It is said that you’ll never experience a Maruja show the same way twice; the Manchester four-piece lean into improvisation and their approach gives off a distinctive sense of “anything could happen”. Relying on the energy in the room to guide their live show doesn’t seem like the craziest thing to do when their own instincts have been their guide in melding a disparate array of influences into their distinctive sound. In the few short months since the release of their debut album, Pain to Power, they have gathered high praise and many accolades, including one review positing that it is “surely one of the year’s most important records”?
Thematically Pain to Power focuses on community as a force for positive social and political change. Musically, it darts all over the map with hip hop, jazz, punk, and noise battling for a moment front and centre of their presentation. Whilst this can be a head-spinning experience at times, they pull it off with style and an ever so slightly unhinged, feral energy.
Maruja have a propulsive forward motion on their side, Maruja are destined for big things and worldwide domination. And on their way there, we’re delighted to have the pleasure of their company at Roadburn.
