From Six Yellow Roses to The Elton John Connection: Marta Coloma’s Journey into Elton’s World

Marta Coloma is a Madrid-based singer who has successfully combined talent, sensitivity, and deep respect for Elton John’s legacy. In October 2024, she released her EP Six Yellow Roses, offering reinterpretations of classics from the 1970s and one track from the 1980s, bringing her own voice and style while preserving the essence of the original compositions. From the emotional subtlety of Goodbye to the intimate strength of Seasons, each song showcased the artistic vision of a performer who loves music and wants to share it with a broad audience.

In this interview, we talk with Marta about her beginnings, her connection with Elton John, the creative process behind her EP, and what fans can expect from her upcoming The Elton John Connection concert in Madrid.

Hola Marta, thank you very much for being here. Could you tell us, first, about your musical journey and what led you to become a performer?

As Kiki Dee would say, I had always had the music in me :) But it took a while for me to develop the belief that I could perform. I went to music school and took piano and choir lessons when I was little, and I had always loved singing, but at some point I started putting all my efforts into school, languages, and becoming a journalist, and just stopped seeing it as an option. I kept loving music and all things related to it — but it was just a hobby. At some point in my late 20s, I realized harnessing my voice and my performance spirit could help me heal. I enrolled in a gospel music school (something I had always dreamed of trying), and then all started to come into place. I joined a disco band, I auditioned for Coro Gospel de Madrid, and this sparked the realization that I could actually do it. I'm really glad I took that leap of faith.

And what does Elton John mean to you, both as an artist and as a person?

It all actually started because of him. Up until 2019, Elton John was just a beloved artist from my childhood soundtrack (my dad used to play his songs along with other artists from the era like Abba, Pink Floyd, Queen, or Stevie Wonder). Hits like I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues, Crocodile Rock or Your Song were in heavy rotation when I was a child. I also remember being fascinated by the Passengers music video. 😃  But Elton was just another artist from that part of my life. When the Rocketman movie came out, it all changed (yes — I'm one of those who turned into an Eltonite thanks to the movie!). I'd been listening to Elton many times in my life but I never really took interest in his life story... and when I finally dived into it, I honestly felt understood. It moved me in ways that I didn't expect. As the ultra-curious person that I am, this unleashed a whole obsession: I read about his music, about his life, about his personal struggles, about his career path and artistry, and I listened to his discography in loop. I was so surprised to find out he was the whole package of what an artist should be: a rebellious, curious, funny, open to experimentation, gifted musician that also has a knack for supporting, mentoring, and collaborating with others. I found it so inspiring that he had been able to create such monumental work while struggling with his identity, family conflicts, and relationship issues. This led to interactions with other fans and more musical exploration. The world opened before me when I re-discovered Elton.

On your live project: how do you choose which songs to cover? Is there a story behind each selection?

For The Elton John Connection, I've made a point of straying away from the usual collection of hits that Elton himself is tired of playing. Some of them are present in the show, of course, but there are so many Elton tributes out there that I wanted to do something different. I didn't wanna impersonate Elton (not that I even could 🤣) or to play the songs everyone knows. One of the main goals was to uncover the hidden catalogue that most listeners haven't even heard of. There are so many hidden gems in the setlist that illustrate why Elton's work fascinated me for the first time, and I want to share that fascination with the audience. Since I am a storyteller myself, I decided to do this by following his personal story, mostly focusing on his career, which has been incredibly varied and surprising. The story I share in the show is also full of anecdotes and hilarious moments that speak about his character. To make the selection, I just followed the soundtrack that I think was more fitting with the episodes I wanted to highlight. There are hits in there, of course, but also so many deep tracks that fans will love to hear live, like Idol, Tell Me When The Whistle Blows or Healing Hands, since Elton hasn't played them for a long time. I'm incredibly excited to keep performing these songs, and to add more to the roster as the show's script evolves.

What technical or emotional challenges did you encounter while recording Six Yellow Roses?

Woof, that was a rough process! Six Yellow Roses was born because one of Elton's longest-standing fans, Bennett Zimmerman, really believed in me. When we met in LA for EJ's last North American show, he prepared a lovely fan evening with a show where a fantastic band, Flight of Voices, covered some deep favorites for us. He heard me sing and suggested that I select and record some. He thought Elton in a woman's voice that knew his catalogue inside out would be an intriguing project. But I was in Spain, he was in the US, and the American piano player and producer he wanted to enroll for the project, Adam Marsland, was in Cambodia at that time. So the biggest challenge was producing, recording, and mixing it all remotely. Second to that, it was also challenging to find the right key to transpose the songs to and find out what kind of adjustments and stylistic choices would suit my soprano voice more. It took a few months to put it all together, but in the end, we were happy with the result.

Can you tell us more about your band — who the musicians are and how you decide which instruments are part of your arrangements?

