Marlene Dorcena, Haiti
Born in Haiti, Marlene Dorcena grew up in The Cayes in the country’s south. At school, as a member of the cultural association, she practiced a repertory of French songs. This, with her family’s help, also brought her to sing the gospel at the choir of the local church. Her grandfather was master of traditional Haiti percussion instruments and a helper of the local voodoo priest. In her childhood Marlene already soaked up music traditions of her native culture.
Gigging a lot around the world Marlene keeps tight contact with her roots. Actively she supports her folk organizing charity events in order to improve living standards in her homeland. The fees raised from her concerts she invests in social projects - for example, the installation of water pumps and mending the roads in the villages of Haiti.
Since few years, Marlene Dorcena founded an association called "Haïti Chérie" where purpose is promote Haitian music and culture in foreign countries.
Besides music, her second passion is theatre - Marlene participates in theatre productions as a creator, actress and singer.
She has successfully introduced her first Album "Mèsy" 2002, in which she unveils the soul, the colors, the laughter and the poetry of the people of her island. She sings the complaint of the slaves, the cries of revolution but also the songs of love and other bursts of laughter with original compositions, at the African rhythms and jazzy sonorities. Accompanied by very good musicians and a production as discrete as successful, she is a breath of fresh air between Africa of the voodoo and gospel.
Marlene Dorcena has already performed in Russia. She was invited to special musical events and headlines international ethno festivals, such as KAMWA 2013 (Perm). In 2005 she performed in the Russian TV project “Anthropologia Live” 2005.
