VIDEO PREMIERE: Hayley Marsten releases new single 'I Am A Rich Man'
Country-pop-rock singer songwriter Hayley Marsten returns today with her first new music of 2023 the single ‘I Am A Rich Man’ and you can watch the music video exclusively on Women in Pop below before it’s general release later today.
Inspired by the iconic quote by Cher - ‘I don’t need to marry a rich man, mom, I am a rich man,’ the song is an empowering guitar-rock track with addictive pop melodies in which Marsten sings about the right of women to live their life in exactly the way they choose.
“Imogen Clark and I wrote the song in 2021 over Zoom. I grew up in a very strong Cher fandom household, I remember having my tiny mind blown listening to ‘Believe’ when I was 5,” Marsten says. “I had always loved the interview she gave talking about how her mum said to her once that she should settle down and marry a rich man and she said ‘mom, I am a rich man’. For me, I have been asked for so long ‘when am I getting married?’ and although I’m not against the concept I always thought it was weird because I was doing so many other exciting things that I thought were huge achievements and were just as valuable of milestones but weren’t celebrated in the same way. And in my opinion, whether or not a woman has a ring on her finger, she can have a whole and fulfilling life, and be her own rich man to settle down with.
The video, directed by Jazmyn Produces based on a concept by Marsten, shows the many versions of herself - from the Stepford wife in her garden, to the rich lady rolling in bank notes emblazoned with her own face, and the fangirl writing in her diary - intercut with who she is now: a successful rock star with her guitar.
“I really wanted to celebrate different versions of myself as a ‘successful woman’ - in the video I am the Stepford wife that many people in my life wanted me to grow up to be, I am rich enough to roll around on a bed covered in money with my face on it! I am a fangirl, writing in my diary and singing into my hairbrush fully embracing the things that I love and then I’m the version of me now that I worked really hard to become. A woman that my younger self could look up to,” Marsten says.
“We took some editing inspiration from Miley Cyrus' ‘Mother’s Daughter’ video and really leant into the Stepford wife trope with the manic hedge trimming,” she adds. “Everything for this video was really DIY with it all being shot at my house or family members homes, pulling costuming from my wardrobe and I did my own hair and makeup, very rich man to do it all that way I think! I loved this song from the moment I wrote it with Imogen Clark but this video is easily my favourite to date and I think my best work yet!”
Marsten has been releasing music since 2017 and in 2019 released her debut album Spectacular Heartbreak which has accumulated half a million streams. Her music is country-rock at heart but incorporates multiple genres from pop to even dabbling with hints of electronica on 2021’s ‘Drowning Myself’. Recently signed to Cheatin Hearts Records, Marsten is a versatile musician with something for everyone, and her music is always a joy to sink into. Her second album is on the way, but in the meantime dive into the music video for ‘I Am A Rich Man’ exclusive on Women In Pop before it’s general release at 5pm AEDT 31 March.
‘I Am A Rich Man’ is out now via Cheatin Heart Records. You can buy and stream here.
To keep up with all things Hayley Marsten you can follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
