Artist description Basically self-taught with an ear for harmony and odd-ball chord structures.

Music Style acoustic alternative

Musical Influences Elliot Smith, Nick Drake, Van Morrison, Rikki Lee Jones, Dire Straits

Similar Artists open for suggestion

Artist History Marilyn McNeal Singer/Songwriter A newcomer to guitar, Marilyn McNeal has been playing music for more than 25 years. Studying violin and piano as a child, Marilyn turned to Afro-Brazilian percussion and Congolese drumming while living in San Francisco in the 90's. "San Francisco was the perfect environment for growth and experimentation," Marilyn notes. "I studied and performed with Maestranda Marcia Cigarra of ABADA Capoera and also with Malonga Casquelourd at San Francisco State. I learned how to strike a balance between effort and relaxation when training and performing. These experiences greatly influenced how I approach music today." In 1997, Marilyn moved back to the East Coast and eventually made her home in Brooklyn, NY. Her interest in song arrangement and songwriting in general began to develop during her studies of jazz drumming at The Mannes School of Music. Marilyn located Charles Sibirsky, a well know Brooklyn musician, and began a year of jazz piano and music theory study. In the Fall of 2000, Marilyn recorded "Talkshow," a 3 song EP that marked her first effort at recording. At The Future of Music Conference in January 2001, producer Nancy Scibillia from 28 Days Records asked Marilyn to contribute one of these songs to the double compilation CD for Ladyfest*East, an East Coast-based all-female indie music festival. Marilyn became actively involved in Ladyfest*East and performed during the festival in September 2001. Currently, Marilyn is performing in Brooklyn and New York at open mics and singer songwriter venues. Her music, a combination of urban folk and acoustic pop, offers firsthand stories of everyday people in unusual situations. She has just completed a 3 song EP entitled "Telling Stories."

Group Members Marilyn McNeal

Instruments acoustic guitar, vocals, bass

Albums Telling Stories

Press Reviews "If this . . . recording is any indication of the talent Marilyn McNeal has for writing and performing, then she may have a solid musical career ahead of her." --Todd Bunker, music critic, "Nada Mucho"

Additional Info Mixed & Mastered by Andy Gerard of Focus Power

Location Brooklyn, New York - USA

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