Rob Marcus offers a fresh sound that touches on a remarkable array of influences. Inspired by his travels abroad, his music incorporates elements of folk, rock and world beats. As a self-taught musician, Rob Marcus’ unconventional melodies satisfy a desire for the new, while his introspective lyrics explore themes both intimate and universal. His seductive vocal style is complimented by the weaving of traditional instruments with modern sounds, creating a smooth and rhythmic experience.

Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Rob has been surrounded by a thriving music scene from an early age. Some of his earliest memories are running around the house, singing along to his dad’s Beatles and Bob Dylan records. He also recalls eagerly awaiting Seattle’s summer festival season. A brilliant Flamenco performance he witnessed at the Northwest Folklife Festival planted the guitar seed in his mind. At the ripe age of 14, his interest in music was fueled by the gift of a dusty old nylon string guitar from his Aunt’s attic. He learned to play by ear, often plucking out the melodies of his favorites at the time, including Mother Love Bone, Alice In Chains, and on a tamer level, The Samples and The Indigo Girls. As his music collection grew and morphed, so did the sound and complexity of the music he was creating. Elements of some of Rob’s favorite musicians and vocalists can be heard in his style including Marvin Gaye, Neil Young, The Grateful Dead, Jeff Buckley, Ben Harper and Galactic to name a few.

Rob has traveled abroad extensively, always with a guitar and the goals of making new friends, creating new music, and making a difference. He often speaks of his travels to Morocco where he learned to play the djembe. During his travels he was involved in international aid, teaching, guiding, and sustainability efforts. The songs on his new self-titled EP were written or inspired while volunteering and adventuring throughout Southeast Asia immediately following the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.

While Rob still loves performing solo in intimate settings, he feels right at home in larger venues and thrives on collaborating with other musicians and performing in a variety of ensembles. Currently, he can be seen performing solo, as a trio with cello and percussion, or as a full band, adding drum kit, electric bass, and additional vocals. He is celebrating the release of his debut EP, performing throughout the Northwest and working on a full-length album. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.