She was born in Hampshire and has lived in Devon, Brighton and London. She is of Finnish descent.
Hackman went to Bedales School where she met Cara Delevingne. Together they formed a short-lived band where Hackman played drums and Delevingne played guitar and sang.
Johnny Flynn also studied at the same school and knew and appreciated Hackman's music. He was instrumental in getting her first record deal with Transgressive and produced her debut single.
In 2013 she toured Australia and Europe as an opening act for Laura Marling
Retina Television
Marika Hackman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
letting the world pour in
save it for when you're bored
retina television
pupils as black as crows
soaking up all the light
burning when it gets dark
torches when it is dark
at four in the morning
a warning warning
to the spider legs hanging down
pick them off one by one
but you did not want to hurt
you did not mean to hurt
by the look on your face
the look on your face
and fallen from grace
well hold me in your arms now
tell me I'm okay
okay
pupils as deep as wells
letting the world pour in
save it for when you're bored
retina television
In Marika Hackman's song "Retina Television," the lyrics describe the deep and dark pupils of a person, an imagery that is often associated with being lost, overwhelmed, or even hypnotized. The metaphorical "wells" of the pupils are described as letting the world pour in. The phrase "save it for when you're bored" suggests that the person is using their eyes as a form of entertainment, allowing everything to enter their mind without filtering or processing it. The term "retina television" further emphasizes this as a form of passive entertainment, where the person is not an active participant, but rather a spectator.
The second stanza continues with the darkness imagery, describing the pupils as black as crows, soaking up all the light. The line "burning when it gets dark" suggests that the person is using the light that their pupils have collected during the day, as a source of comfort or warmth during nighttime. The line "torches when it is dark" paints a somewhat ominous picture, as if the person's eyes are the only source of light in a dark and lonely place. The following lines, "at four in the morning, a warning warning," add to this tone and create a sense of foreboding.
The last part of the song shifts the focus to the person's emotional state, with the line "but you did not want to hurt, you did not mean to hurt." The line implies that the person's actions have caused harm, but it was not their intention. The final line "hold me in your arms now, tell me I'm okay" is a plea for comfort and reassurance, suggesting that the person is struggling emotionally and needs support.
Overall, "Retina Television" is a haunting and introspective song, exploring themes of isolation, vulnerability, and self-doubt.
Line by Line Meaning
pupils as deep as wells
The singer's eyes are wide open, welcoming the outside world to come in.
letting the world pour in
The singer's eyes allow the environment to enter through them without reserve.
save it for when you're bored
The singer suggests storing the sensory information to use it when feeling indifferent or uninspired.
retina television
The eye is so overwhelmed with images that it feels as if it is watching a television from within.
pupils as black as crows
The artist's eyes are dark and encapsulate all the light within them.
soaking up all the light
The eyes take in all available light overlapping with the singer's melancholy mood.
burning when it gets dark
The singer's vision becomes blurry and painful when there is no more light left.
torches when it is dark
The eyes become the only source of light when dark outside, and the artist uses them as torches.
at four in the morn
The artist recites the time of the reflection when moments are intimately absent.
at four in the morning
This line repeats to accentuate the significance of the time of day in the artist's thoughts.
a warning warning
The singer senses a danger signal or an alarm in the world around them, something notifying them of potential danger.
to the spider legs hanging down
The spider's legs suggest uncertainty and fragility to the artist.
pick them off one by one
The singer contemplates finding ways to tackle their problems piece by piece.
but you did not want to hurt
The singer acknowledges that they did not intend to harm anyone or anything.
you did not mean to hurt
This line repeats as the singer again recolonizes that their desires were never malicious.
by the look on your face
The artist implies that their emotions are visible to others, easily noticeable through body language.
the look on your face
This line is a repetition of the previous one, emphasizing the importance of facial expression to the artist.
and fallen from grace
The singer is in a state of decline or loss of status, making them feel worthless or empty.
well hold me in your arms now
The singer seeks comfort and physical support to overcome their emotional distress.
tell me I'm okay
The artist seeks reassurance from a person they trust, asking them to confirm that everything is fine.
okay
The word 'okay' repeats for emphasis, indicating that the artist wants to believe that everything is well in the world.
Writer(s): Marika Louise Hackman
Contributed by Noah A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Marielos Galvez
I remember the first time I heard this song. I closed my eyes and I felt like the was singing just for me.
I have the same feeling whenever I hear it.
mbot48
Love that natural 'tunnel reverb' sound.
Mollie Semple
I'm actually obsessed with your music, just discovered it and it's simply beautiful. I can't wait to hear more.
Olivia Mello
wow, this is the closest thing I have ever experienced to love at first sight.
Hydi
This music is... perfect, beautiful, peaceful, deep
hellostranger
I heard it on the radio and fell in love with it. :) <3
Jimmy Colville
You're wonderful, Marika. You're fucking wonderful! One of your most beautiful songs in my most humble and entirely irrelevant opinion. Keep up the good work! :-)
Eliza Dundas
hey Marika,i just wanted to let you know that you are awesome. You are my best friend's inspiration for life. You are the reason she continues to play the guitar. She admires your key changes, and just simply thinks your the most talented, real, guitar player on Earth. Your voice is beautiful, quite Frankly 'the bees knees' (quote) Her name is Sophie and she is 18 years old and making her way into the world, and would love more than anything if you could meet her and talk to her about your common passion, or even just message her. Please reply to this comment if there is any possibility of you meeting her. THANK YOU! xxx
Mandolin Bartling
such a beautiful song, she's got the sweetest voice
Obnoxious Laughter
This is awesome! I love it!