Spectrum Radio joined force with City Showcase Music Festival and Shorty Productions in June 2007 to present an evening of spectacular sound and creativity. The Chinese Showcase opens up opportunities for emerging musical talents from those of East Asian heritage and gives an insight into what they have to offer in today’s ever musically aspired industry. Joseph Wu examines the CV of one of the featured artists - Mayella Kwan 關美怡

Mayella Kwan 關美怡

Born in London, Mayella started playing the piano and cello while still toddling around her Hong Kong apartment where she grew up.

At thirteen she moved back to the UK with her classical training being further developed at school where she also studied opera singing. The grounding of her musical education in the classical has been fundamental in contributing to the sound that we hear today.

It was in 1998, when she embarked upon a five-year degree studying Architecture in Wales, that she started composing and arranging her own music on a four-track recorder and Mayellas distinctive sound began to emerge.

Her architectural work continually made reference to the arrangements that were being penned at home with the training culminating in a dissertation and final year design project; which analysed the relationships between music and architecture.

Following graduation, Mayella undertook a one-year diploma course in contemporary music. It was here that, surrounded by likeminded musicians, she was able to develop and improve lyric writing, musical arrangement and performance techniques.

Mayella's musical influences range from the Rock of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd played by her Father during her childhood, her soulful contemporaries - Erykah Badu, Jill Scott and India Arie - to staples such as Joni Mitchell and Sting who continue to inspire her.

It is the eclectic compilation of bossa nova, jazz, hip hop, soul, funk, R & B, rock and pop that buzz on her MP3 player that have enabled Mayella's sound to become so difficult to shoe horn into a category today.

The music is rooted in acoustic soul but with the relaxed quirkiness of someone confident in their sound and its inevitable evolution.

Today she continues to develop her unique style through improvising with other instrumentalists, free styling with djs and introducing various percussionists in her acoustic performances.

Mayella's distinctive sound is showcased on her self-penned debut album Mayella, where it is able to manifest itself in the eclectic mix of genres that her music touches upon.

Mayella Kwan - Summer Breeze

Discover the sound of Mayella on her pages:
http://mayellaboodism.com
http://myspace.com/mayellaboo

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 1st, 2007 at 8:14 pm and is filed under Spectrum Radio Events 電台活動, Community Events 社區活動, 17th Anniversary 2007 台慶. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.