A little while ago you talked about mixing sounds and instruments and how you reached the end of this process? The choice of songs, in the case of the album "with the same soul"?
HC: I composed the songs from that album, now we are using the themes on the second disc and Berta would like to do something with greater participation. It arises from a structure, and depending on the sensitivity of each member ideas are joined, and it is a song. Then you move on to the opinions and even the structure can be changed, each member puts his energy in each of the themes, and this will create new ways and open new doors, each chooses his share, what will you do before a given structure through chords.
JM: Hugo shows me a theme and I always think in terms of percussion. I try to look at it and see which are sounds fit better with it in terms of instruments. The idea is then to strengthen the theme and make it wider, and ultimately it ends up being a choice. Berta does the same, she comes and succeeds in creating a different line that fits well and works harmoniously.
BA: The creative process is very free, spontaneous and participated. Since the basis for the compositions are mainly Hugo's. As it has happened to us, we have such a defined structure, that when we start working the theme as a group, we change it completely. There is this openness on the part of everyone. Any one of us is free to make a suggestion.
Do you think there are masculine themes? Songs that don't fit your voice?
BA: I think there are, but not because they are masculine themes, it has to do with the voice. I like Hugo's voice and I think there are songs that work better with it.
HC: Yes, there are lyrics that are like a man talking.
BA: Yes, but I do not think it's because a man is singing, the music is more masculine. No. There are songs theoretically from a man to a woman, and that makes no difference. I would not be the kind of person who would change my record to male or female, I feel perfectly comfortable in both, and it does not make the music more masculine or feminine.
HC: Songs adapt. They can be sung by a man, or a woman. The emotion that is very strong and has no sex.
BA: I do not think there is more masculine or feminine music. The interpretation is very personal and each interprets it in their own way. But I do not feel the difference. There is a cosmetic issue that I feel that sometimes Hugo's voice works best.
You are preparing new work; in evolutionary terms are there any differences?
HC: In principle we have evolved as musicians. When making this album we will be better than with the first album, I think. There are songs we are playing live that will be on this second album. Things will arise at the right time, and we are already thinking about what we will do.
BA: It will also be less introspective than the first album. More tweaked. In terms of music, it will be a totally different approach.
Your first album had cameos; will the second one also have them?
JM: We did not think about this yet, but I think we will. We like having them live; the first album had 2 cameos.
Will there be a phrase to define this second album?
HC: We are in the process of organizing ourselves to choose the topics and only then can we have an idea of what the album's aesthetics will be like. Our first album is called "with the same soul" that is not included in this work will appear in the second. The work will speak for itself and tell its name.
BA: In creating the songs we did not think from the aesthetic point of view, what will be the result? It is a process that will likely happen in the end, when it's finished. That happened to us on the first album. We had some doubts which songs would be on the album, and then we made those choices and had the final result. We do not have dates yet.
HC: But there is that intention. Our last album is from 2010, and yet we are already playing new songs that are not recorded, but there is the intention to make them physically real and not just using them at live concerts. Someone wanting listen to them will have to see a video.
In concerts throughout the world are you associated to Portugal, or not really? There are themes sung in Portuguese, but not everyone knows what it is.
HC: It's mainly Brazil, but people may not think that we are Portuguese.
And how is it to be a Portuguese musician in Portugal?
HC: I think it depends on the opportunities that musicians have, and I do not want to be mean, but it also depends on your contacts. Personally I think that to be a musician in Portugal, you must have a lot of love for yourself, I know the reality of the bands in which I'm playing. A person is lucky, or knows someone. I 'm trying my "luck" with my work, and sometimes you think about quitting, because it is not due to this moment, it is not the crisis. I play now for several years, since I decided to be an artist. It's a constant tightrope, but I believe there are Portuguese musicians who are doing well, good for them. I do not envy them, I put myself in my place, and maybe I have to go through this kind of experience. Success is not for everyone, is limited.
But do you have the notion that your music is not for the masses?
HC: Yes, it is more restricted.
JM: We are trying to open this door to the outside, it does not mean that there is no audience, but this is a small country. And with the passing years we have the impression that we have gone to all sites within this exprectum which we operate. There are good music festivals, but there are many where we do not fit well or never tried to enter, there are large festivals that should have different stages. It is our task to explore this, open these doors. However, there are phases when everything is going well and others when it's not. Normally during these periods we have to move forward, when it is difficult we should have more energy and you need to give it. We talk about music, but maybe there are other professions where this happens, where there are difficulties entering certain markets. The musician also needs a certain salary, there are those that achieve that, and others that do at certain times, and then have to manage. It is an option, the main thing is to make music that we like, or at least not alienate this hypothesis because of the difficulties that appear, because these appear in everything in life. I 'm currently in the Atma, but sometimes I'll play other musical projects as a freelancer, because if we expect others to pay our home, maybe it will not work. And we must not be alone waiting for concerts, but group up as musicians. You can do many other things like teaching, which turns out to be one of the complements.
HC: I like to live in Portugal. I would not like to move, I make music in Portuguese. I express myself in this language, which does not mean that I only do that for the Portuguese. I could do instrumental, but it's not the issue. This is a beautiful country. It is peaceful.
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