User:Lithistman/Michael and Marisa

Lithistman/Michael and Marisa

Michael and Marisa are a brother/sister pop rock duo from Boston, MA. Having opened for nationally renowned artists such as American Idol finalist David Archuleta, Disney’s Mitchel Musso and Nickelodeon’s Drake Bell, the siblings have performed well over 200 shows nationwide at some of the country's largest venues. In June 2008, they released their debut album, Kickin’ It Together.

History

Born less than a year apart, Michael (born December 23, 1997) and Marisa (born December 31, 1996) have always looked and acted like identical twins — including sharing a love for music since an early age. Rather than building Lego towers, Michael made music with anything he could find to strike up some noise. At the young age of 3, he scribbled musical notes on coloring books and by age 4, he was stringing notes together and writing music. “His musical inclination and technical talents seemed very unusual," recalls his mother. According to his father, Michael had no interest in sports, trucks, or any toys, but showed early signs of real music ability. Following Michael’s insistence, his father signed them both up for guitar lessons so that they could bond while practicing. At only 6 years old, Michael’s guitar skills soared quickly. His guitar teacher and mentor, Billy Garzone said, "This kid is not normal. He really has a knack for it.” It wasn’t long before a 7-year-old Michael was playing covers of Buddy Holly and Creedence Clearwater Revival at open mic nights, music festivals and sports arenas, including a Jimi Hendrix version of the National Anthem at a Boston Celtics basketball game in front of 18,000 people.

Shortly thereafter, bored with the violin and eager to jam with her younger brother, Marisa soon began banging on the drums at age 8. She was no newcomer to the spotlight, having performed an ensemble role as Gretel in a production of The Sound of Music, among others. It quickly became apparent that this was more than just a hobby for both Michael and Marisa. They were good. And so the pop rock power duo was born.

Music Career

With Michael on guitar and Marisa on drums, accompanied by their power pop/rock vocals and harmonies, the duo continuously win over audiences with their energetic live tunes and talent. Many characterize the siblings as a cross between the garage rock pretend-brother-and-sister duo, The White Stripes, and a rock version of Donny & Marie Osmond.

Having performed live a variety of cover songs by artists such as The Beatles, Van Morrison, Bon Jovi, The Who, AC/DC, Avril Lavigne and Miley Cyrus, this double-bill team has played hundreds of shows at well-known venues across the nation for crowds in the thousands. Michael and Marisa have opened for Disney and Nickelodeon national performers, as well as American Idol finalist David Archuleta at Boston's House of Blues. Their extensive tour and music festival roster also includes Nashville's Rocketown and New York's Lincoln Center, as well as the Camplified 2008 summer tour and The Bamboozle Roadshow 2010 tour. Dubbed a "rising force in the tween rock scene," the two are now hard at work building their repertoire of original songs.

Kickin' It Together (2006-2008)

Currently managed by Aimee Berger of Primary Wave Music Publishing in New York City, Michael and Marisa spent nearly two years working on their debut album, Kickin’ It Together, which was independently released in the spring of 2008 to rave reviews. They co-wrote the majority of the songs on the 12-track high-energy and engaging album, along with contributions from Emmy-nominated producer Amy Powers, Boston producer Billy Garzone and Hannah Montana songwriter Jeannie Lurie.

It's Like That (2009-2010)

In it for the long haul, the talented pair are set to release their highly anticipated four-track EP titled It's Like That, in the fall of 2010, which was co-written and produced by Peter Zizzo, an award-winning songwriter who has been instrumental in developing the careers of several artists, including Avril Lavigne and Vanessa Carlton. Gina Schock, drummer for The Go-Go’s, is also credited with a co-write. Though this latest EP may showcase a more evolved pop rock sound, lyrically, the siblings say they will continue to target kids their own age. Their first single off the album, "The Same," was co-written by the siblings and takes a stand against bullying in schools — 20% of the single's proceeds will be donated to anti-bullying cause, Kids Against Bullying. “If our song causes even one bystander to take a stand, that one action could be the start of a chain of events that could help to stop bullying," Marisa says.

Discography

• October 2009: "Mr. Know It All" (studio single)
• November 2008: "Rockin’ Radio"/"Happily Ever After" (two-track EP)
• June 2008: Kickin’ It Together (studio album)
• July 2006: "I Can’t Stop" (studio single)

Videography

• August 2008: "Rock U Now"/"Rockin’ Radio", Music Video
• December 2006: "I Can’t Stop", Music Video

Personal Life

Michael and Marisa are multi-taskers, going to school, rehearsing for their upcoming performances, attending their Tae Kwon Do and dance classes and still managing to find time to ride roller coasters, swim at their grandparents’ pool and hang out with their friends. “They are really close and would go to the ends of the earth for each other," says their mother. They have studied Tae Kwon Do for seven years, earning black belts after five. Marisa says she loves the feeling of breaking wood and swinging weapons around at her Tae Kwon Do classes, but when they are performing together they can’t get enough of it. Parents Steve and Janet say they don’t know where Michael and Marisa’s natural musical talents come from, as they aren’t musicians themselves, except to say they were simply music lovers from birth. "Performing is one of our favorite things," Michael explains, "We don't get sad and feel like we wasted our summer. The more performances, the better!"

Many assume the siblings, who talk freely and excitedly, are twins in looks and personality, but they are actually opposites. Marisa is driven and competitive and Michael is artsy and laid back. The two wrote the lyrics to their song “Me with You” to explain that even people who are opposite can be a good fit. They are always songwriting and are already working on their next album. When asked what they see in the future, they respond that they hope to “play concerts around the world.”

Philanthropy and Endorsements

Michael and Marisa have performed a variety of benefit concerts for charities including The Starlight Children’s Foundation, The Jimmy Fund, Children’s Hospital, Doug Flutie Foundation, Toys for Tots, The Rodman Ride and many others.

In the fall of 2008, Michael received an endorsement from Gibson Guitars. In the spring of 2009, Marisa received an endorsement from the world's largest manufacturer of drum sticks, Vic Firth.