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BIOGRAPHY
Miquel Rodergas "MICU", leader of the former Rumba Band Meztuca, has been on the scene since 2001. Changing his main project in 2005, he decided to present himself with his own nickname, MICU, just like his father named him since Miquel was a child. Though he had become one of the principal rumba figures in the Catalan city, he began playing in small bars of his native Barcelona, alone or accompanied by his faithful percussionists Pablo and Toni, in order to learn all the secrets of being a "rumbero", following the steps of thousands of professional musicians. Combining his rumba roots with a completely personal project, MICU wants to present his intimate songwriting, with a strong festive counterpoint yet, thanks to the force of the GUITARRA VENTILADOR.
In 2007, MICU recorded his first "demo" with 5 themes: "Rumbautor." With basic instrumentation (flamenco guitar, bass guitar, and "palmas" (flamenco hand-clapping)). At that time, Quim Ramos (Triando), who played the bass guitar with a fresh Mediterranean guitar-groove, appeared and shared the initial live performances of the MICU project.
MICU definitively became a Rumba Band in summer 2008, when it inaugurated the First Flamenco Festival in Vilnius, Lithuania. Since then, the friendship of all its components and the great success and connection with the public encouraged MICU to work persistently in bringing Rumba Catalana all over the world.
In late 2009, the band recorded their first EP "Micu", at the MIAU Recording Studios, co-produced by Miquel Rodergas and Pau Vallvé (Estanislau Verdet, U_mä). With this project, MICU tries to show some features of his personal way of understanding Catalan Rumba, by incorporating elements of electronics while maintaining the essence and personality of his flamenco guitar.
Without stopping doing gigs around the Catalan Countries, MICU entered the studio in the spring of 2011 and produced their first album, La Fusta (Kasba Music), an authentic rumba-research that plays with classic features, catchy melodies, and danceable rhythms, but experimenting with new harmonies and lyrical depth, providing a "refined rumba", so considered by the press[1]. Recorded at Nomada 57 studios in Barcelona and mixed by Pedro Aguilar, it features collaborations with Natalia Mediavilla (first violinist member of the OBC), Pol Padrós, and Jordi Herreros (Sey Sisters and Cheb Balowski), and Blai Casals, among others. The production was led by Quim Ramos (Triando, Joao Oliveira) who introduced Brazilian rhythms and instruments, like "Pandeiros", "drum", and "caixixís" by J. Santana "Zico" or the "cavaquinho" by the same Ramos. Making clear that rumba music can be more than just easy, light, and festive, La Fusta has been considered one of the better 2012 Rumba LPs by several experts of the genre (Txarly Brown, Adri Sant Gaudenci). With more than 200 concerts behind them, these musicians have managed to build something unique, a genuine fusion between tradition and modernity.
THE SHOW
MICU is a Catalan Rumba Show. It means that it uses the roots of this ancient rhythm, created by Catalan gypsies in the forties of the 20th century, while performing it with new and contemporary sounds. With this aim, the show aims to present Miquel's own songs but giving to the public some special covers of Catalan Rumba Classics. Depending on the audience features, MICU prefers to begin softly, catching the attention of the public with a quiet ambiance, but to rise up in intensity throughout the show. In big gigs, with the entire band, the combination gets magical in terms of festive and also lyrical style. When the conditions are given, the public cannot hesitate to stand up and dance, even some of them get on stage to sing and dance with the performers. MICU's show is like a "juerga rumbera", where everybody gets engaged.
