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Merlin DSouza

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Also known as
  
Merlyn

Name
  
Merlin D'Souza

Years active
  
1996–present

Instruments
  
Piano

Origin
  
Bombay, India


Merlin D'Souza jazzgoatripodcomimagesmerlinjpg

Genres
  
Western_classical, Jazz, Bollywood, World music

Occupation(s)
  
Composer, pianist, music director/ composer/ arranger

Role
  
Composer · merlindsouza.com

Music director
  
Bas Yun Hi, The Mount Of Faith

Similar
  
Hamsika Iyer, Louis Banks, Suresh Talwalkar, Gulshan Kumar, Ranjit Barot

How i became a jazz musician merlin d souza tedxmdae


Merlin D'Souza (Merlyn) is an Indian composer and pianist from Bombay. She is a musician whose work includes composing for film, albums, theatre and advertising. She is based at Bandra, a Mumbai suburb. Formerly the Asian jazz ambassador for Hennessy X.O. – she has toured extensively, from Australia to China, from Europe to the United States (including a stint at the Blue Note, New York).

Contents

To rhys by merlin d souza


Biography

Merlin started learning the piano at age 6, became an All India Radio performing artiste at 9, started playing in the church at 12 and bunked college at 18 to score and perform for Noel Godin's musical production (Blood Brothers). She is trained in western classical (Trinity College Performer's Licentiate) and liberated by jazz.

Her journey in theatre as a music director has seen her score for Alyque Padamsee's Romeo and Juliet, Pearl Padamsee's Godspell, Naseeruddin Shah's Julius Caeser and Etienne Coutinho's Jazz., Raell Padamsee's: Sound of Music 2012, GREASE-2013

Her foray into films as composer, arranger and vocal director has hit the right notes in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Road, Bus Yun Hi, Rules: Pyaar Ka Superhit Formula, Prince of Egypt and more.

She has gigged with Shubha Mudgal, Trilok Gurtu, Talvin Singh, Taufiq Qureshi, Rakesh Chaurasia.

She has also sang the Indian national anthem in the Indian Super League. She has also worked with Ranbir Kapoor by directing him to sing the Indian national anthem in the Indian Super League.

In October 2016,She was one of the musical ambassadors for the BMW national tour in India.

In November 2016,She had performed a musical medley along with the acclaimed INDIVA in Bandra.This event was well-received and in-fact has been featured in the Times of India newspaper too.

Discography

  • Soul Yatra (2009) – Charting a soundscape that fuses raga influenced melodic lines, Indian rhythm patterns, groovy arrangements and oodles of fluid piano work, Soul Yatra also features guest performances by the likes of Taufiq Qureshi, Rakesh Chaurasia, Mukul Dongre, Karl Peters, Hamsika Iyer and Vivienne Pocha.
  • Koshish by Underscore Records – Shubha Mudgal, Merlin DSouza, Sudhir Nayak, Murad Ali, Benoni Soans, and Aneesh Pradhan
  • Released her solo album "SOUL YATRA" with Bluefrog records and Sony BMG.Recent album release as composer /producer for INDIVA with Crescendo and Universal Music Group.

    Filmography

  • Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... – Merlin played, arranged and conducted for Karan Johar's superhit film 'K3G'
  • Road – With music director Sandesh Shandilya
  • Bas Yun Hi – Merlin’s debut film as composer and music director. The film received critical acclaim as the new urban-centric yet soulful sound to hit the film industry. Directed by Raja Menon, the film saw stellar performances by Nandita Das and Purab Kohli.
  • Prince of Egypt – Merlin was the vocal director for the animated feature film 'Prince of Egypt' (Hindi version).
  • Lion King – Merlin was the music director, arranger and programmer for the Hindi version of Disney's famous animated movie 'Lion King'.
  • Bombay Boys – Merlin and Asif Ali Beg teamed up to compose an OST for Kaizad Gustad's film starring Rahul Bose, Naveen Andrews and Naseeruddin Shah.
  • Other works where she has been vocal director, arranger and programmer – Agnivarsha: The Fire and the Rain, Piya Basanti, Socha Na Tha, Gangaajal, Rules: Pyaar Ka Superhit Formula, Band of Boys, Tum Milo Toh Sahi
  • References

    Merlin D'Souza Wikipedia