Marta Cascales Alimbau is a multi-awarded pianist and composer from Barcelona crafting classical-rooted music with a contemporary, minimalist, and poetic essence. She tours internationally and works regularly for Dance, Film and Art Installations.
She studied composition and piano at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp, then rapidly found her place in the Modern Classical movement. Her music blends elements of legendary composers such as Bach & Debussy while also resonating with artists like Ólafur Arnalds, Max Richter or Hania Rani.
Her discography includes the debut EP 'Light-House' (2018), 'Anoche' LP (2020), and multiple singles released through New York based label Sonder House. Her latest piano piece is featured on 'Piano Day Vol 2' (2023), alongside artists like Yann Tiersen and Liam Mour, released via Nils Frahm's Berlin label LEITER. She's also collaborating with Deutsche Grammophon on a project set for 2024.
The artist has performed at renowned festivals and venues like Trans Musicales (FR), Piano City Milano (IT), and Rockwood Music Hall (NY). Her live performances are described as an auditory balm, taking audiences on captivating journeys.
She paralely develops an intimate pop project along with the singer songwriter Grauwi, having released together her first album ‘Contradictions’.
3M+ streams on Spotify
Artist supported by Creative Europe
Artist’s music catalogue on Musicbed (clcik here to sync)
“ I find myself looking out the window of a moving train, melancholy keeping the outside world firmly away. The warmth of her tender piano is like two hands holding mine, reassuring me that things will work out.” — Amanda Nordqvist.
“Marta certainly bears a sense of gentleness and elegance. It is one of my favourite release this year” — Doug Thomas.
“Porque el piano, en sus manos, no parece tanto un instrumento de cuerda percutida como un ser vivo con respiración propia.” — Fernando Neira (El Pais)
main Studies
Music Composition BA, Taller de Músics (ESEM). 2014 - 2019
Audiovisual Communication BA, Universitat of Barcelona. 2011 - 2013
Professional Certificate of Music - specialization on Piano, CMMB. 2008 - 2014
Scholarship awarded by SGAE Foundation (Taller de Músics) and
European Commission International Mobility (Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp).
courses
Cunningham International Workshop with filmmakers, dancers and musicians, curated by Trevor Carlson and Choreoscope, Intitute of the Arts. 2018
International Festival il Corpo nel Suono The National Academy of Dance (Rome). 2017
Musical Accompaniment to Performing Arts, Institut del Teatre (Barcelona). 2016
Film scoring with Alejandro Román, Escuela de Música Creativa (Madrid). 2014
Discography
Upcoming - Piano Day Album Vol. II. LEITER. 2023
Contradictions album, Grauwi + Marta Cascales, Great Canyon Records. 2023
Anoche album, Sonder House NYC. 2020
Lisboa single, featured on Recollections Vol. 4, NYC. 2020
Ryōan-ji single, 1631 Recordings, Decca Records/Universal, featured on Piano Cloud Series. Sweden. 2020
Corales (feat. singer Grauwi), 2020
Eyes closed single, Sonder House, NYC. 2020
Almost Here single, featured on Recollections Vol. 3, Sonder House, NYC. 2019
TEZ single. Sonder House, NYC. 2019
Contigo single, featured on Recollections Vol. 2, NYC. 2019
Polissena single, Sonder House, NYC. 2019
Harmonie District single, featured on Recollections Vol.1. Sonder House, NYC. 2018
Light-house EP, Piano & Coffee Records. 2018
awards and recognitions
Composition Grant, awarded by SGAE Foundation and Cases de la Música. 2020
Selected as one of the 5 European emerging artistst to take part in Slash Program, powered by Trempolino and co-funded by Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.
Visual Sound Barcelona Awards, finalist at Videoart category. 2017
Barcelona Music Conservatory Composition Awards, Honorable Mention. 2014
Visual Sound Barcelona Awards, Best Original Soundtrack. 2013
First Place Tu hi toques, Maria Canals International Piano Competition. 2013
TALKS
The Creative Fest, Antiga Fàbrica Estrella Damm, Barcelona. 2019
C de C 2018, Reset C Young Talent. Kursaal Concert Hall San Sebastian. 2018
PRESS / Features
Mondo Sonoro / Nothing but Hope and Passion Magazine / Ruta 66 / Noticias RTVE / Metal Magazine / Delicatessen / VANITY FAIR / Telenotícies TV3 / Radio 3 - Hoy empieza todo / Fernando Neira (El País) - Un disco al día / Rhodium Publishing / Diari Ara / CC Magazine / VEIN Magazine / Contemplative Classical / Àrtic Betevé TV / Good2be / Feeel Betevé TV / Qualsevol Nit, #BehindTheSong / MUSE.TV / El Periódico Ocio y Cultura / La Vanguardia Cat-Música / Le Cool Barcelona / CatMúsica Radio Interview Assaig General / Betevé Radio Els Acúsitcs / Time Out BCN Music / Märkische Allgemeine Culture News / Doug Thomas Writings Light-house Review / Amanda Nordqvist Reviews Light-house EP / Sonofmarketing Unkown Music Pleasures / Arts i Oficis, TV3.
