“Purists say players like me are killing the guitar. But if evolution is bad, then guitar is dead.” These words from Marcin, a master of fingerstyle and percussive playing, reflect his bold approach to acoustic guitar—one that might just make him the best thing to happen to the instrument since Segovia.
Marcin, a name that’s already buzzing in the acoustic guitar world, is just 23 years old but is already poised to make a mainstream impact like legendary players Paco de Lucia, Tommy Emmanuel, and Andy McKee. Born Marcin Patrzalek in Poland in 2000, the last Year of the Dragon, he’s in full throttle this 2024, the current Year of the Dragon. Marcin’s rise began with triumphs on two European talent shows and a semi-finalist spot on America’s Got Talent in 2019, where his virtuosic skills and magnetic stage presence made a lasting impression. Since then, he has accumulated an impressive 1.73 million YouTube subscribers and earned his own signature Ibanez guitar model, which has quickly become one of the brand’s bestsellers since its 2022 launch.
Now, Marcin is elevating his career with the release of Dragon in Harmony on Sony Classical Masterworks on September 13. The album showcases his remarkable talent for creating unique arrangements of cover songs. In this wide-ranging effort, Marcin takes on an eclectic mix of artists from Nirvana to Mozart, Miles Davis, and Led Zeppelin. The album also features guest appearances by fellow Ibanez endorser Ichika Nito, who contributes electric guitar to “I Don’t Write About Girls,” and the band Portugal. The Man, who appear on “When the Light Goes.” With electronic beats weaving through the 14 tracks, the album bridges traditional acoustic guitar artistry with a modern twist, all co-produced by Marcin and Dan Book (known for his work with Shania Twain and Blink 182).
What makes Marcin truly exceptional is his unique blend of influences. While he is classically trained, starting at the age of 10, and has studied flamenco under the renowned Spanish maestro Carlos Piñana, Marcin is anything but a traditionalist. He performs standing up, bringing an electrifying energy to both his instrument and the stage. His modern percussive techniques, fused with his classical and flamenco training, make for a style that is as disciplined as it is dynamic.
But Marcin isn’t just another guitar hero obsessed with gear or technical virtuosity. His focus is on radical self-expression through the guitar, and it’s this authentic artistry that has made him more than just a guitar player. His high-energy performances and daring approach have attracted a wide audience beyond traditional guitar fans. His public exposure grew substantially over the 2023 holidays when he performed as a one-man halftime show for the Phoenix Suns. He has since sold out shows at the Troubadour in L.A., New York’s Gramercy Theatre, and even took over Times Square on July 19 as part of the TSQ Live summer event series. More recently, he stunned Wyclef Jean with his incredible tapping skills, showcasing just how far his innovative playing can go.
Will Marcin make a lasting impact on the music world? Only time will tell. But there’s no question that, at just 23, he is already one of the most compelling and innovative acoustic guitar players pushing the boundaries of the instrument today.
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