Peter Maybarduk is a lawyer, composer and international advocate.
As an attorney with Washington, D.C.-based Public Citizen (formerly Essential Action),
Peter advises governments and civil society groups around the world on
their rights to promote access to medicines for all under intellectual
property rules. This year Peter's work with partners yielded significant
HIV/AIDS drug price reductions in Colombia and a new state access to medicines policy enacted by President Rafael Correa in Ecuador.
Peter has co-founded and coordinated a number of advocacy
organizations, and recently incorporated International Professional
Partnerships for Sierra Leone (IPPSL), dedicated to supporting public sector development in one of the world’s least developed countries.
Peter is also a professional songwriter and performer. He released his second album, “No Hay Pueblo Vencido,” (“No Defeated People”) in March 2009.
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Born on July 4, 1979, to an American diplomat and a social worker in
Mexico City, Maybarduk has since lived and worked in Nicaragua, Sierra
Leone, Cuba, Venezuela and Ecuador, among other countries, and across the United States from a reform school in rural Maine to law school in Berkeley, California, where
he fronted indie rock trio Last Clear Chance.
In 2007, Maybarduk joined the non-profit advocacy group Essential
Action, and now divides his time between Washington,
D.C. and the Global South, helping countries improve access to critical
medicines.
In "Darker Days," Maybarduk sings, "I only want to be of use.
To protect a people or an idea." Many of his songs wrestle with the
challenges of creating both personal and political change.
Maybarduk's sounds range from electronic sample-based
compositions ("Siddhartha on his raft") to conversations on Spanish
guitar ("Sundays") to full-tilt post-punk rock ("Dom Helder Camara").
He self-released his first album, "Passengers," a narrative of
introspective songs bridged by field recordings, on New Year's of 2007.
Maybarduk released his second album "No Hay Pueblo Vencido"
("No Defeated People"), produced by J. Robbins (Jawbox/Channels), on
March 19, 2009. Maybarduk and Robbins invested months imagining
arrangements and calling in established musicians of the mid-Atlantic
indie scene to draw out the character of each song. "Vencido" compels
as pop, as art, and as statement on living unique possibilities despite
oppression.
Maybarduk radio interview (we'll post others soon)
For a professional bio, contact Peter
