Merenia & the Way
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | SELF
Music
Press
3D World Album Of The Week 9/10
".... This debut album from Merenia is so damn impressive it should put her in the forefront of the Australian Music scene...her greatest strength is her soaring versatility...she can switch from seductive soul siren to feisty MC all with the affirmation of oneself overcoming adversity...a funky percussive Latin soul driven delight...Ms.Gillies delivers a winning album"
- 3 D World
Check out these excerpts from reviews of 'Libertine'... Paris Pompor in the Metro / Sydney Morning Herald
".... Singing in 5 tongues, Kiwi born Sydneysider Merenia has a especially distinctive tone that is instantly identifiable...it prickles with a sassy attitude that is all the more likable for eschewing the silly gymnastics favoured by wannabe urban divas. Gillies is smoother and earthier, though she can certainly single-handedly slap down younger stars. This overdue album delivers Latin greased soul and jazz, funky breaks and gospel/rnb...." - The Metro Sydney morning herald
Libertine is the 2008 debut release from dynamic Sydney songstress and MC, Merenia Gillies. A rising star in the Sydney club and world music scene, Merenia is best known to date for her collaborative work with Love Tattoo, Rephrase and Paul Mac. An intensive labour of love, Libertine features an eclectic, well crafted collection of songs which inspire, empower, excite and convince the listener to surrender themselves to the infectious beats. Libertine defies traditional genre categorising and embodies elements of smooth soul, solid funk, Latin flavours and vintage hip hop. Relaying strong, saucy vocals, Libertine is indicative of Merenia’s strong personality and diverse talents as a performer, songwriter, recording artist and producer. Produced by Merenia Gillies and Adm Ventoura and mixed by Oscar “El Duro” Jimenez over the period of a year, Libertine came to life through a mix of minimal programming and live percussion. Initial programming was done in Merenia’s lounge room using the TV as a monitor speaker. A selection of the bass lines which were written and played in at that time have been used on the final master. A series of guest songwriters added their own style and finesse to a handful of tracks on Libertine, including Vicente Sebastian (Watussi), Paul Petersen (Prince and Maurice Day), Jonathan Pease (Resurrectors), Evelyn Duprai and Rephrase. A mixture of organic percussion, rhythmic forms and programmed beats layered with sampled live drums is prevalent on Libertine. The album sound and beat programming was essentially drawn from vintage hip hop and the traditional percussive beats are a direct result of using a combination of cajon, guiro, congas, timbales, bells and chekere. "If You Don’t Want My Love" is the only song on the album which involves a traditional guitar, the rest of the album instead features the cavaquinho (a traditional Brazilian four string guitar) and a vintage fender electric mandolin.
Libertine is the 2008 debut release from dynamic Sydney songstress and MC, Merenia Gillies. A rising star in the Sydney club and world music scene, Merenia is best known to date for her collaborative work with Love Tattoo, Rephrase and Paul Mac. An intensive labour of love, Libertine features an eclectic, well crafted collection of songs which inspire, empower, excite and convince the listener to surrender themselves to the infectious beats. Libertine defies traditional genre categorising and embodies elements of smooth soul, solid funk, Latin flavours and vintage hip hop. Relaying strong, saucy vocals, Libertine is indicative of Merenia’s strong personality and diverse talents as a performer, songwriter, recording artist and producer. Produced by Merenia Gillies and Adm Ventoura and mixed by Oscar “El Duro” Jimenez over the period of a year, Libertine came to life through a mix of minimal programming and live percussion. Initial programming was done in Merenia’s lounge room using the TV as a monitor speaker. A selection of the bass lines which were written and played in at that time have been used on the final master. A series of guest songwriters added their own style and finesse to a handful of tracks on Libertine, including Vicente Sebastian (Watussi), Paul Petersen (Prince and Maurice Day), Jonathan Pease (Resurrectors), Evelyn Duprai and Rephrase. A mixture of organic percussion, rhythmic forms and programmed beats layered with sampled live drums is prevalent on Libertine. The album sound and beat programming was essentially drawn from vintage hip hop and the traditional percussive beats are a direct result of using a combination of cajon, guiro, congas, timbales, bells and chekere. "If You Don’t Want My Love" is the only song on the album which involves a traditional guitar, the rest of the album instead features the cavaquinho (a traditional Brazilian four string guitar) and a vintage fender electric mandolin.
Libertine is the 2008 debut release from dynamic Sydney songstress and MC, Meren - ihearmusic.com
Merenia Gillies is a multitalented, beat throwing musician, who sings in 5 languages and takes great joy in mischievously bending the rules when it comes to her music. Her personal musical style will without a doubt seduce as the sounds of her own distinctive fusion of Dance, Soul/Funk, Electro, Latin, House and World flow into the universe.
Her ability to twist and produce these addictive raw sounds is why this rising star is quickly becoming one of Sydney’s most inimitable and popular female recording artists and live performers - particularly in the Club and Latin genres.
A powerhouse performer on stage with the most instinctive vocal talents of her generation, Merenia Gillies is constantly in demand to collaborate on both studio and live performances. Since relocating from New Zealand to Australia, she has collaborated and lent her musical style to a staggering variety of international acts and leading Australian artists including; Paul Mac, Omega Man, All Good Funk Alliance (US), Richard Earnshaw (UK), Stephen Allkins (Love Tattoo), Kate Munroe, The Bamboos, Declan Kelly, Rephrase, Russ Dewbury, The Sound Conducterz, Afro Moses (Ghana), Watussi, Oscar "el Duro" Jimenez and Reyes de la Onda.
