Morena Soul
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Morena Soul

Austin, Texas, United States | INDIE

Austin, Texas, United States | INDIE
Band World Latin

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"A new breed of Brazilian Music."

Two facts comes to my mind when I think about Morena Soul. First, one night I was talking to one of the band's musician on the stage right after the show, and then one person, who apparently was Latin but not Brazilian, came and start to say how amazing the show had been and also how famous the band is getting among his friends, and people in his community. The second one is, I can not classify a band like Morena Soul. I wonder how the professional music criticism would do so. It is not any of all Brazilian rhythms (although it does have influences from a few of them). Classify that as Latin music is very generic and very wrong. World music? No, it is not that as well, for sure. So, I really believe the music criticism should start trying to understand better Morena Soul, and all the others band I mentioned earlier, because it seems there will be more and more good reasons to talk about that, and I believe it will not take too much time also to cross the boundaries of Austin."
- Fabio Carvalho, Oaken Guy - Blogger (Sep 22, 2010) - - Fabio Carvalho, Oaken Guy - Blogger (Sep 22, 2010)


"Morena Soul will get you moving."

"Morena Soul is an amazing band with some of Austin's most accomplished musicians. The diverse group plays a variety of tunes and genres from Brazil, but their heart belongs to samba. Please come out and see how Morena Soul gets your feet moving. "
- Gustavo Simplis, Esquina Tango Website(Oct 01, 2011) - - Gustavo Simplis, Esquina Tango Website(Oct 01, 2011)


"The diverse music scene in Austin...through my glasses"

The diverse music scene in Austin... through my glasses

Everybody already knows that Austin has always been a very traditional city in many different kinds of art, but specially music. It counts on a plenty of well known names, and also every year more and more new Austinites artists show up. But what really has caught my attention recently is how powerful, rich and diverse the music scene in this weird city can be.

It has many musicians with different nationalities, experiences and influences. They are getting together and really exploring what would be the result after combining the musical elements they have in common, to everything else they don't have in common, producing sometimes good and innovative music.

I have been following a few of them, like Seu Jacinto, Os Alquimistas and Frederico7 & The Hashashins. Each one has its own style, but they have in common good musicians and the very good atmosphere that starts on the stage and goes to the audience, once there is a lot of energy and good vibes in their songs. And there are many others that make me really curious, and that definitely I will see soon, like Huerta Culture.

Coincidently, the youngest one of those bands is also the one I have had more opportunities to see closer so far, its name is Manga Rosa. It is also really interesting, because it gives me the opportunity to see its growth, the creation of a personality, and the formation of a loyal and very enthusiastic audience.

This band has its foundations in Brazilian music, with influences from Bossa Nova, Samba and also different rhythms from the Northeast of such country. However, this is not a typical Brazilian band at all. And this fact can be clearly seen by the people who form the band. Manga Rosa has 6 musicians. Three Brazilians, two Americans, and one Estonian. Even the people who share the same nationality have different backgrounds and interests, and all of them are aware of this magic opportunity to explore such diversity of musical culture on the stage, and they are definitely doing so.

Two facts comes to my mind when I think about Manga Rosa. First, one night I was talking to one of the band's musician on the stage right after the show, and then one person, who apparently was Latin but not Brazilian, came and start to say how amazing the show had been and also how famous the band is getting among his friends, and people in his community.

The second one is, I am an amateur musician and writer, I am also Brazilian, and I know reasonably well Brazilian music, and even if I try really hard I can not classify a band like Manga Rosa. I wonder how the professional music criticism would do so. It is not any of all Brazilian rhythms (although it does have influences from a few of them). Classify that as Latin music is very generic and very wrong. World music? No, it is not that as well, for sure.

So, I really believe the music criticism should start trying to understand better Manga Rosa, and all the others band I mentioned earlier, because it seems there will be more and more good reasons to talk about that, and I believe it will not take too much time also to cross the boundaries of Austin. - Fábio Carvalho - Oaken Guy Blogger


Discography

We are currently working on recording a EP with 5 tracks.

Photos

Bio

Morena Soul is a locally grown Brazilian music band from Austin, TX. Envisioned and created by Singer Sarah Altoé, Guitarist/Songwriter Frank Almendra and percussionist Mike Longoria with the intention of bringing a variety of Brazilian beats to their own creative light an treat them with modern arrangements and plenty of musicality.
Sarah was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro. A true Carioca girl. She grew up caressed by Samba melodies and the sway of palm trees. From Rio's warm beaches Sarah brings the smoothness in her voice and from Rio's suburbs and tumultuous hills she carries the power of the Samba on her feet.
Frank was also born in Rio but he was raised in the Brazilian Northeast, a very different region both visually and musically. From that area comes an array of styles such as Baião, Forró, Maracatu, Carimbó and many others. Frank immersed himself in that richness of sound and also used to play in Rock bands and Bossa-Nova groups in his early years. This sonic miscegenation, as typical as the Brazilian race itself, comes alive out of his music and songwriting style.
Mike is a percussionist and drummer. He has a Jazz background but became a specialist on World music percussion, mastering a wide variety of instruments with highlight on the Pandeiro, the most typical Brazilian samba instrument. He has been playing professionally for over 15 years and has toured all over the U.S and Europe with a variety of bands. Lately it has settled in Austin and dedicated his time sharing his experiences with the community on several social/educational projects and playing on local bands such as: Os Alquimistas and Seu Jacinto.
Sarah and Frank got together in Austin, TX during 2010 and formed a band named Manga Rosa, that became very well known in the Latin/World Music scene in the region. In 2011 they joined forces with Mike on this new and exciting project. They have added Marcel Ribas on Bass to complete the band and to help them expand their musical horizons.