By Susan Hansen
In the heart of Lisbon, a large multi-purpose venue strikes a notable pose in the inner city. It’s an astounding location where fresh seafood is in abundance and culture envelops virtually everything from theatre and architecture to music and visual art. This is the prime destination for concerts and all things culture, Coliseu dos Recreios, or simply the Coliseum, and it’s right in the Portuguese capital. A fitting place for a musician of a national and international stature, it’s the ideal stage for MARO’s story to continue to unfold.
MARO, whose real name is Mariana Secca, understands how to make a person feel welcome. It’s honest and easy. A charming presence, she elevates a routine profile chat and turns it into something more aligned with a catch up between friends than a formal artist interview. It’s a good thing. This ability to balance a natural raison d’etre with an adult maturity makes her relatable.
As for today, it’s the day of her homecoming gig at the Coliseum. It marks a special time for her and the band, a gathering with the nation before she embarks on a tour of north America and Canada. It’s an extensive live outing, with dates sprinkled across several summer months.
She looks surprised when I ask if the intension is to adapt the shows to American audiences. “Not at all” she says firmly, but with warmth. Somewhat baffled; I spend the next few seconds pondering the reaction. But why not react this way? Because, as I will soon learn, the show I witness in the evening reflects who she is. Of course, the Americans are going to love it. Such is the beautiful logic.
Comprising 10 personal songs, MARO’s most recent album, “So Much Has Changed” examines realisations by exploring in depth a range of topics. It’s the concept of being able to love oneself. “An important one is self-love, like choosing myself first, or noticing what I want, where are my limits or what makes me happy, instead of worrying about others before I worry about myself.”
The 10 mesmerising moments on the album make up the astonishing creative outcome. The idea of capturing change that’s about to happen came before things took a turn. “I felt a lot of things throughout. For two years, things continued to shift, it was almost like I didn’t notice. Until one day, when I was seeing everything differently, it was like so much has changed. I was literally seeing life, still as the same person with the same mind, but it was not the same.”
Once processed, the change was welcome. “It just feels lighter. Life is easier in a way, even though it’s not like things change radically, it’s the old saying that you can’t really control what happens, but you can control how you react. What I started realising is the way I react is different now. It’s a slow but cool transition.”
Mariana was no more than four when her music journey began to evolve. As an adult, she would go on to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston, this was during the pandemic. But, growing up, she listened to a range of Brazilian music, which still influences her sound to this day. She also loves British and American music.
The genuine passion coupled with a curious approach would soon bring her attention to other parts of the world, as she studied sounds from the African continent, Bulgaria and India. She attributes some of the sonic discoveries to her father. “My dad kept on introducing me to all these incredible forms of music. On my mum’s side, it was about classic names like James Taylor and Tracy Chapman.”
The space to create absorbing music requires a strong setup, a network of people capable of being supportive and respectful, people who can work together as a team. Unsurprisingly, this is another box MARO can tick. Surrounded by musicians, who are friends, together they share a closeness, an understanding that is nothing short of unparalleled.
Live in the flesh, the big day at Coliseu dos Recreios shows the internal connection as well as the external bond with fans and supporters. Underpinned by playfulness and distinct instrumentation, every musician on stage goes the extra mile to give an unmissable concert experience. With the audience fully embracing the action, a new narrative is written on the night, such is the significance of the event. It’s one for the senses and one the intellect.
As the songwriter told me in our conversation earlier. “When we’re on stage, we look at each other, and it feels brilliant. Great friendships and chemistry, and we’re delivering all this together. It’s a dream to play with them.”
At this point MARO’s odyssey is more vibrant than it’s ever been. As it continues to surprise, a pattern emerges, this is an artist at the height of her game. It’s the start of the next career chapter; such is the level of thrill wherever she goes, whenever she decides to play.
All photos taken from MARO’s Instagram page: instagram.com/maro.