ART RESIDENCIES / exhibitions
Music for an Online Exhibition, ‘Tender Meetings’. Artsy, 2022
Music & Art Installation, `Pálpito y Flama’. Aba Art Lab, Palma de Mallorca, 2022
Artist in Residency, Almost Perfect. Tokyo (Japan), 2019
Artist in Residency, Numeroventi. Florence (Italy), 2018
Artist in Residency, Varda Artists Residency. Sausalito (California), 2017
COMPOSITION
Original music for Audiovisuals & APPS
OYSHO / CAELI / Inhala App / Leo Messi Foundation / Diputació de Barcelona - European Commission / Blanquerna University / International Bobcatsss Congress / Eulàlia Grau Exhibition video with UB, MACBA / Nomo Japanese Restaurant
Original music for Dance
The Flock (duo for violin & cello and 2 dancers) Selected at Dans Vitrine Dance Festival (STUK, Belgium) / Margarita Solo by Isadora L. Pagán, selected at Hop Festival Barcelona / Cascarrabias Dance piece directed by Isadora L. Pagán, Institut del Teatre.
Concert Stage Works
Perceptions (Brass Ensemble), Koninklijk Conservatorium Antwerpen. / Op.17 Visual (Piano, Violin, Cello and Visuals), Municipal Conservatory of Barcelona. / Bread textures (Electroacoustic Piece), SIRGA - International Contemporary Music Festival and Local Heritage. / Bachiana (Cello duo), Municipal Conservatory of Barcelona.
Arrangements
String arrangements for the indie - folk band A Singer of Songs' special concerts.
PERFORMING
Selected Music Venues and Festivals
White Summer Festival / Altaveu Festival / Festival Jardins de Pedralbes / l’IDEAL / / Soho House Barcelona / Rere el Teló Festival / BAM (La Mercè) / FAN Festival Vila Real Theatre. / Fnac Oporto Showcase. / Trans Musicales Festival. / Palo Alto Fest. / Piano City Milano. / Auditori CC Urgell. / Els Vespres d’Hivern (Sala Paranimf UB, Barcelona). / Kosmoskonzerte #11, curated by CEEYS, Berlin. / Piano Day concert, Ámsterdam, London and Barcelona. / Antiga Biblioteca Almirall, Barcelona. / Alonzo King Lines Ballet Dance Center, San Francisco. / Sofar Sounds, San Francisco. / Teatre Maldà, Barcelona. / Teatre Victòria (with Sílvia Pérez Cruz) / MiniFest Institut del Teatre, Barcelona. / Festival Inspira, Siurana. / Indies Keeping Secrets, Brussels. / Altaïr, Barcelona. / L'Audenis, Barcelona. / Centre Cultural Can Déu, Barcelona. / Antiga Fàbrica Estrella Damm, Barcelona. / Teatre del Raval, Barcelona. / Festival Fringe Talent and Creativity, Torroella de Montgrí. / Bazaar Cafe, San Francisco / Ordinaire, Oakland. / Ultra Local Records, Barcelona. / The Place, Madrid. / Red Clay Theatre, Atlanta. / Hard Rock Café, Barcelona. / MNAC Museum with Maria Canals Organization, Barcelona.
Selected Events
Miami ‘You are beautiful’ Event / Phillips New TV / The House of Beautiful Business / FIU Bcn, Caixa Forum Concert Hall / Cervezas Alhambra Madrid (Opening Jardín Alhambra) / Barcelona Centre del Disseny (Hub BCN) / Sunday Suppers (Barcelona Edition) / Poblenou Open Night, Alblanc Atelier / / All Those Market (Teatre Nacional de Catalunya, Claustre UB, Museu Marítim) / Ladies, Wine & Design / Welcome Summer at Gang and the Wool.
opening art exhibitions
Sisters exhibition, Ox Poblenou. Fundació La Caixa (ImaginCafé) Barcelona / Castellana 22 Gallery Madrid.