Best known as a bassist supporting a myriad of Canadian and international artists, Marika Galea is a joyful explorer of sonic storytelling. Her movements as a bass player and educator have been quietly felt by the Canadian and American music industries for over ten years, earning her a spot as one of CBC Music’s 35 Best Canadian jazz artists under 35. Her choice of instrument suits her grounded personality well, allowing her to build an impressive array of awards and nominations supporting both the best in Canadian indie rock and experimental pop, as well as American and European jazz giants.

Galea was born in Toronto and went on to study music performance and composition on full scholarship at the University of Toronto and Berklee College of Music in Boston. Her time in the United States from 2012 to 2017 was formative. She performed with many of the best jazz musicians of her time (Cyrus Chestnut, Warren Wolf, Vincent Herring, Ralph Peterson Jr., Jason Palmer, Ambrose Akinmusire), and was a pupil of renowned film composer Terence Blanchard.

Galea moved from New York to Montréal, earning her masters and lecturing at McGill University. She has since been on the faculty at McGill and Eckhardt-Gramatté Conservatories, Berklee College of Music, Brandon University, and the Prince Edward County, Brandon, Malta and Monterey Jazz Festivals. Life in Montréal allowed her to meet and begin working with a new scene of indie, pop and rock musicians, including Basia Bulat, U.S. Girls, Simon and Erika Angell (Thus Owls, Patrick Watson), Jake Clemons (Springsteen E Street Band), and Tim Kingsbury (Arcade Fire). This completely different web of musicians outside the worlds of jazz and academia launched her into a new phase of creation where freedom is paramount.

Galea now lives in the space between jazz, songwriting and improvisation. She is constantly experimenting with how to tell a story. Her lyrics and textures paint the human condition with both broad brushstrokes and fine lines. Whether comforting, distracting or celebrating, she invites her audience into a world of her own making and holds them there.