marina delves into the psychology of fan culture, or “stanning.” The pop artist has always had a close connection with her fans—with the “Diamonds” being her fans themselves—and is a fan of countless musicians herself. 

To learn more about fandom, we spoke with clinical psychologist Dr. Donna Rockwell, a specialist in celebrity mental health and mindfulness who has spent years studying the psychology of fame, fans and fandom. 

Read Dr. Donna Rockwell’s published work at DonnaRockwell.com, and keep an eye out for Marina’s fifth studio album, Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land, out June 11. 

Listen to Marina’s episode of V Wanna Know above and subscribe here.