Catching the Wave

For the most part, I take my time when writing songs. Sure, there’s the initial inspiration, that spark being ignited; a melody idea or perhaps a few words strung along together. I learned a while back to honor the muse and record that initial thought or seed without much, or any editing or criticism at all. Capture it in the moment and edit later if it’s good enough to survive the test of time. I’m also a believer that a muse not paid its due respect won’t return as often as one who has.

A couple of years ago I had an insight about my process of writing songs… I like to think that I caught a wave… but the insight and metaphor is not so much in catching the wave but getting in the sea and paddling everyday so that when the wave does come, you’re ready to get on it and ride it out. I sat down every morning with the goal of finishing a song, no matter how good or bad I thought it was. The discipline of doing it was the point of it. Maybe that’s the secret, as easy and obvious as it might seem… no miraculous formula… just sit down and write, get out there in the ocean and paddle… A lot of songs came out of that daily encounter with the open page, but more on that when those songs come out.

With Imperio dos Sentidos, it took me years to settle on the lyrics as they’re recorded now. A few pages and revisions spanning over a decade. I played it live a bunch of times, swapped verses, made mistakes along the way… The inner critic/editor has a very strong and loud voice. Eventually, he will surrender though. I’d like to think I’ve gotten better at it, more patient with him and more diplomatic at negotiating our creative truces… sometimes I don’t need to, as it is clear the song is finished. Other times, it’s the process and the eventual self imposed exercises to finish songs for the sake of doing it so that shut him up…

Then there’s producing and recording the songs, a process in and of itself… I also think that I’ve grown and gotten slightly better at it, less precious about things. It only took me two years this one, haha!

Out in a couple weeks on my birthday, May 12th.

Pre-save Império Dos Sentidos

Portraits in Text Form

“As a kid, I used to write.

Until I realized how vulnerable that would make me when showing what I had written to other people. As a self-defense mechanism, I stopped confessing myself and the page remained blank for a long time.

At 18, I moved to another country to pursue my musical education. When the words were stronger than the fear of being discovered, I took the chance and jotted verses and phrases in my notebook. They were, in their majority, loose scribbles and had no musical accompaniment; when they did, they abandoned without any conclusion.

In 2004 - almost ten years after my relocation -, I was working as a professional musician, playing with known artists, recording albums and film soundtracks. I had a very busy schedule and the stress from that - in addition to a few other factors - culminated in panic attack. I ended up in the hospital…

After this episode, I decided to make some changes in my life: I started to be more selective about the quantity and quality of work I took on and also experiment with things that I had not experienced during my adolescence be it for fear or guilt, anyway…”

Excerpt from Só Palavras

One of the most positive things to come out of this experience was reconnecting with the act of writing, something I had not done since my adolescence.

It was therapy, a cathartic process, during which I’d write every single day.

In the beginning, I made an effort as to not censor or doubt myself and simply write whatever came to mind. A couple months later, what I wrote began to take shape, to rhyme.

In 2016 I decided to select and edit the texts I felt, had kept a degree of honesty and still resonated with me.

After another four years of maturing, and with the world come to a stand still due to the pandemic, I began to post these texts. Not that the world needed them. I was the one needing to release them.

Three more years and here’s the result of this journey. Só Palavras!

Thanks to my friend Bruno Justi for the spark and feedback, to Bruna Ramos for your time, advice, suggestions and faith in these words.

Thanks to the wonderful team at Editora Versiprosa for your patience, dedication and beautiful work!

Thanks to Caro Pierotto for your love and daily lessons in the mirror that is our relationship.

Thanks to those who feel inspirited to share your time reading these portraits in text form. I hope they can bring you something positive.

Retratos em Forma de Texto

“Quando criança, escrevia.

Até me dar conta do quão vulnerável eu estaria ao fazer isso e mostrar para outras pessoas lerem. Como defesa, deixei de me confessar às páginas e, durante muito tempo, elas permaneceram em branco.

Aos 18 anos, mudei de país para estudar música. Quando as palavras eram mais fortes do que o medo de ser descoberto, arriscava rabiscar algumas ideias de versos e frases. Eram apenas rabiscos avulsos que, na maior parte das vezes, não tinham acompanhamento musical; quando tinham, eram abandonados sem conclusão.

Em 2004 – quase dez anos após minha mudança –, já trabalhava como músico profissional, acompanhando artistas conhecidos, gravando discos e trilhas sonoras. Tinha uma agenda bastante ocupada e o acúmulo do estresse – aliado a diversos outros fatores – culminou em um ataque de pânico. Fui parar no hospital.

Após esse episódio, resolvi efetuar algumas mudanças na minha vida: passei a ser mais seletivo com a quantidade – e a qualidade – dos trabalhos que aceitava fazer e a experimentar coisas que durante a adolescência havia deixado de experimentar por medo ou culpa, enfim...”

Trecho do posfácio

Depois dessa experiência, uma das coisas mais positivas que aconteceu, foi que recomecei a escrever, o que não fazia desde adolescente.

Foi um processo de terapia, catarse, durante o qual escrevia todos os dias.

No início procurei não me censurar, não duvidar e simplesmente escrever o que vinha à mente. Passados alguns meses, o que escrevia, começou a ter forma, rima.

Em 2016 resolvi fazer uma seleção e edição dos textos que, na minha opinião, conservavam um grau de honestidade, que ainda ressonavam comigo.

Após mais 4 anos de maturação, com a parada do mundo devido à pandemia, comecei a postar estes textos. Não que o mundo precisasse deles. Eu é que precisava soltá-los.

3 anos mais e está aqui o resultado desse caminho todo. Só Palavras!

Obrigado ao meu amigo Bruno Justi pela fagulha e feedback, à Bruna Ramos da Fonte pela seu tempo, conselhos, sugestões e fé nestas palavras.

Obrigado a toda equipe da Editora Versiprosa pelo tempo, paciência, dedicação e lindo trabalho!

Obrigado a Caro Pierotto pelo amor, pelo espelho e ensinamentos diários.

Obrigado a quem compartilhar de seu tempo e atenção ao ler estes retratos em forma de texto. Espero que eles possam trazer algo positivo.