Introducing Marrakesh, the Brazilian group being mentored by What So Not

Brazilian five-piece Marrakesh are a group you're probably not quite acquainted with just yet, but in 2019, this is going to change. With their debut EP Vassiliki, the band became mainstays within the Brazilian indie-pop scene, finding their names on a handful of South American festivals and Barcelona's Primavera Sound - a festival commonly associated with being more 'on-the-mark' when it comes to music trends and break-out acts than any other. In April last year, they shared their debut album Cold As A Kitchen Floor and continuing on, it seems that the group are on the verge of a full international rise, and if it's going to be any track to get them there, it'll be Defectively - their first for 2019.

It's a swirling indie-pop tune that fuses mannerisms from electronica and R&B for a genre-bending sound that really defies what's coming out of anywhere else, setting themselves up nicely as an act bridging genres in a unique way that gives them something exciting to push. Throughout its three-minute duration, the track pulls surging synth melodies and delicate vocal harmonies together and utilises a soaring saxophone topline to bring it all together, previewing what's bound to be an exciting new stage for the band while also throwing it back with hints to their past work, as the band's Daniel Tupy explains: "Defectively was a big step for us as a band because it set apart what we did before and what we were about to do as a group," he says. "Bruno Tubino wrote Defectively with his ex-girlfriend in a moment of extreme tension. We often feel the guilt of not being perfect and we try to be a flawless being, and it’s impossible to stick to this kind of goal. The song expresses acceptance and non-attachment towards this perfect ideal."

It's a refined track that puts them forward as an exciting band from international waters you should be paying attention to, something our own electronic heavyweight What So Not agrees with after meeting them on tour through South America. "I ended up in an airport transfer with the Marrakesh guys while on tour in Brazil. I don’t usually hear things that strike me like they did. One song on the aux and I immediately hit up a bunch of friends and labels. It was like maybe Rex Orange County and Jagwa Ma? But totally unique and it’s own thing. Something rare and serendipitous," he says. "I’m looking forward to continuing to work with them for the foreseeable future and I can’t wait for the world to hear this group." Over the next few months, a bunch of collaborative projects between Marrakesh and What So Not are scheduled for release, but in the meantime, check out Defectively below and better get to know the guys while you're at it:

Tell us about yourself?

Marrakesh was formed in 2014 in Curitiba, Brazil and since then we’ve changed a lot. In 2016 we launched our debut EP Vassiliki and started to play in some festivals in Brazil. In 2017 we were invited to play at Spain’s Festivals Primavera Sound and Primavera Pro. [It] was our first time abroad and it was amazing to see the reaction of the public outside of Brazil. In 2018 we released our full-length album Cold as a Kitchen Floor and after that, we started to get more and more recognition, leading up to the moment we are now.

Marrakesh members today are: Bruno Tubino, Daniel Tupy, Lucas Cavallin, Matheus Castella and Volobodo.

What’s the vibe music-wise?

We work together but as individuals, and consequently, our influences are different and maybe that’s why it is so difficult to answer that question. We share a lot of intuition while producing a track but they’re all expressed in different ways so it’s always a surprise the way it comes out.

What are your production and writing processes like?

Lately we’ve been doing the production on Bruno’s home studio. Normally the composer(s) presents the track and who’s in the room develop the idea till there’s a demo. Then we take it to a producer and friend of ours Pedro Soares and he makes it ready to demixing process. On Defectively, Pedro and another friend Jan did all the production on Pedro’s studio, Gustavo Schirmer mixed it and Pedro did the master.

Can you tell us about your new single, Defectively?

Defectively is a composition of Bruno Tubino (guitar/vocals) but everyone in the band had a big part in every aspect of the song. We produced with two talented producers in Curitiba, Jan and Jack and we couldn’t be happier with the video clip made by Vira-Lata. Defectively is a big step for us and the lyrics define what Bruno was feeling but at the same time, everyone was drowned in this sentiment of accepting who you are and learning from your own path.

Any tour dates coming up?

We booked some shows locally in Brazil and have been playing with international acts like Cuco. We're hoping to come to Australia, Europe and USA real soon!

What does 2019 have in store for you?

We are working a lot, we have over twenty songs in the production phase but realistically this year we are aiming to release three more singles, at least and a video clip. We've been working with a big Australian producer and hope to get a record out with him before the end of the year.

Where can we find more of your music?

All of our work is on the streaming platforms, YouTube and Vimeo as well.

Follow Marrakesh: FACEBOOK