Four Time Grammy Nominee®, Award winning composer and #1 Chart topping recording artist Michael Brant DeMaria is a multi-instrumentalist whose albums and live performances touch his audience and listeners with his sincere and heartfelt music. His albums Siyotanka, Ocean and Gaia have all reached #1 on the ZMR charts (and held that position for a total of 6 months combined) and have garnered multiple awards across many categories including Gaia winning Album of the Year. In addition, they have each been nominated for Grammy’s which they did consecutively in 2009, 2010 and 2011. They have also each supported charitable causes. A portion of the proceeds of Ocean and Gaia are donated to help wildlife rescue and recovery along the Florida Gulf Coast. His music has been heard on XM/Sirius Radio, Soundscapes, Echoes, NPR as well as receiving extensive airplay nationally and internationally. His newest release and the 4th in his popular Healing Sound Project on the Ontos Music label is Bindu
Michael has been the featured musician for world renowned poets Robert Bly and David White in addition to playing onstage with many Grammy winning artists including friend, mentor and teacher Grammy winner David Darling. Michael is a graduate of David’s renowned school for music improvisation and facilitation. Michael performs on indigenous and ethnic world flutes, piano, synthesizers, and a wide range of world percussion. He also was a member of Sacred Winds Consort who opened for David Lanz at the 2008 Zion Canyon Music Festival.
Michael’s love of music started early when only seven-years-old, Michael began using music for his own healing from surgery trauma. From the beginning Michael found true joy in improvising and creating his own music. He loved how creating sounds helped him feel more alive and at times even took him to another world. Seeing a jazz concert at age nine propelled Michael into drumming and percussion which he pursued with a vengeance. In his late-teens he realized he was not alone in his love of improvisation when he first heard the solo piano of Keith Jarrett, and the moving and soothing textures of William Ackerman and George Winston.
Born and raised in New England, Michael moved to Florida in his teens. He was granted early admissions to the progressive New College, (The Honors College of Florida) where he pursued his studies in psychology and spent most of his free time creating music with his best-friend, guitarist Bill Schulz. DeMaria became fascinated not only with ethnic instruments but also with synthesizers (Tangerine Dream, Jean-Michel Jarre, Pink Floyd). DeMaria bought a Moog synthesizer which helped him share his music with others, and most importantly explore his own personal sonic journeys in a whole new way. It was during this time he began to meditate and his music became a form of spiritual practice for him. A practice he continues to this day – using music to create tone prayers and sound poems.
In addition to being a Grammy nominated musician, Dr. DeMaria is a psychologist, speaker and author. It is no surprise that his music has become a favorite for music therapy, massage, acupuncture, meditation, relaxation, stress management and visualization.
Michael is also a Sounds True Recording Artist - where he has crafted two albums specifically designed for emotional healing - In The Flow released Summer 2011, and Solace is due to be released in Summer of 2012.
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