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EMAR

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All of us are love, and we know that now.

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Hometown	Marina Del Rey, CA
Genres	Spiritual, New Age / World
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Achievements	» more
Upcoming Shows	None

Contact Information:
# Years Experience Performing Live:	10
Performing Rights Society:	N/A
Discography:	EMAR: Moon EP—2010; EMAR: Sacred Soul LP—2008

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About the Artist

EMAR (pronounced MR) is a Mystical Poet, Songwriter and Recording Artist who sings in multiple languages.

Her debut album EMBRACE YOURSELF, released under her full name Melissa Rebronja, included the radio single & BRAVO TV video "Beautiful" as...

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April 2010 World

January 2010 World

July 2009 World

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EMAR: Sacred Soul in FutuReale Magazine by FutuReale Magazine
Enlightenment and Entertainment all Wrapped in One" On October 7th 2008, friends and members of the press gathered together at Foundation Room on Church Street to celebrate the release of local chanteuse EMAR’s third album, Sacred Soul. Foundation Room was the perfect venue to host the party, as its décor totally complemented the eastern influences in EMAR’s music. It was certainly a party worth remembering. EMAR a.k.a. Melissa Rebronja treated her friends and the media to a live performance of some of the tracks from the album. Although there was no band to back her, her voice and movement to the sound of the backing tracks were enough to give the crowd a taste of the delicious etherealness of her album. It made me want to get to know this mystical songstress even better. EMAR spent most of her life in Toronto, but returned to Belgrade, the city of her birth, and lived there for almost ten years before returning to Canada for good. She has both Serbian and Muslim influences in her blood which greatly contributed to shaping her songwriting and vocal talents on this album. When she moved to Vancouver in 1999 for a short period of time, she discovered her artistry and passion for music. In 2003, she released her debut album “Embrace Yourself” which featured a divine rendition of the hit Oasis song “Wonderwall”. The video for the song can be viewed on Youtube under Melissa Rebronja. In 2007, she released her second album “You’ll be Mine”, which also featured another cover, this time of Coldplay’s “Beautiful World”. The producers behind EMAR’s latest album include Genie-nominated Sean Eyre, Canadian Music Awards winner Andrew McPherson, and film composer Igor Vrabac. Vrabac’s deep chant-like vocals can be heard on two tracks, “Tebje Poem” and “Sheila, Sheila”. The first song of the album “Smile at Your Heart” really sets the mood for the rest of the album. Of course, all the songs have their own unique character, but the common thread among them is the spirit of love in all its different forms and colours. “Smile at Your Heart” resonates and echoes our yearning to love and to be loved unconditionally. It reflects the divine in all of us, and sees the potential we have to reach inside our own humanity. It’s a beautiful song, and EMAR’s voice is like a gentle waterfall cascading into the mystical depths of our souls. She includes some chants and mantras sung in Hindi and Serbo-Croatian on songs like “Jamil”, “Tebje Poem”, and “Tumare Darshan”. This is yet another example of EMAR’s versatility as a singer. She sings in a number of different languages including English, Serbian, Hindi, Arabic, and Church Slavonic. There is also diversity in the instrumentation ranging from the very traditional to the ultra-modern. Instruments like the xaphoon, a single-reed keyless wind instrument made of bamboo, the harmonium, a free-standing keyboard-like instrument primarily played in South Asia, the Dumbek, also known as the ‘goblet drum’ is a type of hand drum, also tables, congas, the flute, and the violin are all featured in her songs. This of course is not new to EMAR’s sound. The use of both traditional and classical instruments all add to the velvety layers of voice and sound that are boldly intoxicating and profoundly enlightening. In her previous two albums, the deep organic drone of a cello can be heard on “Wonderwall” and “Beautiful World” under EMAR’s effortless vocals, making both tunes the best ever covers of these songs. Some of the other gems on the album include a somewhat jazzy tune called “Who Am I”. A more pop-vocal sound can be heard on the ego-ridding tune “As I Am”, similar in attitude to some of Sarah Brightman’s music. “Sheila, Sheila” is a fun song that gets the hips moving and is reminiscent of 60s pop, with the added flavour of the Middle East and hints of Japanese pop. EMAR gives a nice surprise at the end with the club mix of “Salaam”. This is sure to be a hit at the clubs. It’s funky, groovy, and upbeat. Sure, Madonna’s the queen of remix with her disco-dance beats being played in every club, even her 80s hits. EMAR definitely has elements of the Madonna sound in this tune, but she also infuses it with the right amount of the ‘world’ sound with her vocals. This is probably the path Madonna and a host of other pop divas should take. EMAR is already there. EMAR inspires unity and oneness through bringing together disparate elements of music and working them into her artistic vision. Her influences are far-reaching, from wise sages, poets, and gurus of the past to loving friends, family, and supporters in the present. This is an illuminating album. There is simplicity in all of her songs, which make them all the more powerful. By Shazia Islam

EMAR ~ Sacred Soul in Indie-Music by indie-music.com
Calling on a rich tapestry of multi-cultural influences, Sacred Soul is a beautiful and atmospheric blend of electronica and world music. Invoking rich musical traditions and styles, Emar takes both sonic and spiritual inspiration from around the globe as well as from her own heritage. Born in Belgrade in the former Yugoslavia, Emar later moved to Canada, where she has remained ever since. A bi-lingual performer, Emar sings in six different languages on Sacred Soul. Although she incorporates a medley of influences and stylings on this disc, they sit together seamlessly. Emar has a haunting and beautiful voice, and easily jumps from singing in English to Arabic, Hindi, Persian, Serbian, and Church Slavonic. She assembled a talented production team for this album, including film composer Igor Vrabac, who adds a rich cinematic touch to "Tebje Pojem" and "Sheila, Sheila." Emar blends the sounds of traditional Middle Eastern, Indian, and Balkan music with modern dance to create a memorable sound. I often find that electronica-driven records have a tendency to drag on, which makes them hard to listen to, but Sacred Soul stays relevant and keeps the listener's attention. With highly spiritual lyrics, Sacred Soul speaks of unity and love as Emar conveys her feeling of oneness with the world. There are several dedications to religious figures on this album - "Jamil" is in honor of Mawlana Jalal-ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, a 13th century Sufi poet and mystic; "Tebje Pojem" is dedicated to the late bishop Danilo Krstic, while "Tumare Darshan" is for Maha Avatar Babaji, the creator of Kriya Yoga. This rich tapestry of philosophies lends an otherworldly feel to the record. I really enjoyed the blend of sounds on this album, and I thought it was very well put together. Emar has a wide vocal range, and I was really impressed with her dynamic work on this record. This is a hard genre to pull off, and she does it with ease. Sacred Soul is a very solid effort, especially for a debut; I highly recommend it. By Beeb Ashcroft

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EMAR

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