Ep195 - Mauro Refosco: David Byrne's American Utopia

The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

A professional percussionist, Mauro Refosco has performed and recorded with artists such as David Byrne, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Thom Yorke’s Atoms for Peace. After beginning his touring career in 1994 as Byrne’s percussionist, he returned to NYC and joined cult creative ensemble The Lounge Lizards, playing experimental punk jazz. He formed his own band, Forro in the Dark, which has recorded four full-length albums and performed at major domestic and international festivals. He’s also composed music and soundtracks for movies, television, fashion shows and Off-Broadway plays. You can now find him walking around barefoot, on Broadway, in American Utopia

Born in Brazil, he found his way to NYC and ultimately the professional touring world of music. His career exploded alongside other music legends. Once he began to embrace what makes him unique and different, he found his tribe after a short stint bring a NYC-based street performer in Central Park and in the subway. He found his way to an audition for David Bryne, which resulted in an interview(!). The rest, as they say, is history.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How his love for soccer led to his professional career as a percussionist
• How the album “American Utopia” made its way to Broadway as a show
• The difference a percussion player and a drum player
• Why Ted Lasso is the greatest show ever
• Being a NYC busker
• Why he decided to stop singing backing vocals for David Byrne

Connect with Mauro:

• IG: @MauroRefosco
• Web: MauroRefosco.com
• Listen to Jomoro (and Blue Marble Sky)
• Get tickets for American Utopia on Broadway

Connect with The Theatre Podcast:

• Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast
• Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast
• Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast
• TheTheatrePodcast.com
• Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales
• Email me at [e-mail]. I want to know what you think.

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