MICU’S FAMILY
Miquel Rodergas “Micu”: Lead vocals and Spanish Guitar
Toni Jiménez “el Labrador”: Cajon Flamenco, Cymbals, Cowbells, Vocals
Pablo Santcovsky: Congas, Bongos, Roland, Vocals
Quim Ramos: Electric Guitar, Cavaquinho
Alba Bioque: Vocals, Minor Percussion
Marc González: Bass Guitar, Vocals
[1] http://www.enderrock.cat/noticia/6471/micu/rumba/bona/fusta
Miquel Rodergas "MICU", leader of the former Rumba Band Meztuca, has been on the scene since 2001. Changing his main project in 2005, he decided to present himself with his own nickname, MICU, just like his father named him since Miquel was a child. Though he had become one of the principal rumba figures in the Catalan city, he began playing in small bars of his native Barcelona, alone or accompanied by his faithful percussionists Pablo and Toni, in order to learn all the secrets of being a "rumbero", following the steps of thousands of professional musicians. Combining his rumba roots with a completely personal project, MICU wants to present his intimate songwriting, with a strong festive counterpoint yet, thanks to the force of the GUITARRA VENTILADOR.
In 2007, MICU recorded his first "demo" with 5 themes: "Rumbautor." With basic instrumentation (flamenco guitar, bass guitar, and "palmas" (flamenco hand-clapping)). At that time, Quim Ramos (Triando), who played the bass guitar with a fresh Mediterranean guitar-groove, appeared and shared the initial live performances of the MICU project.
MICU definitively became a Rumba Band in summer 2008, when it inaugurated the First Flamenco Festival in Vilnius, Lithuania. Since then, the friendship of all its components and the great success and connection with the public encouraged MICU to work persistently in bringing Rumba Catalana all over the world.
In late 2009, the band recorded their first EP "Micu", at the MIAU Recording Studios, co-produced by Miquel Rodergas and Pau Vallvé (Estanislau Verdet, U_mä). With this project, MICU tries to show some features of his personal way of understanding Catalan Rumba, by incorporating elements of electronics while maintaining the essence and personality of his flamenco guitar.
Without stopping doing gigs around the Catalan Countries, MICU entered the studio in the spring of 2011 and produced their first album, La Fusta (Kasba Music), an authentic rumba-research that plays with classic features, catchy melodies, and danceable rhythms, but experimenting with new harmonies and lyrical depth, providing a "refined rumba", so considered by the press[1]. Recorded at Nomada 57 studios in Barcelona and mixed by Pedro Aguilar, it features collaborations with Natalia Mediavilla (first violinist member of the OBC), Pol Padrós, and Jordi Herreros (Sey Sisters and Cheb Balowski), and Blai Casals, among others. The production was led by Quim Ramos (Triando, Joao Oliveira) who introduced Brazilian rhythms and instruments, like "Pandeiros", "drum", and "caixixís" by J. Santana "Zico" or the "cavaquinho" by the same Ramos. Making clear that rumba music can be more than just easy, light, and festive, La Fusta has been considered one of the better 2012 Rumba LPs by several experts of the genre (Txarly Brown, Adri Sant Gaudenci). With more than 200 concerts behind them, these musicians have managed to build something unique, a genuine fusion between tradition and modernity.
THE SHOW
MICU is a Catalan Rumba Show. It means that it uses the roots of this ancient rhythm, created by Catalan gypsies in the forties of the 20th century, while performing it with new and contemporary sounds. With this aim, the show aims to present Miquel's own songs but giving to the public some special covers of Catalan Rumba Classics. Depending on the audience features, MICU prefers to begin softly, catching the attention of the public with a quiet ambiance, but to rise up in intensity throughout the show. In big gigs, with the entire band, the combination gets magical in terms of festive and also lyrical style. When the conditions are given, the public cannot hesitate to stand up and dance, even some of them get on stage to sing and dance with the performers. MICU's show is like a "juerga rumbera", where everybody gets engaged.
MICU’S FAMILY
Miquel Rodergas “Micu”: Lead vocals and Spanish Guitar
Toni Jiménez “el Labrador”: Cajon Flamenco, Cymbals, Cowbells, Vocals
Pablo Santcovsky: Congas, Bongos, Roland, Vocals
Quim Ramos: Electric Guitar, Cavaquinho
Alba Bioque: Vocals, Minor Percussion
Marc González: Bass Guitar, Vocals
[1] http://www.enderrock.cat/noticia/6471/micu/rumba/bona/fusta
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