Manuel García (singer-songwriter)

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]

Manuel García
Background information
Birth nameManuel Javier García Herrera
BornMarch 1, 1970
OriginArica, Chile
GenresFolk, trova, acoustic
Years active1995–present
WebsiteWeb

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
  • 2005 – Pánico
  • 2008 – Témpera
  • 2010 – S/T (Altazor Awards winner).
  • 2012 – Acuario
  • 2014 – Retrato Iluminado
  • 2016 – Harmony Lane

With Mario Rojas
  • 1997 – Musi-cachi-lena

DVD
  • 2011–En vivo (Live at the) Teatro Caupolicá
  • 1999 – Mecánica Popular
  • 2000 – La casa de Asterión (nominated for an Altazor Award)
  • 2003 – Fata Morgana
  • 2005 – En plena luz
  • 2009 – Mecánica Popular en vivo

Other appearances
  • 2008 – Víctor Jara sinfónico (with Concepción University Orchestra)
  • 2008 – eXile (Festival Mercat de música Viva de Vic, Barcelona)
  • 2010 – Música libre, Los Bunkers

Soundtracks
  • 1998 – Fantasmas de fierro
  • 2003 – Las condenadas

Documentary
  • Roberto Parra
  • La cueca brava de Nano Núñez, Mario Rojas documentary about Los Chileneros.
  • La ciudad de los fotógrafos
  • Catalejo
  • Las horas del día
  • El mar mi alma

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, January 17, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  2. Mecanica Popular Archived July 7, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Gabriela Bade, Musica Popular. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  3. Musica y luchador social: Manuel Garcia Andrea Aguilar de Gante, Subterraneos.com. Retrieved February 2, 2013
  4. Mercat de Música Viva de Vic Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  5. Manuel García, Pánico Archived October 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine David Ponce, www.lamusica.emol.com, El Mercurio. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  6. Manuel García, Témpera Archived October 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Rodrigo Alarcón, www.lamusica.emol.com, El Mercurio. Retrieved February 2, 2013
  7. Manuel García, S/T Archived October 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Marisol García, www.lamusica.emol.com, El Mercurio. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  8. Manuel García: Acuario Archived October 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Sebastián Cerda, www.lamusica.emol.com, El Mercurio. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  9. Lollapalooza 2013 Line-up: Manuel García Archived February 16, 2013, at Archive.today Retrieved February 2, 2013.
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