Marijus Aleksa
The Lithuanian jazz drummer and producer opens up about his unique electronic and world music influenced sound.
Today, the Spotlight shines On Lithuanian drummer and producer Marijus Aleksa.
Marijus has worked as a band leader, session musician and solo artist, and in each setting, his sound is his own, reflecting his interests in jazz, world and electronic club music.
Marijus spent a decade in London, embedded in the dynamic new jazz scene there. Now back in Lithuania, he recently programmed a small local jazz festival in Vilnius, Tamsta Jazz Weekend. At the same time, he was rolling out his latest release, As They Are. In our talk, Marijus takes us into the musical collage that is the new album and provides insight into multiple aspects of his creativity.
Enjoy.
------------------
References:
- Listen to Marijus Aleksa's As They Are on Bandcamp or streaming platforms.
- Marijus Aleks online: www.marijusaleksa.com
- Marijus Aleksa on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
- Music in Lithuania: bands, genres, radio stations, festivals
- The British jazz explosion: meet the musicians rewriting the rulebook
- John Cage: Silence
- Jon Hassell: Building a Musical Fourth World
- Collage art by Mt.Chills
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Marijus Aleksa
Drummer and Producer
Marijus Aleksa is a Lithuanian cross-genre drummer and producer fusing his jazz background with world and electronic music to shape his own hybrid sound.
Throughout his remarkable international career, Lithuanian drummer & producer Marijus Aleksa has established himself as a bonafide shaman of rhythm. From making his debut at the Vilnius Jazz Festival at the tender age of thirteen, he has grown into a stage partner of some of the world’s most celebrated stars (such as Grammy award winner Bill Laurance, Joe Armon Jones, Ashley Henry, Dennis Rollins, China Moses, Ben Marc, Anthony Joseph, Femi Temowo, Oscar Jerome) . An ambitious drummer and percussionist, he relies on his technical prowess and visionary endeavours. Through his work as a heralded band leader, session musician and solo artist, his music is not unlike the works by the abstract expressionist painters: rich in colour, vivid, intuitive and hypnotising, traversing musical maps by blending the worlds of jazz, world and electronic club music.
Marijus enriched his sonic experience by collaborating with other artists as a touring and recording drummer during a decade spent in London. Each artist he played with left an imprint on his own musical explorations. While living in London, Marijus became a significant part of the vibrant British jazz scene. In 2019 Aleksa was selected to represent the young jazz generation of British musicians as part of the NBLQ (New Band Leaders Quartet) at Blue Note At Sea, together with Nubya Garcia, Ashley Henry and David Mrakpor. He also drummed for Gilles Peters… Read More
Greatest Hits
Wondering where to start or where to go next? Check out some of our most-listened-to episodes.
Grahame Lesh
Based in the musical hotbed of Marin County, California, Grahame Lesh is a guitar player and singer-songwriter for Midnight North, Phil Lesh & Friends, & the Terrapin Family Band. A mainstay in the scene centered around Terra...
Nick Mason
Nicholas Berkeley Mason, CBE (born 27 January 1944) is an English drummer and founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. He is the only member to feature on every Pink Floyd album, and the only constant member s...
Steve Kimock
Steve Kimock talking about the new Zero reissue of “Naught Again” and finding the Grateful Dead scene
John Barry on Levon Helm
Writer John Barry joins us on the podcast to talk his new book, "Levon Helm: Rock, Roll & Ramble—The Inside Story of the Man, the Music and the Midnight Ramble." Ringo wrote the foreword, and Roger Waters, Graham Nash and …
Michael Kuelker on The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
Today, the spotlight shines on author and educator Michael Kuelker, here to talk about his recent book, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils On Record: A Narrative Discography . Michae is a teacher, writer, and reggae radio DJ in St...
Dominic Miller
The ECM Records artist and Sting's longtime guitarist takes a seat in the Spotlight.
Diana Pasulka: a religious study of UFOs and nonhuman intelligences
With her books Encounters and American Cosmic, religious studies professor Diana Pasulka explores the modern edges of belief.
That Petrol Emotion
Today, the spotlight shines on the wildly influential post-punk group, That Petrol Emotion. Guitarist and songwriter Raymond Gorman and lead singer Steve Mack joined Spotlight On host Lawrence Peryer to mark the release of th...
David Rodriguez talks community, culture, and his work with NJPAC
With the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, David creates musical milestones in Newark, NJ, and beyond.
Ibrahim Maalouf: a conversation on harmony, heritage, and hope
The trumpet virtuoso talks about his father's inspiration, the Middle East's influence on symphonic music, how Bach and Mozart were punks, and the ideas behind his album Capacity To Love.
Hainbach: crafting soundscapes from forgotten relics
Experimental musician, YouTube personality, and excavator of rare, electronic sound-making artifacts — Hainbach delivers a fascinating look into his prolific musical activities.
David J: unearthing tracks from the attic
The Bauhaus and Love and Rockets bassist chats with guest host Michael Donaldson about lighting candles, the magic(k) muse, touring with Jane's Addiction, and the album collecting his early demos, Tracks From The Attic.
Andy McCluskey: kicking down fascist art with OMD
The Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark frontman chats about art movements, political treachery, Kraftwerk's impact, and the brilliant album Bauhaus Staircase.