A Look at the Portuguese World

 

h facebook h twitter h pinterest

The warm breeze of santiago

Written by 

Tcheka of his name Manuel Lopes Andrade is a songwriter who brought new rhythms to Cape Verdean music. The songs refer us to his origins, which reinterprets the traditional rhythms of the island of Santiago.

You start playing early, what attracted you in music?
Tcheka: My father was a violinist and needed musicians to accompany the concerts, then was forced to learn to play with my brother. From the age of 14 I started creating my own music, and I'm here.

But, how the opportunity arises for the first CD?
T: I worked in television and in the week-ends when exit after reports were playing in a bar, one of the journalists knew a producer who went to watch me perform, liked it and then I started working.

This was your first musical work was everything you wish for? You put a lot of you on this record?
T: You know, when you have no experience will be something that comes. It is like having two kids that are quite different from the other, the former is more honest. But it's all part of my career, my first album was very important to me because it is the first dream, the new experience in which I tried to do something different.

"Nu Monda" I brought you international recognition. You won a prize, from that moment your career jumped, or you had already noticed that there was an appetite for Cape Verdean music?
T: The "nu monda" gave me recognition for that reason is that I'm here. Having won this radio award for musicians of the world has opened many doors for me, although the Cape Verdean music has an open door thanks to Cesaria. So, this award has made my career more remarkable, was more recognized internationally.

The fact that it was a French prize and not Portuguese disappoint you or not?
T: Disillusioned.

You expect that recognition first in Portugal?
T: Yes, because it is closer, it's neighbor. I do many concerts around the world, but few do in countries that speak Portuguese and that makes me sad, because it is a country closer to home, we have more connection. I wish there was a greater projection of African music, there is much beautiful and interesting thing. Even the Portuguese music needs more opportunities to appear.

Speaking of your music, you compose and you write the lyrics to your songs but decided to bring an instrument typically feminine, drumming, why?
T: That rhythm comes from the time of slavery. Previously only women use the beat, only they played it. But was forbidden by the wives of officers, of old chiefs who thought it was a kind of sexual betrayal, women seduce with the body through dance, they danced with their hips and butt and then was banned. Now, at this stage it is been lost, so I found it interesting and decided to put in my compositions with various influences, in particular the island of Santiago, I think it's good to take ahead our identity.

You made a collection of these sounds with these women?
T: Regardless of the island also made a collection in order to maintain the originality and identity.

What inspires you to compose?
T: People, sea, life, the environment, everything that makes me feel good.

Do you have any plans for a new record?
T: I'm working on the fifth CD, it is in a final stage in a studio.

Do you have a title for this new album?
T: Yeah, but I prefer to be surprised, to be more fun.

If you could set the environment you have created this new CD what would be like?
T: It has always has the feature of Tcheka with a different guise, with originality.

 

 

Leave a comment

Make sure you enter the (*) required information where indicated. HTML code is not allowed.

FaLang translation system by Faboba

Podcast

 

 

 

 

Eventos