Murzik

Murzik
Background information
Origin	Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
Genres	Dark Folk Neofolk Gypsy Folk
Years active	2003–present
Labels	none
Associated acts	Secret Panels, Captain Yonder
Website	www.murzikmusic.net
Members
Bryan Steenerson Nathan Simar Darin Steenerson Ryan Pfeiffer Kate Lundberg

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.

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 NPR'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.

Murzik Members Past and Present

Bryan Steenerson
Nathan Simar
Darin Steenerson
Tobias Smith
Kate Lundberg
Ryan Pfeiffer
Jeremy Grace

Discography

Dreams (2003) Self Released
Self Titled (2005) Pipe Club Records
Buried (2008) Pipe Club Records
Into the Darkness (2010) Self Released

External links

• http://www.murzikmusic.net
• http://www.facebook.com/murzikmusic
• MPR Interview
• Rift Magazine
• First Avenue
• City Pages