Shortly after landing in Johannesburg in 2004, João Orecchia, a Brooklyn born and schooled wanderer, who wound up in Berlin as a teenager messing with experi- mental punk before moving years later to South Africa, heard some talk about a psychedelic afro-rock outfit called BLK JKS, signed on Secretly Canadian. They became fast friends and have been working together on projects ever since.
Mpumelelo Mcata and Tshepang Ramoba (guitar and drums respectively) contributed to João’s 2009 album, Hands & Feet, and would often join him on stage, adding thunderous beats and general bigness to the otherwise textural and floating soundscapes. Slowly they started becoming a band.
João Orecchia is a self taught non-musician who has been making music for many years. His fascination is in squeezing sounds out of anything and layering them on top of other sounds squeezed out of other things – from guitars to manipulated circuits and banjos to field recordings.
Motèl Mari | Just Like A King
httpv://https://youtube.com/watch?v=Uo6LCcV-o84
Mpumelelo Mcata is a self taught, self-made “engine of ingenuity”. Growing up in Johannesburg he dreamed of the life he now has, having super powers, the ability to create, manipulate and move anti-matter using abstract energy like sound waves… and playing rock guitar, firmly planted among the roots of African music.
Tshepang Ramoba is a pure and simple rock star. He was once convinced to wear an article of red clothing over his all black armour.
Motèl Mari | Tour Teaser
httpv://https://youtube.com/watch?v=cGqLanJQRng
He is also notoriously famous amongst his loving bandmates for being in three places at once… on the drum kit at least – Africa time! He was once voted the best musician at SXSW by Billboard Magazine.
This event is highly recommended by Digital in Berlin! We are giving away 2 x 2 tickets. Just send a mail to win@digitalinberlin.de with “Motèl Mari” as the subject.
Motèl Mari LIVE
Sunday, 27 October 2013 | 21:00 CET
Urban Spree | Revaler Str. 99 | 10245 Berlin/Friedrichshain
motelmari.com | urbanspree.com
