Merlin D'Souza

Merlin D'Souza (Merlyn) is an Indian composer and pianist from Mumbai. She is a musician whose work includes composing for film, albums, theatre and advertising.[1][2] She is based at Bandra, a Mumbai suburb. Formerly the Asian jazz ambassador for Hennessy X.O.[3] – she has toured extensively, from Australia to China, from Europe to the United States (including a stint at the Blue Note, New York).[4]

Merlin D'Souza
Merlin DSouza at BlueFrog Mumbai, March 2013
Merlin DSouza at BlueFrog Mumbai, March 2013
Background information
Also known asMerlyn
OriginBombay, India
GenresWestern_classical, Jazz, Bollywood, World music
Occupation(s)Composer, pianist, music director/ composer/ arranger
Instrument(s)Piano
Years active1996–present
Websitemerlindsouza.com

Biography

Merlin grew up in Bandra, 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.[5][6]

Merlin's 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 Caesar and Etienne Coutinho's Jazz., Raell Padamsee's: Sound of Music 2012, GREASE-2013.[7]

Merlin's 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.[8]

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

Merlin 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, Merlin was one of the musical ambassadors for the BMW national tour in India.

In November 2016, Merlin had performed a musical medley along with the acclaimed INDIVA in Bandra.[9][10]

Through 2018, Merlin is only pianist after Yanni to have performed at the Taj Mahal.[11]

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 [12] with Crescendo and Universal Music Group.

Filmography

References
  1. Kamani, Parag (3 July 2017). "How Indian and Western sounds shaped world music". The Asian Age. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  2. "Artistesdetails". underscorerecords.com. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  3. "Soul Yatra – brand ambassador for Hennessy XO" "Europe Jazz Network - Soul Yatra-Indian jazz ambassadors". Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  4. Jerry Pinto, Nresh Fernandes Bombay, Meri Jaan: Writings on Mumbai – 2003– Page 323 "..scores and work them into entire tunes,' says Merlin D'Souza, Sebastian's daughter-in-law and a rising Bollywood music assistant herself. Sebastian had a brush with the film world in pre-Partition Lahore, where he led a band at Stiffle's hotel."
  5. "Like mother, like son". mid-day. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  6. "Mumbai's singing divas". mid-day. 7 March 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  7. "In the name of Jazz, Indian Express article" "In the name of jazz - Express India". Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  8. "Indiva all-woman band to perform in Kerala capital city on Tuesday". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  9. "Mumbai Piano Day: A festival to celebrate "the king of instruments"". Hindustan Times. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  10. "Indiva's music is folk fusion sound - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  11. "My dream is to make my own version of Vande Mataram with an all women crew: Merlin D'souza". Radio and Music. 23 January 2018. Archived from the original on 24 January 2018.
  12. "Band of Girls". The Indian Express. 18 August 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
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