This might sound cheesy, but I feel that The Elton John Connection band is truly spectacular. I'm really grateful I could gather these musicians to make the project a reality. It was difficult at first, but through recommendations and references from other musicians in Madrid, I was able to put together a great band. Initially, I was worried about finding the right piano player — I studied piano but I don't have the expertise required to play these songs. The amazing Dan Vidal ended up becoming our lead at the keys and I couldn't be happier. Although I love the original Elton John band with Nigel, Dee, and Elton, I wanted to put together a full production, so apart from the bass (Bas Kisjes) and drums (Giancarlo Spirito), I added guitar (Pedro Chalkho/Miguel Tarzia) and a lovely set of back-up singers (Irene Cobián, Laura Guardiola and Julia Tapia), which also happen to be my dear friends from the gospel choir. That's the core band, but we're also adding other surprises along the way 😉 When I step on stage with them, I feel so lucky.

Elton John’s recordings are often associated with the legendary producer Gus Dudgeon and lyricists like Bernie Taupin, Tim Rice, and Gary Osborne. How do you connect with their contributions when interpreting Elton’s music?

It's so difficult to get close to the greatness of Elton's records. People are so used to hearing the studio tracks and live versions, so I've tried to give the songs my own flavor. Bernie's lyrical prowess is always highlighted in the renditions themselves and in the script. He's always telling magnificent stories and that itself creates a special atmosphere. Some of the earlier albums arranged by Paul Buckmaster are masterpieces, but I wasn't able to put together a string orchestra (yet 😆), so we've tried to make those more intimate and laid-back. In summary: you can't really replicate that sound, so my idea is to give it a twist while we honor the era and make people travel in time with us.

Great, precisely, do you have a favorite Elton John album, era, or band lineup that inspires you the most?

This is a hard one! Many fans will dispute this, but it's obvious that the 70s albums are the peak of the classic Elton sound. Tumbleweed Connection and Honky Chateâu are among my favorites. I'm also a huge advocate of albums that don't get as much attention, like Rock of The Westies or The Fox. I have to say though that, as much as Elton's early production was undoubtedly amazing, the 80s and 90s have so many hidden gems and some fans tend to be very harsh with their feedback. Regarding band lineups, the answer is easy: the original Elton John Band (as in 11-17-70 or Madman Shakes Tokyo! 1971) and the Elton+Ray duo from the A Single Man tour (that '79 Moscow concert is just hauntingly beautiful and includes my favorite version of Rocket Man ever).

From your perspective, what makes Elton John’s sound unique and enduring after all these years?

It's a combination of his natural ability at crafting impossibly catchy tunes and his rich musical references. Most Elton John songs sound like classics because they are: he appreciates music history and other trailblazers that came before him, and he isn't afraid of exploring different genres when he's writing songs. After all, he's a music fanatic. Pair that with his prodigious technical ability and perfect pitch, and add Bernie's evocative stories on top, and you've got a winning formula. He makes the difficult seem easy. I also appreciate that he's always trying new things and is open to experimenting. Other artists his age don't, and that's what really keeps creativity alive.

Do you have plans for more covers, collaborations, or upcoming projects related or not to Elton John?

With this project, I want to keep exploring Elton's catalogue and uncovering more deep tracks to the audience if there's an interest. I have a long list of songs I'd like to talk about and perform! And of course, I'd love to collaborate with other artists that revere his music as much as me. It's always fun to perform with other musicians that appreciate his catalogue. Apart from this, I'm gonna continue performing other genres I love, like 70s disco and gospel, and I'm opening up to the possibility of writing my own songs. I didn't imagine I'd be doing this four years ago, so who knows! But I definitely think there's more to explore moving forward.

Looking forward, what kind of music would you most like to explore and develop in the future?

As you can probably tell, I adore the music and artists from the 70s. I think it's such an inspiring era — one of the best decades in popular music so far. The rock, pop, disco, punk, soul, folk... artists were absolutely incredible back then, and the songwriting was really high quality. However, I enjoy and take inspiration from tons of contemporary musicians (Florence Welch and Rufus Wainwright are two of my absolute favorites), so I'm looking forward to open my horizons and get inspired to write my own music. For now, in terms of performance, I get such a kick from combining storytelling with live music, and I'd like to explore that formula further.

Speaking with Marta Coloma is a reminder of why Elton John’s music continues to inspire — because within his catalog, artists like her find space for discovery, reinvention, and sincere connection. Her approach is thoughtful and passionate, honoring the past while bringing her own voice to the forefront.

With Six Yellow Roses and The Elton John Connection, Marta shows that Elton’s repertoire still holds countless stories waiting to be told. Stories she delivers with honesty, warmth, and a genuine love for the music. It will be exciting to follow where her artistic journey leads next, and what new surprises she has in store for fans.

As our conversation comes to an end, it feels only fitting to close with the words of someone whose artistry Marta deeply admires. Shortly after hearing her interpretation of Grow Some Funk of Your Own, former Elton John band member Cidny Bullens sent her this heartfelt message — a note that reflects not only Marta’s talent, but the musical thread that connects artists across generations:

Marta: It is great to hear "Grow Some Funk..." revitalized by you. I wish you all the best in your career and life. Keep singing! We both know it is one thing that keeps us all connected. All the best. Cidny Bullens