Mar Vilaseca: Cry (UBUS10046)
Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of vocalist and pianist Mar Vilaseca, to release her debut album, ‘Find The Way’.
Mar was born in Barcelona in 1998. She is currently studying the Voice Jazz Performance program at Esmuc University. Previously she graduated from the Conservatori del Liceu where she combined the studies of classical piano with her training in modern music.
Describing the essence of her album, Mar explains, “I would say it’s a fusion of many music styles and different artists I’ve been listening in the course of my life. My dad is a jazz musician. He’d often bring home albums I would listen to.
“I started listening to a lot of rock bands from the 70es, especially to Todd Rundgren. During my time in high school I got really influenced by gospel music, becoming a huge fan of Walter Hawkins. That led me to listen to soul and funk, and I would listen to Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire or Prince all day.
“My passion for jazz started later, even though I was always listening to it at home. I first discovered Shirley Horn, and I got very interested in her influences. Then I came across Ray Charles, Ahmad Jamal and Joe Williams, and I became a lover devotee of jazz. I am also a Beatles fanatic, but I don’t emulate them the way I do with jazz, soul and gospel artists.
“I consider ‘Find the Way’ a jazz album. All the tunes were recorded, from the beginning till the end, by the same musicians playing at the same time. The sound is pure and acoustic, and the essence of improvisation is present in every song.”
Mar continues, in describing the music which comprises the album: “The songs that make up this record are the most significant ones I have written over the last three years. I consider these the most notable and powerful, since they all speak in one way or another about the search for love and happiness.
“I’m a very emotional person. In the period of time when I was writing these tunes, two close people in my life were suddenly gone. I was living an intense sentimental episode and experiencing constant surreal dreams as well. At the same time, I was looking for my identity as an artist woman and citizen of the world, and that gave me more social awareness in my life. This inspired me and allowed me to write about feelings of love, hope and desire. That’s where the name, ‘Find the Way’, comes from. It represents the hunt for our path in life, and the wish of finding the way to inner peace.”
Concerning her new signing with Ubuntu Music, Mar explains, “I’m very grateful to be part of this incredible team. Meeting Martin Hummel was such a pleasure and a privilege for me, and it has meant a change in my music career. We had our first contact about two years ago. An acquaintance of Martin’s came to one of my concerts in Barcelona, and fortunately he enjoyed my music and recommended me to Mr. Hummel. He reached out to me afterwards and we stayed in touch for a while. When my project was more formed we had a meeting in London, and we talked about the possibility of working together.
“I’ll never forget that day. I woke up in my friend’s place to get ready for the meeting at 2:00 pm. When I decided to leave the house, I realised I was locked in. My friend was not home at that time and I couldn't open the door despite trying every possible thing. After thinking about a solution for hours, I finally ended up jumping out of the window. Thankfully it was just one floor, but I could have jumped a sixth floor to not miss the meeting.
“The fact that Ubuntu Music trusts this project, gives me hope and motivation to keep working. When Martin showed me the roster of Ubuntu artists, I was truly impressed. Some of them have been an important influence to me, and being part of this wonderful group makes me extremely happy.
“I feel so fortunate to be a jazz musician: playing jazz means you never stop learning, so you always find the way to something new.”
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, describes the Label’s latest signing: “Over time, I became good friends with Scott Cohen, the co-founder of The Orchard, Ubuntu’s world class distribution partner. Scott introduced me to Mar, whom he discovered on one of his many business trips and, over time, I got to know Mar and her music. I became hooked. She is an exceedingly gifted young woman who shares her life through her songs. And it’s a life that we can all relate to, as we’ve all been there at one time or another. It is a pure delight to have Mar join the Ubuntu Music Family.”
