Erik Mongrain
Biography
Erik Mongrain was born in Montreal on April 12, 1980. When he was young, he was more into sports than music. Growing up to the sounds of Metallica, Jimi Hendrix and mostly Kurt Cobain from Nirvana, Erik discovered an interest in guitar. At 14, he received a classical guitar as a gift and learnt by ear his favourite songs. A year later, he bought his very first electric guitar which allowed him to learn and play Nirvana songs to his delight.
Over the following four years, he learned guitar on his own, composed his own music and discovered Jean-Sebastian Bach's classical guitar melodies, which he learned by heart. Around the age of 18, he discovered a Canadian guitar giant who goes by the name of Don Ross. It was during this period in his life that Erik chose acoustic guitar as his favourite musical instrument through which he wished to share his passion with others around him.
He made another major discovery with the contemporary music of a Californian named Michael Hedges. "It was a true revelation to me, I had finally found my niche.", stated Erik. He is still a great fan of Michael Hedges to this day.
During that time, he discovered and experimented a technique, which was unknown to him until then, lap tapping. He immediately adopted that technique. With the guitar on his lap, he tapped the chords as if it were a piano. The effect was spectacular! People passing by on the streets were his first fans. Over those years, Erik played in streets and subway stations in Montreal, in the U.S. as well as in Europe.
In Granada, Spain, a journalist came across this young Montrealer, who was then 21, sitting on the sidewalk and playing his guitar. Impressed by his talent, he wrote an article in the Granada newspaper and made the following prediction:
"As another great guitar tapping player, Stanley Jordan, Mongrain started out in the streets of Granada, he will continue on in the Barcelona subway and will probably end up recording on world class major labels.", Jesus Arias, Granada, May 18, 2001
Erik is a musician who is constantly researching and exploring the world of music. For almost two years now, Erik has resumed standard guitar posture and has been writing at tremendous speed songs in which the harmonies and melodies are profoundly inspired.
Discography
- Equilibrium 2008
- Fates 2007
- Un Paradis Quelque Part 2005
- Les Pourris de Talent 2005
Performance Highlights
Erik's music is featured on the outstanding documentary film, Everest: A Climb for Peace, hailed as a "tremendous achievement" by the Dalai Lama. His Airtap video on YouTube, featuring his signature 'lap tapping' technique, has racked up 4,000,000 views. The national Japanese Television network NHK travelled to Montreal to get footage of Erik's life and performances. The result, part of the production World Music Heritage, was aired on the entire NHK network.
Erik Mongrain web site
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