Born in Rotorua, New Zealand, MereniaGillies was signed to Pagan Records at the age of 16. With her heritage a mixture of Maori, Romany Gypsy and Welsh, she embraces and indulges in an eclectic array of musical influences. She creates by using the traditional styles of her ancestry as a platform for layering hypnotic beats and sultry, soaring vocals which then translate into accessible pieces of music which slip into the decks of clubland as easily as they might slip into the lounge room stereo.
Merenia Gillies has spent the last few years crafting her debut album (‘Libertine’), forming her own band and touring with the likes of Love Tattoo on a national club tour. Most recently Merenia Gillies performed at one of Australia’s most well respected Soulful House Music Events, SHE (Soulful House Music), she also appeared at both Festival of Sydney 2008 and Playground Weekender Festival, undoubtedly receiving crowd approval from both packed out shows.
MereniaGillies was recently signed to ABC Music Publishing and is about to set the Australian club and festival scene on fire with a handful of showcase performances in honor of her debut release ‘Libertine’ (out 20 September 2008 through Catalyst Recordings / Inertia). Her own band includes a carefully hand picked selection of Sydney musicians, Adm Ventura, Declan Kelly, Percy Robson and Daniel Goodacre who support her in bringing the sounds of her newly completed debut album ‘Libertine’to the stage.
ABC MUSIC PUBLISHING
LIBERTINE
CD
RELEASED: 20 SEPTEMBER 2008
TRACKLISTING:
01 ACT LIKE YOU LOVE ME
02 OLD SCHOOL
03 BLAC TIME
04 TURN IT UP
05 HELL HATH NO FURY
06 LAY BACK
07 YOU SAID YOU WOULD
08 IF YOU DON'T WANT MY LOVE
09 LIP SERVICE
10 AVANCE (COMO ME GUSTA TU RITMO)
11 ACT LIKE YOU LOVE ME (AFROBEAT)
12 THIS ONE BE KILLA (LIVE)
13 WHO'S SORRY NOW
14 BLUE SKIES (LIVE)
© MUSHROOM MUSIC PUBLISHING 2012. - Mushroom Music Publishing
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Drawing on her Maori, Welsh and Roma Gypsy heritage Merenia sings in five languages
Powerful Latin Soul and Club diva this is an artist whose music can drive you out of your comfort zone.
Merenia as a member of the critically acclaimed Barefoot Divas, enjoyed a highly successful sold out season as part of the Black Capital program in this years 2012 Sydney festival and also toured in March 2012 with the same show as part of the NZ International Arts festival also to critical acclaim and a sold out season.
In 2011 Merenia was guest vocalist with internationally respected musical icon Roy Ayers on the Sydney leg of his Australian tour.
Mischievously bending the rules when it comes to her music and performance Merenia seduces with a blend of Afro Latin Soul, Deep Funk, Jazz and Flamenco elements. Merenia is signed to ABC Music Publishing and her ability as a performer and a writer makes her one of the Sydney music scene’s most unique and popular female live performers.
At 17 she was the recipient of the NZ Recording Industry ”Most Promising Female Vocalist Award” and has performed her own material throughout Asia and the Pacific and worked extensively with groups from different cultures.
A few highlights include- being a panel member at the Inaugural Women’s Storian Music Conference in Vanuatu, delivering writing and performance workshops to young women in remote islands and herself performing at the Festival Napuan in Vanuatu. Merenia performed for 9 months in China with Australian based Latin Super group Son Veneno. In addition to many other international engagements in Hong Kong, NZ, Australia and the Pacific, in 2011 she toured successfully to Sri Lanka as a member of an Afro Brazilian Jazz ensemble. Merenia has also worked with and mentored many Culturally Linguistically Diverse groups producing performances and recorded material with Southern Sudanese, Liberian, Samoan, Tongan, Kurdish, Filipino and Hispanic groups.
Her first solo album “Libertine” (2009) was well received and did well synchronized across several major Australian Television shows. Merenia also had compositions in the Australian film “Cedar boys” and in NZ’s critically acclaimed “Once were warriors”.
In Sydney she performs with her own band Merenia & the Way, Hybrid Latin band Reyes de la Onda (comprised of members of Watussi, Mi Tierra, the Strides and Son Veneno), she also collaborates regularly with Afro Brazilian jazz project Samba Mundi. Merenia also injects a heavy-hitting dose of female power and class to Latin Block Party, an all star Sydney Line up that recently supported Los Van Van (Cuba’s biggest musical export) at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.
Merenia Has also worked extensively in the Club Genre collaborating and performing with the likes of the All good Funk Alliance (US) Kate Monroe (Aus), Omegaman, Love Tattoo, Rephrase, Groove Junkies (US), Russ Dewberry (UK), Richard Earnshaw (UK), Sound Conducterz (NZ) and Club Luxury
Merenia is currently working on her next album.
Any enquiries:
Cesar Marin
ODYSSEY MUSIC
AUS +61 409 662 130 / (02) 9604-9895
odyc.music@gmail.com
ABN: 673957112214
2/8 HUMPHRIES RD
WAKELEY NSW 2176
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