Malena Muyala

Malena Muyala (born 23 March 1971) is a Uruguayan singer-songwriter who specializes in tango and milonga music. She has released several albums that were certified gold and platinum, and has toured within and outside Uruguay.

Early life Muyala was born in San José de Mayo, Uruguay. She is partly of Lebanese descent. At age 11, she joined Teatro Macció where she took classes in the dramatic arts, and participated in productions for "Nuestro Pueblo" (Our Town) and "Vámonos" (Let's Go).. She learned to play guitar and took singing lessons, and when she was around 12–13, she formed various music groups. That same year, she put together a band and toured the country. In 1994 she was invited by singer-songwriter Estela Magnone in the group Seda in a concert for her disc Prismatic Vals at the Vaz Ferreira theater. She was a solo singer and performed with musicians Pitufo Lombardo, Shyra Panzardo, She recorded her fourth CD live and her first DVD called Malena Muyala en el Solís at the Solis Theatre; it was released in 2009. She was invited by Argentinian authorities to participate in a bicentennial celebration. She performed with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Montevideo for the mayor's assumption ceremony. In 2011, she performed for Uruguay's bicentennials for events concerning Jose Artigas and the Oriental Revolution at Mercedes, Las Piedras and Montevideo. She also recorded alongside other major artists a song for the Fundación Celeste, a nonprofit organization put together by the Uruguay national team to promote sports.

In 2011, Muyala toured the Montevideo neighborhoods, and listened to stories from locals. She documented her experience in a book and album project called Pebeta de mi Barrio. Her tour was declared of interest by the United Nations and UNESCO, and was given an award by Festival Cubadisco 2012.

Discography

Studio albums Title Album details Certifications (Cámara Uruguaya del Disco) Refs Temas pendientes (Unresolved issues) Released: 1998 Label: Ayuí / Tacuabé (Uruguay), Mulato Músicas (Argentina) Format: CD Re-released: 2011 Platinum Puro verso (Pure verse) Released: 2000 Label: Ayuí / Tacuabé (Uruguay) Format: CD Gold Viajera (Voyager)(also Muger de Tango) Released: 2006–07 Label: Bizarro Records (Uruguay), Los Años Luz Discos (Argentina) Format: CD Platinum Pebeta de mi Barrio Released: 2011 Label: Bizarro Records & Santillana (Uruguay) Format: CD+Book

Live and video albums Title Album details Certifications (Cámara Uruguaya del Disco) Refs Malena Muyala en el Solís Released: 2009 Label: Bizarro Records (Uruguay) Format: CD+DVD Platinum DVD

Awards and nominations Spokesperson for the Fundación Álvarez Caldeyro Barcia Woman of the Year Joven Sobresaliente Iris Award / Diario El País 2009: Outstanding Citizen of Montevideo 2012: Festival Cubadisco 2012 award, Best International Album for Pebeta de mi Barrio.