Guide of Bangkok - Thursday, January 20, 2005

It’s only the beginning of the year 2005 but it seems that Thailand has become the best place to get up-close and personal with some of the world’s biggest names who happen to visit the land of smiles all at once. We’ve got the Sting Live in Bangkok Concert, the Bangkok International Film Festival, the MTV Asia Awards and a one-night only gig from the world’s most famous female DJ-Marusha.

Without exaggeration, Marusha Gliess IS the most recognized artist in the world of techno house music. She was born on November 18, 1966 in Nuremberg, Germany. In 1991 Marusha started her career as a host of TV and radio programmes for the young generation in Berlin. The media multi-talented Marusha made her “rave satellite” radio show one of the most popular programmes on the German network.

However, that success was incomparable to what she had accomplished in 1994. It was indeed a Marusha year as her debut single “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” ranked in the top five of all German music charts. It was her biggest hit ever with sales of more than half a million copies. Never before had a techno single reached such a top spot! And the second single “It Takes Me Away” thrilled her fans with similar success.

Her achievement continued throughout 1995 after she released her debut album “Raveland” which is considered one of the most popular dance albums of all times. Since then, Marusha has been invited to perform countless gigs at trend –setting parties in Germany and it was no surprise to see her take over the Queen of Techno’s throne.

She was awarded two of Europe’s most important awards, the “VIVA Comet” as “Best Techno Act” and the “Echo Award 95” as “Best Female National Artist”. Moreover, she was nominated “Best Female Artist” at “MTV Awards 95”. And after innumerable hours of hard work as a DJ, Marusha decided to leave everything behind, taking a year off from the music scene.

Marusha made a comeback releasing a new single “Deep” which, of course, shared the same path of success with her previous work. “Deep” climbed to the top 20 in Germany’s Media Control Charts. Then, in February 1997, she surprised her die-hard fans with something new in “Ur Life”, a track that reflected her musical maturity with a combination of playful elements of hip hop, techno and a new form of techno music which has created an original CHANNEL SOUND!

1998’s “No Hit No Run” was her next longplayer. The album contains her whole musical spectrum which not only represents electronical dance music but also smooth ballads. Such a surprising mixture makes the album the most memorable one and the follow-up releases include “Snow in July”, “Cha Cha Maharadsha” and the latest album titled “Offbeat”.

It is no mistake to claim that Marusha has played at nearly all major events, parties and clubs all over the planet. She has given millions of fan real pleasure with her typical, highly individual DJ Set. Until today, Marusha is truly the Queen of Techno music. And on February 16, 2005, it is Thailand’s turn as Marusha is scheduled to perform in a one-night-only concert in the heart of Bangkok.

The Marusha DJ Set Live in Bangkok is one of the fund-raising projects to be held in conjunction with the International Peace Foundation to help underprivileged children at Ban Koong’s Children’s Home. The International Peace Foundation is an intercultural and transdisciplinary foundation aiming towards facilitating peace by creating an independent platform for dialogue where representative of science, politics, economics, culture, religion, the media and the youth can meet and exchange their viewpoints to find mutual understanding and build cooperation.

Two days before the concert, Marusha will give a speech entitled “Bridges for peace – Views of a DJ” at various institutions including Chulalongkorn University, the New International School of Thailand and the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand.

The Marusha DJ Set Live in Bangkok will be held on February 16, 2005 at Concept CM2, Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square. For more information call 0 2255 6888 or email prd@novotelbkk.com.