Thu, Apr 8, 2010

Clara Moreno Interview

1. You are the daughter of great Brazilian singer-songwriter Joyce and composer Nelson Angelo. How has this influenced you career?

I had the opportunity to have contact with this entire musical universe that was of great wealth for me.

2.Have you ever considered being something rather than a musician at some point? If so, what would that be?

I studied classic ballet for many years and for a moment I thought to be dancer, but soon I understood that my business was to sing, after all I’ve been making this professionally since as a child.

3.How did it feel being surrounded by so much music so early in your life? Backing vocals in choirs for artists such as Milton Nascimento and Egberto Gismonti, growing up with legendary musicians such as Marcos Valle, etc.

That was lucky! Who would not want to grow up listening to good music and working in the studio? This was an amazing experience for me when eventually turning professional.

4.You have been experimenting at lot in your work, blending electronic beats with Bossa Nova and so on. What inspires you?

As an interpreter, I find it important to make research work. And this always came together with the phase in which I was living. For me everything is a way to ripen my singing.

5.And which artists have inspired you?

I wanted to see the last show of Michael Jackson; the guy was a product of his own craziness. In Brazil we have Joyce, Marisa Monte (two Brazilian women that I love!) and many other good people. Not forgetting of course that João Gilberto has always been a source of inspiration for so many artists. Also two artists I’ve always loved and wanted to see perform are Bjork and Bill Evans. I love Orlandivo and João Donato, who also participated on my last album.

6.How Miss Balanço differs from your previous album, Meu Samba Torto?

Wow!! “Meu Samba Torto” was a disc of Bossa Nova where I am always accompanied by a trio, the simplicity of the sound makes the wealth of the music. “Miss Balanço” is a disc of sambalanço, which is contemporary of the Bossa, and has hotter rhythms thus making a marriage reached between samba and jazz.

7.What would you bring into your music in the future?

More sambalanço!!!!

8.You have been performing all over the world in places such as Japan and Europe. Can you tell us a little of the peculiarities of performing for such different audiences?

Music is a universal language!!! And Brazilian music communicates with all people.

9.What can people expect from your upcoming London show at Guanabara?

The show will be as accurate as the new CD “Miss Balanço”, with extra songs from the previous album. I hope that everybody enjoys it!!!