If you are a fan of ambient music, new age, or world music, then you'll delight in the airy vocals of Canadian singer-songwriter, Marcomé's New World Music. The sensation from Quebec pours her heart and soul into her songs, which are written and produced by her own company.

Its hard to believe that Marcomé is a self-trained musician and singer. Yet, she had somewhat of an advantage as she grew up surrounded by music and sound.

In an interview, she explained:

"I spent part of my childhood with my with my uncles who owned a tv, music instruments and sound shop. I used to play with sound systems when the store was closed, hooking up different speakers to different amplifiers, playing with a reel to reel tape recorder, guitars and violins and listening to music. My uncles were playing guitar and violin."

Marcomé's first exposure was to classical music. When she was 7 years old, her mother bought a Vinyl record with Mozart and Beethoven songs for 99 cents at the grocery store.  They used to sing Sonate à la Lune together, because thye both kept on listening to it every night!

Later, Marcomé found her unique sound through experimentation with a 4-track recorder and a Rhodes and Korg synthesizer. At the young age of 17, she recorded songs that would eventually become part of her first record, Seven Seas, released in 1995.

This amazing woman is more than a musician. In one of her interviews, Marcomé stated:

"I went on to study in sound at university and kept composing as a hobby. At the same time I worked as a sound engineer in TV and Live recording and eventually became a Mastering engineer."

Marcomé has designed a successful website and popular blog, at which you can read about her inspiration, health and well-being tips, and of course, explore her various musical works, which she classifies as ambient, new age and world. She is a hard-working perfectionist. You can always find her analyzing trends and asking herself and those with whom she works, "can this be better?"

You might be familiar with new age or ambient music, but what is the world music genre? How does Marcomé create her New World music?

I love this description from Marcomé's blog:

"Take the layered, electronic dreaminess of New Age music. Then blend in the vibrant textures of wind, percussive and acoustic instruments of World music. Add in mystic chants and airy vocals, stir well and you have New World music. There is something magical about the fusion of electronic sound and acoustic arrangements. Some of the exotic instruments played on these albums include the harp, hurdy gurdy, oud, lyra, kanoun, and nyckelharpa."

If you are just learning about Marcomé's inspirational music, consider these other world music artists, including Peter Gabriel (originally with Genesis), Deep Forest, Loreena McKennitt and Sacred Spirit. When you hear New World Music, be prepared to enjoy the relaxing sounds of many different cultures and lands.

Among other sounds, world music employs Sanskrit, Asian, African dialects and beats or lyrics based on mythology such as Celtic legends or the realm of the Faerie.

Marcomé is the consummate artist. She is constantly creating and growing. Living an active, full life, Marcomé draws inspiration from her travels, her lifestyle and her spirituality. She commented in an interview:

I love to compose while traveling. I sit near a window, in a car, a train, a plane and in my head the music continues to evolve. Some songs will come back when I go to specific places, evolving as time passes by. I compose while walking and riding my bicycle. I carry a pocket recorder in my purse and draft ideas all year long now.

Her creativity has no bounds. Marcomé draws on many influences, including her classical training, her husband's photography, and her own improvisation. How amazing to be both a singer-songwriter, and a sound engineer!

Since I’m a sound engineer as well, I might even start a song by playing with sounds and effects. The technical aspect brings funny results at times. I mix all my work which gives me a great control over my production. I’m involved in all the productions stages.

New World Music can be relaxing, inspiring, or simply help facilitate a journey to new lands. The best artists, like Marcomé, blend a number of sounds and rhythms from many heritages and cultures.

Bringing historic and/or unique sounds to modern music is truly a gift from world music artists. It takes a trained ear to be able to weave multiple threads from many lands and backgrounds to create hauntingly beautiful world music.

Writing about new world music simply cannot do the genre justice. Listen to the songs and watch the videos included in this article to get a true understanding of the genre.

Discover new worlds and perhaps a side of yourself that was otherwise unknown!