Demma K.

The composer, arranger and performer Demma K. was born in São Paulo, Brazil in 1965 and has acquired an extensive and eclectic curriculum in the last 25 years. He started his musical career at the age of 13 learning how to play the guitar and later developed an interest in other instruments such as the violin, the acoustic guitar, the piano and the keyboard. His musical knowledge also includes theory, arrangement, counterpoint, improvisation, orchestration and composition. In 1997 he graduated from the Guitar Institute of Technology (Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, USA) with the Journeyman and Professional Certificates.
Demma K. has been very active as producer, performer and composer during his musical career. Acting as a producer, Demma K. took part in one of the first Brazilian Rap albums - Sampa Crew and MC Jarbas (1980’s). He also played and recorded keyboards and guitar for the Brazilian ethnic singer Priscilla Ermel.
Another side of his performance career was to perform with the Sesc Strings Orchestra in the Zoo-Ilógico Project playing the violin. As a composer he has created original sound tracks for more than 50 theater plays, some of them including renowned Brazilian actors like Adriano Stewart, Debora Duarte, Jacques Lagoa and Rubens Pignatari. Some of his arrangements and compositions were performed by the Big Bands of “Conservatorio de Tatui” and “Telegraph Group”.
Demma K. also works as a specialized journalist and has over 400 articles published in the most important Brazilian guitar magazines: Guitar Player Brazil - in this one he has been international correspondent in U.S.A. (1996-1998), Guitar Class (editor & musical coordinator), Cover Guitarra, On & Off, Dynamite, Audio News and Rock Brigade.
Working as a book agent he was envolved on tours and seminars in some of the main Brazilian cities for Scott Henderson Trio, Carl Schoroeder, Frank Gambale, Jeff Richman and Jimie Findlay. He also took part in important cultural activities between Brazil and USA like agreements for the Los Angeles Music Academy and Brazilian music schools.
Demma K has also a great experience in the educational field having taught in music schools, as well as in his private studio during the last 20 years. In 2000 he concludes his first instrumental CD called “O Sonho dos Peixes” (Piscean’s Dreams”). The CD is a mixture of Brazilian rhythms and styles with other musical influences.
In 2001 a new element appears in Demma’s work when he starts experimenting with fine arts and developed an aesthetic vocabulary that connects with his music. The original result is a vibrating cromaticism and contemporary image, linking the visual of fine arts and music. The most recent work is the Elixir Series, a series of paintings where the artist expresses his connection with the guitar and the strings, which give life to sounds.
At the moment Demma K. works as the editor chief of Izzo Mag, a musical magazine to promote Fender Acessories, Elixir Strings and Jim Dunlop products in Brazil (www.musicalizzo.com.br), he’s coordinating Elixir String America Latina web site (www.elixirstrings-americalatina.com), is the producer of Guitarras Paulistanas (www.guitarraspaulistanas.com.br) and releasing his new cd “Entre Cores e Sons” (Among Souns & Colors) featuring own painting and originals compositions with greatest brazilian musicians such as Heraldo do Monte, Rafael Moreira, Swami Jr, Mané Silveira, Celso Pixinga among others.