Muriel
Innovative keyboardist, composer, arranger and singer Muriel Marco, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and moved to Misiones province (border with Brasil) at an early age. She lived in Misiones until she turned 17 years where she studied Music at the National conservatory of Music.
At 19 year of age Muriel embarked on a journey from Argentina to South Africa with the desire to explore and discover the roots of rhythm. She studied at the University of Cape Town completing her degree in composition and arrangement with distinction in Ethnomusicology. During her time at the University she travelled extensively Southern Africa experiencing the traditional and neo traditional local music scene.
Here is what keeps Muriel busy…
Composer
Muriel is a prolific composer having composed for several projects including music albums of diverse genres, jingles and movie scoring.
Muriel, together with Ghalik Jacobs scored the music of Confessions of a Gambler, a movie premiered in Dubai, USA and South African in 2008. The music for this film won the SAFTA Golden Horn Award for best music composition.
She has composed and arranged most Tucan Tucan compositions. Compositions such as Milele and Kilombo were influenced by her experience in the United Arab Emirates tour in 2005. Her composition Esa morena was chosen finalist in the international Songwriting competition 2007.
Esa Morena and Si yo pudiera were chosen for a TV add commercial of Proyect 34 - SouthAfrica / Argentina Theatre festival broadcast on Argentinian National television.
Milele and You can be what you want were included in "Glamour and Glory" German movie broadcast on the European network.
Songs such as Ratanang, Slow Jam, Conga loca, Sizani and Tiku la mina had extensive radio airplay and were included in several compilations.
In 2009 she collaborated in the arrangements and production of Sange's debut album "Xola" and in 2010 Muriel wrote the string arrangement for Saudiq Khan's new album "Madiah".
At present Muriel is busy composing for her own original project which incorporate elements from African Traditional music as well as Argentinian folklore and Aboriginal music.
To listen to Muriel's compositions and arrangements for the different projects Click Here
Performer
Muriel's versatility allows her to performs with diverse bands and artists of diverse genres.
She has performed at renown festivals and events such as the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, the Villa Celimontana Jazz Festival (Rome), the Jazzathon, the Verao Amarelo Jazz Festival and Tunduro Festvial (Mozambique), The FIFA world cup2010 final draw gala dinner, the World Economic Forum Gala dinner, The FIFA fan parks and fan Jols, Rocking the Daisies, to mention a few.
She has toured Southern African countries such as Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya with Tucan Tucan, Carambola, Cuba Libre and Tren Latino Band. She also toured Abu Dhabi with Blaze band and Italy with Tucan Tucan.
Bands she belongs to:
• Tucan Tucan - A kaleidoscope of sound. World music.
A vibrant melting pot of African rhythms such as Kwasa Kwasa, Marrabenta, Mbaqanga, Maskandi and High life with South American elements from Samba, Salsa and Chacarera with a strong jazz influence and lyrics in African languages, Spanish, Portuguese and English.
For more info Click Here
• B.A.T.E Lounge project -
Balkan, Afro, Tango, Electro Lounge project is a collaboration of musicians from Bulgaria, Mozambique, Argentina and South Africa fusing their roots into an explosive and electrifying musical experience.
For more info Click Here
• Blaze function band -
A band that serves all kind of functions: from corporate parties to Weddings, Bartmitzvah, birthday parties, etc The Band was created with the purpose of providing audiences with the highest level of entertainment. Ranging from easy listening jazz background music to high energy (70's 80's and current) rock-pop-disco, latin dance music, and vibrant African music, BLAZE provides outmost excitement, getting everybody on the dance floor.
For more info Click Here
• Sange-
A dynamic, vibrant, eclectic singer who defines with finesse a new meaning to Afro-pop, Afro-jazz and traditional South African music.
For more info Click Here
Singer
Muriel's silky voice can be heard on Tucan Tucan's latest release "Make a difference" as well as in the "Hope for Aids" album and "Hemisferio Sur" by Lo Rez electronic tango band.
She is also singing for B.A.T.E lounge project.
Esa Morena, composed by her and Frank Paco and sang in Spanish by Muriel, was chosen finalist on the International songwriting competition.
To listen to Esa Morena and Download it for free Click Here.
Designer
Muriel is a unique designer who creates CD covers designs on request.
Her goal as a designer is transforming colour and form into designs which will best reflect the meaning of the music and its lyrics.
To see samples of her designs Click Here.
Xiluba Music
Together with Frank Paco, Muriel is in charge of the mangement of Xiluba Music.
Xiluba music is a proudly independent entity that has released up to date two albums of Tucan Tucan and the debut album of Sange.
The label also promotes other independent artists / bands, has its own publishing: "Kinara Publishing", has an extensive music library and render studio and production services.