Merlin Dsouza the talented composer and pianist, is truly a consummate musician whose work includes composing for film, albums, theatre and advertising. For someone who started learning the piano at age 6, became an All India Radio performing artiste at 9, started playing in the church at 12 (something she still continues to do) and bunked college at 18 to score and perform for Noel Godins musical production (Blood Brothers). Her journey in theatre as a music director has seen her score for Alyque Padamsee%u2019s Romeo and Juliet, Pearl Padamsees Godspell, Nasiruddin Shahs Julius Ceaser and Etienne Coutinhos Jazz.
Her foray into films as composer, arranger and vocal director has hit the right notes in K3G, Road, Bus Yun Hi, Rules and Prince of Egypt and more.
She has gigged with greats like Shubha Mudgal, Trilok Gurtu, Talvin Singh, Taufeeq Quereshi, Rakesh Chaurasia, Igor, Tala Faral, to name a handful. It would not be unfair to say she has been there, done that.
Formerly the Asian jazz ambassador for Hennessy XO, she has toured extensively, from Australia to China, from Europe to the United States (including a stint at the Blue Note, New York). Recently back with glowing accolades from Amsterdam (shows of JAZZ, a musical that she scored, and performed in), Merlin is all set to release her solo instrumental record, Soul Yatra.
Rigorously trained in western classical (Trinity College Performers Licentiate) and liberated by jazz, Merlin confesses that she couldve just as easily ended up as a PR professional. Thank God she didnt.