"SARAH HOWARD DUO"
FUNKY ACOUSTIC DUO
The Sarah Howard Duo (formerly known as "Maia Project") is a live music duo, playing a fusion of modern & classic songs with acoustic guitar, keyboards & percussion, and a little electric guitar, (without backing track music).
The duo has an acoustic "live lounge" flavour, with a mix of styles and dynamics. With original arrangements & amazing vocals, professional musicians Sarah Howard (UK) & Dagmar Fuentevilla (Cuba) mix acoustic-influenced music, with funky soul, pop, rock, RnB & chill-out, into an impressive fusion!
'BBC RADIO 1 LIVE LOUNGE' STYLE!
Taking their influences from British and American popular music, their repertoire soon grew, and they found their style was a mix of Jamiroquai meets Sheryl Crow, Marvin Gaye meets Sam Sparro..... as well as the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge sessions, where popular songs are reworked in unique and original ways, which is a fundamental ingredient in the duo...to create something innovative and new, from a song that everybody knows!
The Sarah Howard Duo (formerly known as "Maia Project") is a live music duo, playing a fusion of modern & classic songs with acoustic guitar, keyboards & percussion, and a little electric guitar, (without backing track music).
The duo has an acoustic "live lounge" flavour, with a mix of styles and dynamics. With original arrangements & amazing vocals, professional musicians Sarah Howard (UK) & Dagmar Fuentevilla (Cuba) mix acoustic-influenced music, with funky soul, pop, rock, RnB & chill-out, into an impressive fusion!
'BBC RADIO 1 LIVE LOUNGE' STYLE!
Taking their influences from British and American popular music, their repertoire soon grew, and they found their style was a mix of Jamiroquai meets Sheryl Crow, Marvin Gaye meets Sam Sparro..... as well as the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge sessions, where popular songs are reworked in unique and original ways, which is a fundamental ingredient in the duo...to create something innovative and new, from a song that everybody knows!
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DUO SOUNDS LIKE A SMALL BAND!!
Sarah mainly plays acoustic guitar, but sometimes plays electric for a more funky sound. Her trade-mark "Digitech" harmoniser pedal is her favourite stage toy, where she can achieve 2 or 3 part vocal harmonies at the press of a button, to enrich her vocal performance...which leaves audiences searching round the room for the other backing singers!!!! Dagmar plays 2 keyboards, (a Korg M-50 synthesiser, & a Yamaha electric piano) where he uses piano sounds, strings, synth, bass lines & much more, which make a very full sound for only 2 musicians...almost like a small band!! They also sometimes add a little live percussion (djembe drum, Cajon, tambourine & shakers) As well as being a popular band, as both a duo and a trio, in Bars, Nightclubs & Beach Bars, they also began to play a number of weddings, finding that the younger, more "chic" wedding clients were looking for something a bit more contemporary than 4 piece rock "wedding" bands playing the same songs. Clients were "blown away" to put it lightly, as they did not expect such a high quality act at a wedding... again with raving feedback from guests who were pleasantly surprised! The "Sarah Howard Duo" is a totally live music duo, and offer a great selection of songs and combinations of instruments, to impress any audience! |
To listen to a Duo track click button below....
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STUDIO SESSION WORK
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Sarah has recorded a few studio sessions with House music producers in Manchester, Spain and Gibraltar. Most of these were just for fun, but one of these tracks was released on Hed Kandi Records, a track called "Keep Callin" by Daco (feat Sarah Howard).
Sarah loves to work in the studio, as she is a born vocalist & has a natural & quick ear for harmony. Although she has played acoustic music for so many years, she loves to listen to House music, Funk, Soul and Chillout music & so to hear herself on a "dance" record with beats is a real buzz for Sarah! Her deep & sexy voice, with a touch of soul, is very suited to this style of music, as well as her vast studio experience in her home & her father's professional studio....and her large House music collection!! Sarah is hoping to record more dance tracks in the future with music producers in Marbella, Holland...and anyone else who wants to invite her to the studio!! To listen to a few of Sarah's studio sessions click...
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"AticoFUNK"
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6 PIECE FUNKY BAND (currently unavailable)
‘Aticofun’ is a 6-piece band from the Campo de Gibraltar region, in Southern Spain. The band, aka AticoFunk & The Funkin' Tramps, consists of Sarah Howard (vocals & acoustic guitar, from Manchester) & Dagmar Fuentevilla (keyboards & vocals, from Cuba), together with bass and electric guitars, full drums, congas & percussion, backing vocals, and sometimes Saxophone & flute! 
The result of this diverse mix of influences and nationalities is an interesting fusion of Music; Funky, Rock & Soul, resulting in a subtle mix of styles.
The band have written a number of original songs, with a funky flavour, which are available to purchase on CD through this website. This CD also includes 2 cover versions of the Blackstreet classic "No Diggity" and Dee'lite's "Groove is in the Heart! Also featuring a guest musician playing Saxophone & flute. The band is taking a break at the moment, so is not available for gigs, but we hope to be back again soon!! |
This high standard of experienced musicians play a good selection of ‘original songs’ as well as some interesting ‘cover versions’ of Stevie Wonder, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sheryl Crow, Black Crowes, Dee-Lite, Blackstreet, Prince, Kool & The Gang etc
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"THE ShamROCK OF GIBRALTAR"
Sarah occasionally enjoys playing Irish folk music with her parents...yes that's right.. in their family band "The Shamrock of Gibraltar"!! This is a fun family trio with her Mum and Dad playing traditional Irish folk songs, as well as Instrumentals (jigs & reels) with Dad's impressive Mandolin playing and mum on the Bodhran (Irish Drum). It´s great to see the family chemistry as they play together, and you can definitely see where Sarah has inherited her love of music from!
TRADITIONAL IRISH FOLK MUSIC TRIO
"The ShamRocks" mostly play in Gibraltar (hence the comedy name!) for St Patricks day every year. An upbringing in the folk scene in the North of England has rubbed off on Sarah, and of course her parents are still heavily active as musicians and music lovers in the British and Irish folk scene. The family band's rare appearances dates can be found on this website...but they are rare!! Unless you have an Irish bar & want a litttle Irish atmosphere...then contact us and we might be able to help!!
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IRISH "BODHRAN" DRUM
MANDOLIN
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