Hitting high notes of support

When 22-year-old student Marci K stepped off the stage of
Westwood Brewing Company on May 25, she was instantly bombarded
with hugs from dozens of her ethnomusicology peers. Admid the
bustle, Garrie Katznelson, K’s manager and mother, cheerfully
took pictures and socialized while waiting for an opportunity to
hug her daughter.

Katznelson has stood on the sidelines at virtually every one of
K’s shows from the time the young singer-songwriter played
her first piano recital at age 4 to when she started performing
original material for her self-produced album in professional
venues at age 19. The real estate agent and ex-modern-dance teacher
only misses her daughter’s performances when it’s
impossible to make it, like in 2002 when K traveled to Jerusalem to
debut her keyboard-based contemporary pop on the Eastern
hemisphere.

But far from being a nuisance, Katznelson’s presence at
her daughter’s shows is welcomed. She is K’s biggest
fan and best friend.

“It’s really amazing to have my mom be a part of the
whole experience,” K said. “We’re a great team
together. Especially when you’re an independent artist, you
need that support. You need that team to be around you, to help
motivate you when you’re down, and help inspire you even more
when you’re up. I’m really lucky to have my mom be more
than just a mom.”

According to K, she has never been inhibited artistically by the
knowledge that her every note and lyric will be subjected to
parental review. In fact, she welcomes her mother’s input as
co-songwriter on some songs.

Between the two women, the roles of mother/daughter and
manager/artist are not confused or intertwined. According to K,
they achieve this by symbolically “wearing different
hats.”

“When she’s my manager, she’s my manager, and
when I’m the artist, I’m the artist; I’m not her
daughter, and she’s not my mom,” said K. “I think
that’s why we use the metaphor of wearing different hats. My
mom and I keep our relationship professional, and that’s the
only reason I think it works.”

K wears dozens of other hats in addition to those of daughter
and performer At UCLA, she is a member of numerous organizations,
including three honor societies. She recently assumed the roles of
founder and president of the Ethnomusicology Undergraduate
Association, an group that works to form a united support network
of musicians among the department’s students. With this
organization, K is bringing to her department the philosophy of
“being there for each other” which she grew up
with.

“I wanted to start an undergraduate association so that
all the musicians could support one another,” said K.
“In the entertainment field there’s so much
competition, and it’s really sad to me because there’s
so much talent. I think we could take the music world by force if
we support one another and help each other.”

With the group, K has been instrumental in putting together an
upcoming performance, “Play the Night,” a showcase of
student musicians from the Ethnomusicology Department. Performances
will include ensembles Music of Brazil, Music of Bali, Music of
India, and Music of Armenia as well as jazz and rock acts.

“Even though we’re of completely different genres,
we can still come together and show a night of music together and
support each other,” said K.

In her eyes, the group’s efforts have made an impact.
Everyone in the department knows each other and helps each other on
projects.

“Our department is possibly the closest-knit department on
campus,” K said. “We love each other and we’re
there for each other,” K said.

The big turn-out of clapping and hooting ethnomusicology
students at Tuesday’s show is a testament to this closeness.
Through her efforts and charisma, solo artist Marci K has built an
army to hold her up.

“It is empowering to know that you can do everything on
your own, (but) support is equally important,” added K.
“If it was not for the support from my family, friends, fans
and other musicians, I would not have accomplished all I have thus
far.”