Originally from Rennes in Brittany, Muriel Moreno, nee Laporte, was born on the 23rd of January 1963. Very musical from an early age, (playing the piano and the guitar), she
quickly revealed her love of music and sound. In 1982, when she was 19 and at university, she met Daniel Chenevez and started the group Ombre jaune which, two years later became Niagara. In December 1982 they played at the Transmusicales in Rennes, a rock festival which put up
and coming talent in the 80s on the musical map (Etienne Daho). They then toured all over in clubs, concert-halls and cabarets in the west of France, where they started to build up a reputation for themselves.

Driven by the passionate voice and energy of Muriel, their acid pop mixed afro-cuban rhythms
and jazz-funk. In 1985, they released their first single and hit, "Tchiki boum", followed the year after by their first album, "Encore un dernier baiser" ("Just one last kiss"). Then followed a string of successes in the top 50 (the main method of classification in France in the 80s), becoming one of the leading lights of chanson française of that time. They performed in the Olympia for the first time in March 1987. Considered their best album, "Quel enfer"(What a nightmare) marked the shift from sugary pop to stronger rock rhythms, a change, which was much more noticeable with their third album, bordering on hard rock, "Religion" in 1990. Niagara's last album, recorded in 1992 in New York, "la Vérité", was a black, apocalyptic vision of the world, a far cry from their earlier sounds. Concerned by global issues and the troubles of modern society, Muriel Moreno defines herself as "closer to Louise Michel than Marilyn Monroe". After this last album,
Niagara disbanded.

In 1994, Muriel Moreno had a recording studio built in her house in the 11th arrondissement in Paris. After a lull of nearly two years she was the first to release a solo album "Toute seule", ("All alone") in 1996. Whether writing, producing or recording, she indeed developed her
album virtually single-handed, in complete contrast to the ample means available to her for
sur "la Vérité". It was from her home over a period of 18 months that she produced the
record, with the help of Christian Lechevretel, programme-planner and musician. It was he who put the finishing touches on the work at the Davout studios.

On the 10th of May 1996, this fan of Charles Trenet and Edith Piaf, released "Toute seule", ("All Alone") a melodious album influenced by rap and hip-hop. The record was not a success. Not one of the 14 songs sparked off a reaction in an audience which had given Niagara wide acclaim a few years before.

Not in the least discouraged, Muriel continued working, hunting out new sounds. She wrote for the cinema, for dance pieces and took music lessons. Her many travels contributed to inspire her for her second album, "Required elements", much more electronic than the first. Partially produced in Brussels by Gilles Martin, the CD was released in March 2000 in 15 different countries. This time Muriel Moreno's work was well received by the electronic scene, especially in England. The single "You can't get rid of it" even made the charts.

As a follow-up, she worked in her home studio, on a third album, "Surviving the day". Still
strongly electronic, the singer mixes into the music everyday sounds and very different kinds of music, from classical to gypsy and jazz. Amomgst the guests are Yarol Poupaud from FFF and the American Jasmine, a face from the underground scene. The album came out in March 2001.
After these three solo albums, Muriel Moreno would now like to return to the stage.

Meanwhile the woman from Rennes takes part in many electronic events as a DJ. Which explains her presence at the Francofolies in Montreal on the 3rd of August 2001 for an electronic set at the Club Shag.

August 2001

murielmoreno.com