Mary Had a Little Band

Big dreamers never sleep! Beholding the world around her, eyes focused, while constantly musing upon wordly impressions, Marianne Oldenburg is and always has been such a dreamer. Though she is still quite young, an innate intensity and empathy cause her to intensely reflect and focus her train of thought.

During adolescence Mary found she had a knack for singing the songs of singer-songwriters only to find later on in life that this was just the start of something all-together new. During her years at the conservatory her musical ideas gradually outgrew the genre resulting in a musical collaboration with like-minded musicians Otto de Jong (drums), Tobias Kerkhoven (guitar) and Laurens Knoop (bass) in 2007. A never-ceasing urge to experiment, combined with a rarely-seen chemistry propelled the band forward, creating a distinct, exceptional style for Marianne’s compositions, varying from deep romanticism to bone-chilling emotion.
Obviously their sound struck a chord with the audience for soon they were asked to open for Silence is Sexy (Winner “Grote Prijs van Nederland”) and Blaudzun (Singer/songwriter) in 2008. That same year MHALB was runner-up in the category pop/rock in the annual talent-scouting contest “De Oogst van Overijssel”, earning Otto the award for best drummer in the contest. On top of that the band ended up as winner of the weekly final of NCRV's cabaret show "Volgspot Open Podium" with the song "Cerulean Sky".
In 2009 things really start rolling when world-famous performer Krista Detor (USA) hits Holland on her European tour and asks MHALB to be supporting act. Once again MHALB enters a talent-contest with fervour. This time the band reaches the finals of “De Grote Prijs van Nederland” and is rewarded with a grand performance in Paradiso, getting major exposure to a large audience. In March 2010 the band releases their debut EP "Six Short Stories", produced by Martijn Groeneveld(A Balladeer, Solo, Face Tomorrow, Silence is Sexy).

MHALB offers her audience an incredibly musical journey full of unexpected contrasts. Each song has a unique identity and explores the grand variety in human emotion.