Canadian pop recording artist and songwriter Marika Siewert has a passion to encourage, inspire, and influence others through music.

She’s hoping to once again achieve that with her new single Soldier, which is being released to radio stations across the country Monday.

This song is inspired by the Canadian troops and soldiers around the globe, she said.

“The premise of Soldier is about having someone fighting for love, and it is my desire to be able to honour these amazing soldiers,” the local singer and record producer explained.

“I am excited for the things to come,” said the Willoughby resident.

“It’s been quite the journey to even get to this point, and I am working with an incredible team that has all come together to release this new song.”

Inspiration, motivation, and global aid is what Marika’s music and pretty much everything she does in life is all about.

Whether she’s using her music to help children with disabilities in Eastern Canada, less fortunate people struggling with poverty and lack of shelter in Third World countries, or teen girls grappling with self-esteem issues in New York City, Marika said she wants to use her successes and connections to help others.

Leading by example, she said: “Make sure you are who you want to be.”

The letters D-R-E-A-M hanging on her living room wall, near a sign that said “Make each day… your masterpiece.”

“It’s not all about the fame or the fortune,” Marika said. “I want to use my platform for a purpose, to help people… and I know I can do that better by being true to myself.”

While self-esteem was never an issue this musician had to face, it became a paramount concern to her during her ascent into the industry. She kept hearing how integral image and appearance were to making it in the business, but remained steadfast she would not compromise her values, beliefs, or self in her quest for success.

Marika wanted to prove that she could be successful just being who she was.

“I always felt I couldn’t do what I do without integrity,” she said, anxious to share that message with other young women.

How a love of music began

Marika grew up in England, and at age five – apparently too young for piano lessons by the area piano teacher – decided to teach herself.

“I wanted to learn so bad,” Marika recounted. “That’s when I knew I wanted to do music.”

Born in Trinidad, and raised in England, she was 12 when her family moved to Medicine Hat, Alta.

“I never grew up around music, it was just in me,” she told the Langley Advance.

Despite having discovered a passion for the piano early, singing was a skill Marika didn’t explore until later in life.

Marika didn’t actually start singing until she was 15, as a member of the high school and church choirs.

After graduating, she moved to California to work with youth in music and drama and see if entertainment really was her calling.

“I was just trying to figure out what I wanted to do,” she said.

Eventually, she managed to scrimp together enough money to produce her first demo, and armed with that, she started competing in some music contests.

“I never did well in any of those,” she said. “But I kept going because I knew that I just got really nervous at auditions. Put me in front of thousands and everything is usually okay.”

That’s when she and her new-found songwriting friend Scott Rogers “decided to give music a shot.”

Marika and her young family moved to Langley in 2003, to work closely with Rogers in Vancouver. The pair took a year off from almost everything else in life to write songs.

“He just put his heart and soul into me,” she said, admitting she hadn’t done much songwriting until she met Rogers.

If it failed miserably, they agreed to leave the industry behind; pursue other careers.

It didn’t fail.

Within the year, they’d not only recorded Marika’s first album, but they spent four months touring in New Zealand.

Her metamorphosis into a bit of a pop icon had began.

Working with music greats

Today, Marika is a globally recognized name among the pop music industry and fans.

Marika has worked with top North American internationally acclaimed producers famous for their work with The Backstreet Boys, High School Musical, Jesse McCartney, Stacie Orrico, Jessica Simpson, Kelly Rowland and Canadian artists Hedley.

Marika co-wrote the tracks for Canadian pop sensation Elise Estrada, as well as Korea’s biggest pop star Lee Hyori with a track called My Life.

Being no stranger to the industry her previously radio released singles You Know I Will and Radio played on all the major hit radio stations across Canada landing in top 19 and 20 spots internationally and within the top five spots in Canada.

In addition to all of this success, the 30-year-old was nominated for the Canadian Radio Music awards, as best new artist in the urban category, her first independent album Untitled Chances received nominations at Canada’s Covenant Awards, and Marika was honoured as the winner of the Women of Excellence Award in arts and culture in her own community.

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Marika’s music has been featured in numerous television series and networks including TSN, MTV, several seasons of America’s Next Top Model (FOX/UPN), as well as her own personal performances on various shows like Miss Washington USA and Miss Washington Teen USA, 100 Huntley Street, The Daily with Mark and Laura Lynn, and Emmy-award-winning directed NBC primetime Christmas special, Macy’s Holiday Celebration, and the 2010 Olympic torch celebration alongside Terri Clark.

Ix-Nay, a single she co-wrote for Estrada, is being featured on the new movie The Legend of the Dancing Ninja, featuring High School Musical’s Lucas Grabeel, and David Hasselhoff. As well, Marika’s single Angel was featured in the LIFETIME network movie Sins of a Mother (www.mylifetime.com/movies/sins-of-the-mother).

Marika also shared the stage with Grammy award winning artists, Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Juno award winner Brian Doerksen as part of the theatrical release of Prodigal God – a project she lent her vocals to for the lead female character in the upcoming production soundtrack releasing October 2010 worldwide.

On top of all this, Maria celebrated the 2010 iTunes release of her single Wherever You Are – in partnership with the Girls Leadership Institute to help raise funds for girls leadership camps that aid in encouraging girls confidence and self esteem to inspire them to achieve their dreams (www.girlsleadershipinstitute.org).

Most recently Marika inked a worldwide marketing deal with Mercury Communications Group, whose client list includes UFC sports personality George St. Pierre, Serena Williams, and Debbie Travis.

One of her yet unfulfilled dreams is to record and work alongside David Foster.

“He is one of my musical heroes and he’s brilliant at pop music. I’d love that,” she said.

Diversification in her work has been key.

“Some people think it’s compromising., but it’s good business to me,” Marika said, noting she’s also done two songs for Disney, and the extra credits and money from projects like that enable her to do more volunteer work.

While she’s enjoying royalties from her existing songs and music when it’s played on radio, television, and films, Marika is always challenging herself to reach new heights.

“It’s been a long, hard journey,” Marika said. But it’s been worth it.

“It’s a little surreal,” she added, referring to her stardom and the ability to rub elbows with so many music greats.

But for her, it’s all a means of helping others, and ultimately that’s what she wants to do most of all.

Helping emerging artists

Now, not only is she enjoying her own successes as an artist, and doing a great deal of volunteer work. She’s using her successes, connections, and talents to open doors for others.

Marika recently launched her own production and record label, Emerton Records Inc (www.emertonrecords.com), to help launch young artists with integrity into the music industry.

It’s another way to give back to communities and youth, she said.

“The desire and dream for Emerton Records is to be able to take new and emerging artists who are focused and determined, and assist in the formation in their careers by building local and international platforms in all aspects of performance and exposure in the entertainment industry and worldwide media.” Marika said.

“There is a huge need for incredibly talented artists to just be given direction in terms of simple marketing plans, production plans even image consultation and funding, as often times artists solely focus on their singing or songwriting without knowing where to go next,” Marika said, noting she’s also becoming an accomplished international speaker, talking on her own experiences and a variety of personal growth issues.

While much of her time is consumed with raising three kids, and all the behind the scenes work involved with her music, she still loves performing live.

Following next week’s release of the single, Marika said she said a music video is in the works for Soldier, and she’s hoping to release it MuchMusic, MTV, and worldwide on the web, soon.

“I’m a pop artist to the core,” she said. “And that means everything that goes along with it.”

Her new website will be launching soon at www.marikaonline.com.