Michael Emenau (P.K.A. “MNO”) has worked professionally as a musician, composer, producer, and remixer (in genres as diverse as Baroque, to hardcore electronica, and everything in between) for over 20 years throughout North America, Asia, and Europe. MNO began his professional career in Canada as a classical musician after graduating from McGill University Bachelor of Classical Music Performance. Early in his 6 year spell playing in orchestras MNO crossed over to jazz. This transition brought him to Asia. While living in Japan MNO honed his skills as a studio musician, playing and recording extensively in electro-jazz, dance and other electronic oriented music. His work can be found on over 50 CD’s that he recorded as a studio/session mallet player for Sony Records, Japan. One notable recording includes MNO as the vibraphonist for the Japanese Acid jazz group “UFO" on “Red, Hot, and Cool". This CD sold over 5 million copies worldwide. MNO was also a member of multiple ensembles covering a wide range of music including jazz, funk, Brazilian, Classical Japanese, Arabic, Indian and Caribbean that performed throughout Japan. The impact of his time spent in Asia, (including time in India, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Korea), is heard in his compositions today.
During his 7 year residency in San Francisco California MNO quickly established himself as a producer, session musician, and performer. He produced, composed, was supporting founder and toured throughout the US and Canada with the following bands, including but not limited to: Realistic Orchestra winner of California Music Awards “Best Jazz Group”; Middle-Eastern Electro band “LUMIN” named “Top 10 World Music CD 2004” by Amazon.com; and with his solo project/CD “MNO Sleeps”, which was heard on various occasions on “Heart’s Of Space” radio broadcast with 250,000 weekly listeners, and still today on NPR’s Echo’s. Michael produced the following film scores while in SF: “Saving Grace”, Dir.Takashi Miike, Winner of best short film at the 1998 SF Film Festival; “Hysteria”, Dir. Anter Alli and Sylvi Alli; and “High Ambitions in the Himalaya”, Dir. Curt Dowdy.
Michael signed to San Francisco based World Music record label "Six Degrees Records" under the solo performance name "MNO". A release of these jazz/latin/electronic compositions was recently released to critical acclaim in January of 2007 available solely via digital download as part of the “Emerging Artists” series. He has also worked extensively as a remixer for many artists on the labels roster.
During his 7 year residency in San Francisco California MNO quickly established himself as a producer, session musician, and performer. He produced, composed, was supporting founder and toured throughout the US and Canada with the following bands, including but not limited to: Realistic Orchestra winner of California Music Awards “Best Jazz Group”; Middle-Eastern Electro band “LUMIN” named “Top 10 World Music CD 2004” by Amazon.com; and with his solo project/CD “MNO Sleeps”, which was heard on various occasions on “Heart’s Of Space” radio broadcast with 250,000 weekly listeners, and still today on NPR’s Echo’s. Michael produced the following film scores while in SF: “Saving Grace”, Dir.Takashi Miike, Winner of best short film at the 1998 SF Film Festival; “Hysteria”, Dir. Anter Alli and Sylvi Alli; and “High Ambitions in the Himalaya”, Dir. Curt Dowdy.
Michael signed to San Francisco based World Music record label "Six Degrees Records" under the solo performance name "MNO". A release of these jazz/latin/electronic compositions was recently released to critical acclaim in January of 2007 available solely via digital download as part of the “Emerging Artists” series. He has also worked extensively as a remixer for many artists on the labels roster.
Today MNO continues his SF based work as an Electronic remixer for “6 Degrees Records” ,“Rock River Music”, and “Valley-Entertainment”. His music has been placed in such retail environments as Banana Republic, The Gap, Old Navy, W Hotels, Banana Republic, as well as, his remix of Charles Brown's "Merry X'mas Baby" that was the #1 music seasonal download on iTunes for the week of Dec.13, 2004.
Michael signed an international digital distribution deal with “Believe Music” (France) to represent and distribute the releases and remixes of the MNO TRIO, as well as TV/movie compositions for MTV (USA), Discovery Channel, ARTE (“Familles nombreuses” , “Jeudi investigation”), Canal+, as well as the feature length film, “Blind Company” which was featured at the Melbourne and Toronto Film Festivals.
During 2010/2011 he performed and recorded with Cirque Du Soleil vocal sensation Elise Velle throughout Europe and North America, culminating with the breathtaking multi-media homage to Henry Purcell “Fatal Hour”, produced/directed by Norwegian National Opera Set designer Tormod Lindgren. A duo CD with Matt Davis AKA “Bombazine Black” is scheduled for release in late 2013.
Michael signed an international digital distribution deal with “Believe Music” (France) to represent and distribute the releases and remixes of the MNO TRIO, as well as TV/movie compositions for MTV (USA), Discovery Channel, ARTE (“Familles nombreuses” , “Jeudi investigation”), Canal+, as well as the feature length film, “Blind Company” which was featured at the Melbourne and Toronto Film Festivals.
During 2010/2011 he performed and recorded with Cirque Du Soleil vocal sensation Elise Velle throughout Europe and North America, culminating with the breathtaking multi-media homage to Henry Purcell “Fatal Hour”, produced/directed by Norwegian National Opera Set designer Tormod Lindgren. A duo CD with Matt Davis AKA “Bombazine Black” is scheduled for release in late 2013.
Currently Michael is in the development phase of arranging and producing (release date set for Jan 2016) a song cycle of contemporary Yiddish music with Henri Oppenheim the acclaimed Canadian vocalist, Karen Young. He is a member of Grammy nominated Benoit Charest’s “Orchestre Terrible De Bellville” which performed at the Montreal, Ottawa, Halifax, and Rimouski Jazz festivals, and will be touring the US and Asia, including a 2 week run at the San Francisco Opera House in 2016.
Michael is an adjunct professor at Dubspot Electronic Music School based in Manhattan providing one-on-one online education with producers and musicians as well as publishing article on the state of the music industry. He is also currently in the development stages, working in conjunction with Seven Academy in the development of an APP, which will teach children (and adults) how to learn and play music by ear!
Michael has teamed up with renowned Roots singer songwriter to create a hybrid ragtime/jazz/Americana group called SUSSEX, who’s first CD will be released in early 2016, and also leads a smoking hot Latin Jazz band, the Left Cost All-Stars.
Finally, Michael who is the creator and co-writer of DIVINE INTERVENTION- The Musical is pleased to announce the world premier ( 10 day run) at the Atlantic Fringe Festival in Sept 2015.
Michael is an adjunct professor at Dubspot Electronic Music School based in Manhattan providing one-on-one online education with producers and musicians as well as publishing article on the state of the music industry. He is also currently in the development stages, working in conjunction with Seven Academy in the development of an APP, which will teach children (and adults) how to learn and play music by ear!
Michael has teamed up with renowned Roots singer songwriter to create a hybrid ragtime/jazz/Americana group called SUSSEX, who’s first CD will be released in early 2016, and also leads a smoking hot Latin Jazz band, the Left Cost All-Stars.
Finally, Michael who is the creator and co-writer of DIVINE INTERVENTION- The Musical is pleased to announce the world premier ( 10 day run) at the Atlantic Fringe Festival in Sept 2015.
