Marq DeSouza is a Vancouver based musician who's so far released 5 critically-acclaimed albums of self-penned material. For the most part, records composed of strong, song-based rock n' roll in the classic way, with frequent detours into the shady musical sidestreets. Elements of 70's glam, Nashville twang, hard city blues, country-folk, Brill building balladry, power pop, Southernsoul & even the occasional hip-hop & metal are all filtered through a uniquely powerful lyrical view.

At the heart of these sounds lies the unvarnished voice, bloodied but unbowed. Possibly an acquired taste, but this world certainly doesn't need anymore cookie-cutters or even virtuosos behind the mic. Truth, however, is never out of demand.

This music will remind you of a time when you could put faith in that voice coming out of the speakers. Where listening to a record could actually give you the secret codes to live your life by. Plus, it's FUN!!

Music

The Morning After Pill/You Broke My Heart

These are Marq's first studio recordings since his previous full length release in 2008. The two songs are vocal duets with rising Vancouver chanteuse Nadia Von Hahn, & are musically piano/acoustic-guitar based with some killer cello by Doug Gorkoff. They were recorded by Winston Hauschild (Hannah Georgas).

Dark, brooding, & intense: the songs compliment one another in theme & performance. The first track, MORNING AFTER PILL, is heart-achingly slow, the second, YOU BREAK MY HEART is taken at near break-neck acoustic speed. Both tracks, however, share the same instrumentation & players.

• download Morning After Pill
• download You Break My Heart

... And All His Boyish Charms

Release Date: 2009

1. Who Is Better Than Us?
2. More Than A Price
3. Solitaire Bound
4. B.J. Babe
5. The End Of This Song
6. Absolute Duty (to someone like you)
7. Learn To Let Go
8. Lighter Than A Feather
9. Bar For The Broken-Hearted
10. Renewal

 Marq Desouza

Release Date: 2006

1. Prey Becomes Predator
2. Daddy Doom
3. You Haven’t Changed At All
4. When I Was A Child
5. Bulletproof
6. Glimpse Of Her
7. Some Money, Somehow
8. Razorburn
9. All You Had To Say Was Hi!
10. Lucky Man
11. Some Guy
12. Where Did All Your Wit Go?
13. The Monologue Is All That Remains
14. Divided Highway

'Prey Becomes Predator' kicks things off in chrome-metallic fashion, targeting both modern & classic rock formats. 'Daddy Doom' expands the palette with paint-like guitar textures burying pure poetry. 'You Haven't Changed...', 'Some $...', & 'Some Guy', all have the crossover radio potential of the best sing-a-long singles. Acoustic, live off the floor takes of 'Divided Highway' & 'Lucky Man' show a more introspective side. 'All You Had To Say...', an innuendo filled duet with Los Angeles rocker Amanda Sonic, is a sexy gem. Deeper album tracks like 'Bulletproof', 'Where Did All Your Wit Go?' and the slow-burn epic 'Razorburn' level the album out with effortless eclecticism. 'When I Was A Child' & 'Glimpse Of Her' cook like the best jam bands, but trimmed lean & mean. The record reaches its sonic/thematic climax with the white-noise, emotional anarchy of 'The Monologue...'

Another Sidewalk's Bloody Dream

Release Date: 2001 

1. Born Again Then Buried Alive
2. I Am Tragedy
3. Benzedream
4. Only Grown
5. Sixteen Years
6. Just Can't Keep From Crying
7. Wasteland Kiss
8. We Never Kiss Anymore
9. We Won't Die!
10. I'm Your Superman
11. Personal Questions
12. Keep Your Gunpowder Dry

For the official second album by Solarbaby, the band did not to want simply repeat what worked so well the first time, so a radical re-invention was put into place. Gone are the lo-fi sonics and kitchsy wordplay of their debut. A world weary frustration blankets the words and melodies. Taking full advantage of a full studio set up, the band worked hard to trim the fat of excessive arranging, while maintaining the rough charm inherent in the revealing lyrics. Where the first album featured a one minute track, the closer here clocks in at over ten! Most songs respect the classic styling of the giants of rock. The exception is the first single/video. "Benzedream," a distinct jolt of 70's glam with a trip-hop beat countering that familiar, "(I can't no) Satisfaction," feeling. Here's what A&R at a leading Canadian label had to say after hearing an advance copy of the disc.

"The songwriting is terrific. There is a huge Rolling Stones vibe to it. This sounds like it could have been the lost record, in the height of their success. There are many excellent songs on here, hard to choose favorites!"

Nominated favorite local debut album in the Georgia Straight Music Awards.

 The Power of Negative Prayer

Release Date: 1998

1. Cheap Words Like Happiness
2. The King Of Unrequited Love
3. Amaretto
4. Carousels
5. Outliving James Dean
6. Satellite Technology
7. Sirens & Snakes
8. Losing Time
9. Mistaken For An Angel
10. Made Of Glass
11. We Are The Meat
12. Untitled Heartbreaker
13. Gonna Love You
14. Slipping Through
15. Venus Demilo Clocks
16. Unhooked
17. The Devil Rules This World
18. Take My Resignation
19. Screen Legend

Nominated best local debut in the prestigious Georgia Straight Music Awards. This album was a critical and college radio smash that took the Vancouver scene by storm in the summer of 1998. This probably due to the fact that it was released after only a handful of live gigs had been performed. It is an indie lo-fi tour de force, often described by Marq as "cubist power pop." Short, jagged songs crashing into more lush, rounder visions. Arena ready anthems spat out by a garage-y trio with a punk attitude. Most reviews focused on the lyrics. A schizophrenic collage of puns inversed, sexual innuendo, and caustic wit walking the fine line between comedy and tragedy. Also had a shade of the country texture that would come out more in future releases. Most often compared with Cheap Trick, Elvis Costello, The Replacements, Guided By Voices, Smashing Pumpkins, "Some Girls," era Stones.

Temporary Redemption

Original Release Date: 1999, Redux Version: 2009

1. A Letter From John
2. If I Promise You...
3. Whatever Happened In Heaven?
4. Don't Go Shooting Horses
5. Here's A Song For You
6. I Don't Speak French
7. Elijah Fed By Ravens
8. Dirty Limericks
9. A Negative Prayer
10. Killing You
11. Bleeding On The Inside
12. Secrets That I Know
13. Raze The Living Dead
14. What Could We Do?

 After a whirlwind of shows and promotion, Solarbaby finally slowed down enough to begin work on their second CD. After an album’s worth of tracks were shortlisted for the sophomore effort, Marq realized that there were many worthy songs that for some reason failed to make the cut. Rather than let this material die an obscure death, Marq decided to record a quickie solo effort. Ambitiously sprawling, the record is a virtual history of American rock and roll and a decided left turn from Solarbaby. A song-oriented cycle of old-time folkers, slide guitar slashers, flat out classic rockers, with one knock 'em dead piano ballad at its emotional center. With most all the instrumentation and production (drums all on one track!) handled by Marq, this is probably his most pure and honest recording. Most often compared with Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Wilco, "White Album," era Beatles, "Between the Buttons," era Stones.

Marq DeSouza Links

•  Marq DeSouza on the Web