Manuel García (singer-songwriter)

Manuel García
Background information
Birth name Manuel Javier García Herrera
Born March 1, 1970
Origin Arica, Chile
Genres Folk, trova, acoustic
Years active 1995–present
Website Web

Manuel García (Arica, March 1, 1970) is a folk-pop Chilean singer-songwriter and guitarist. He has won several awards and has twice received the Chilean National Music Prize, awarded by the Chilean Government (in 2008 and 2012).[1]

Early life

García studied History and Geography Education at the University of Tarapacá in Arica and then moved to Santiago in 1994 to study professional guitar performance (“interpretación superior en guitarra”) at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile with fellow musician Luis Orlandini. His professional career began in 1995 when he founded the band Coré (which also included later members of Chilean band Inti Illimani). However, he left Coré in 1997 and formed his new band Mecánica Popular with Diego Álvarez, Marco Chávez and fellow Coré member Mario Villalobos.

Musical career

Mecánica Popular mixed rock and trova styles and were influenced by the “nueva canción chilena”, trova, rock and even poetry. They released three studio albums between 1999 and 2003 and now, though formally disbanded, they often support Manuel García in his solo performances.[2]

Solo

Since 2003, García has worked on several solo projects, one of the first of which was a documentary about the life of Argentinian musician Atahualpa Yupanqui (2003).[3] The same year he was invited to open the festival Mercat de Música Viva de Vic[4] in Barcelona, Spain.

In 2005, he released his first album, Pánico (Panic) in collaboration with two members of Mecánica Popular, Christian Bravo y Diego Álvarez. The album received good reviews in the national Chilean media[5]

García’s second solo album, Témpera, was released in 2008 with a sound closer to trova, and rock, with references to Violeta Parra and Atahualpa Yupanqui. His raw guitar sound recalls fellow Chilean musician Chinoy, with whom he has shared a stage on several occasions.[6]

His third album was called S/T (2010). Its electric sound (including guitar solos) reveals a variety of influences, though it is considered a simpler album, free of the complex arrangements seen in the previous two.[7]

His final record to date, Acuario, again surprised fans with electronic sounds that sometimes recall Gepe or Javiera Mena. Acuario has been called a well-accomplished twist on García’s signature style, without losing the heart that comes through in his lyrics.[8]

Manuel Garcia is part of the line-up for the third edition of Lollapalooza Chile [9] taking place in Santiago in April 2013.

Discography

Studio Albums

With Mario Rojas

DVD

With Mecánica Popular

Other appearances

Soundtracks

Documentary

References

  1. ↑ Presidente Piñera entrego premio a la musica nacional a Buddy Richard, Sergio Sauvalle y Orquesta Sinfonica de la Universidad de Chile Gobierno de Chile website, 17 January 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  2. ↑ Mecanica Popular Gabriela Bade, Musica Popular. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  3. ↑ Musica y luchador social: Manuel Garcia Andrea Aguilar de Gante, Subterraneos.com. Retrieved 2 February 2013
  4. ↑ Mercat de Música Viva de Vic Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  5. ↑ Manuel García, Pánico David Ponce, www.lamusica.emol.com, El Mercurio. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  6. ↑ Manuel García, Témpera Rodrigo Alarcón, www.lamusica.emol.com, El Mercurio. Retrieved 2 February 2013
  7. ↑ Manuel García, S/T Marisol García, www.lamusica.emol.com, El Mercurio. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  8. ↑ Manuel García: Acuario Sebastián Cerda, www.lamusica.emol.com, El Mercurio. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  9. ↑ Lollapalooza 2013 Line-up: Manuel García Retrieved 2 February 2013.

External links

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