Murzik
Encyclopedia
Murzik is a Dark Folk / neofolk
band formed in Minneapolis, Minneapolis in 2003. The band started out by experimenting with mixing old eastern European folk and midwest Americana sounds together to form a sound which they coined as Dark Folk. Murzik claims its influences from more traditional artists such as Vladimir Vysotsky
, Leonard Cohen
, and Édith Piaf
which can be seen in Murziks romanticized soundscapes and dark poetic lyrics. The band has often been compared with other groups such as DeVotchKa
and Gogol Bordello
although Murzik's music steers more towards a darker sound reminiscent of Nick Cave
and Leonard Cohen
.
's radio show called All Things Considered
. The interview was based around Murziks origins and their style of what Murzik calls Dark Folk. The radio show was played nationally and is still available on MPR's web site. Later on in that same year Murzik got the opportunity to open up for Mumiy Troll
, a famous Russian pop band. In later 2009 a U of MN student even performed his masters thesis on the group Murzik and the style and origin of their sound. The group Murzik has been quiet in the past few months of 2011, but is currently back in the studio working on a new album.
Nathan Simar
Darin Steenerson
Tobias Smith
Kate Lundberg
Ryan Pfeiffer
Jeremy Grace
Self Titled (2005) Pipe Club Records
Buried (2008) Pipe Club Records
Into the Darkness (2010) Self Released
Neofolk
Neofolk is a form of folk music-inspired experimental music that emerged from post-industrial music circles. Neofolk can either be solely acoustic folk music or a blend of acoustic folk instrumentation aided by varieties of accompanying sounds such as pianos, strings and elements of industrial...
band formed in Minneapolis, Minneapolis in 2003. The band started out by experimenting with mixing old eastern European folk and midwest Americana sounds together to form a sound which they coined as Dark Folk. Murzik claims its influences from more traditional artists such as Vladimir Vysotsky
Vladimir Vysotsky
Vladimir Semyonovich Vysotsky was a Soviet singer, songwriter, poet, and actor whose career had an immense and enduring effect on Russian culture. He became widely known for his unique singing style and for his lyrics, which featured social and political commentary in often humorous street...
, Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
, and Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf , born Édith Giovanna Gassion, was a French singer and cultural icon who became widely regarded as France's greatest popular singer. Her singing reflected her life, with her specialty being ballads...
which can be seen in Murziks romanticized soundscapes and dark poetic lyrics. The band has often been compared with other groups such as DeVotchKa
DeVotchKa
DeVotchKa is a four-piece multi-instrumental and vocal ensemble. They take their name from the Russian word devochka , meaning "girl"...
and Gogol Bordello
Gogol Bordello
Gogol Bordello is a Gypsy punk band from the Lower East Side of Manhattan, formed in 1999 and known for theatrical stage shows and persistent touring.Much of the band's sound is inspired by Gypsy music...
although Murzik's music steers more towards a darker sound reminiscent of Nick Cave
Nick Cave
Nicholas Edward "Nick" Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and...
and Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
.
Past, Present, and Future
Murzik started out in 2003 when Bryan Steenerson recorded a solo album under the name Murzik, a reference to a common Russian name for cats. The album contained dark lyrics, minor keys and various instruments such as accordions, glockenspeils, mandolin, and others. Upon hearing the album, long time friend and accordionist Nathan Simar, was grabbed by the music, and thus Murzik was born. Murzik has always had a rotating caste of musicians and almost never plays with the same arrangement of musicians twice. Soon after their first show Murzik released a debut album in 2003 which received high praise from critics. Since then they have released two more cd's both which received high praise from music critics. In 2008, Murzik was the primary feature of NPRNPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
's radio show called All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
. The interview was based around Murziks origins and their style of what Murzik calls Dark Folk. The radio show was played nationally and is still available on MPR's web site. Later on in that same year Murzik got the opportunity to open up for Mumiy Troll
Mumiy Troll
Mumiy Troll is a Russian rock group, founded in 1983 in Vladivostok by vocalist and songwriter Ilya Lagutenko . The literal name of the band, 'The mummies' troll', is a pun on Moomin Troll, the series of Finnish children's books by Tove Jansson.Mumiy Troll broke up when Lagutenko, who graduated in...
, a famous Russian pop band. In later 2009 a U of MN student even performed his masters thesis on the group Murzik and the style and origin of their sound. The group Murzik has been quiet in the past few months of 2011, but is currently back in the studio working on a new album.
Murzik Members Past and Present
Bryan SteenersonNathan Simar
Darin Steenerson
Tobias Smith
Kate Lundberg
Ryan Pfeiffer
Jeremy Grace
Discography
Dreams (2003) Self ReleasedSelf Titled (2005) Pipe Club Records
Buried (2008) Pipe Club Records
Into the Darkness (2010) Self Released