Bad Ass Woman

Port Moody, BC-born and Vancouver-raised, Marla Guloien is a multi-faceted singer, songwriter, creative director and entrepreneur whose work spans music, brand design, fitness and philanthropy. She first emerged in the national spotlight with her 2010 debut album Marla Guloien Debut, which she co-wrote and produced with Juno-winner Miles Black and which featured performances by Gabriel Hasselbach and P.J. Perry.

Her journey to artistry followed a less-than-straight path: two years studying at the University of Toronto, a year of travel and songwriting along the Australian coast, and a return to Vancouver to complete a Bachelor of Communications at Simon Fraser University. In her final semester, she organised a sold-out concert at Vancouver’s Planetarium, signalling that music would become more than a passion.

Not content to remain only in the recording studio, Marla established her creative studio and brand platform House of GlamRock, where she fuses music, design, marketing and cutting-edge tech. From high-profile fashion placements (Shakira, Nicki Minaj, Mel B, Fergie) to AI-driven brand builds, her work reflects a commitment to artistry at every level. She is also the host of the OMG Podcast, offering conversations about mindset, fitness, entrepreneurship and reinvention.

Her latest album, Bad Ass Woman (2025), marks a bold return to the music front. The collection fuses sleek pop and R&B with the sophistication of her jazz-inflected roots, anchored by confident songwriting, rich sonic textures and a self-possessed vocal style. It’s the sound of an artist wholly in command of her craft and her career.

Giving back remains central to Marla’s ethos. Inspired by her daughter’s time at BC Children’s Hospital, she founded Art for Heart, a family-led initiative that has delivered hundreds of art kits and toys to children undergoing hospital treatment. Creativity, connection and compassion define the work.

Whether behind the microphone, behind the brand, on the podcast mic or fundraising at hospitals, Marla Guloien remains true to a single philosophy: to create with conviction, to uplift with purpose, and to express honestly—on her own terms.
-Robert Williston