“Music has a very therapeutic side," admits the musician and composer Nuno Cabral.

Correio dos Açores: You recently released an original track. Who were the producers of its edition?

Nuno Cabral: This latest song, “Bittersweet Track”, is part of a group of four original tracks, all recorded at Nordela Studios in Ponta Delgada, with production, recording, mixing, and mastering handled by Cristóvão Ferreira. Allow me to also name the musicians who joined me on this project: Paulo Fonseca (drums), Nuno Pacheco (bass), Vasco Cabral (electric guitar), and Cristóvão Ferreira (keyboards and synthesizers).

Do you have other works in preparation for release?

Throughout 2021, I gradually released the first three tracks (“Rush”, “This Love”, and “Bittersweet Track”), and on the upcoming 18th of March, the final studio-recorded track, titled “Last Memory”, will be released.

Where did you find inspiration for this work?

The songs that make up this work were selected from a collection of tracks I've been writing over the years. Composition is something relatively new in my life, and I think this work still reflects my attempt to understand who I am as a musician-composer. I can't pinpoint a clear source of inspiration, but I realize it's deeply tied to my story and daily life. It's much easier and more genuine to write about what I know and have experienced. While not necessarily autobiographical, it reflects my experiences and thoughts.

When was “Bittersweet Track” released?

It was released on October 1, 2021, World Music Day. However, it was only on February 13th of this year that I launched the official video on YouTube, which, like the others, was entirely conceived and created by me.

Where can this work be found?

All the tracks are available on various streaming platforms such as Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, among others. You can also visit my website, which summarizes all the existing information about my musical journey.

Which tracks did you enjoy composing the most?

That's a tough call because the recorded tracks are very different from each other. There’s an inherent pleasure in composing that is quite similar across all the songs I write. After the process is complete, naturally, there are some tracks I like more than others. Trying to directly answer your question, among these tracks, I might choose my debut single “Rush” for its energy and instrumental richness, and the track “Last Memory” for its simplicity and melancholy.

What led you to move away from covers and venture into music production?

It was a natural evolution. Covers were an important learning experience, but the dream of composing my own music was always present. At a certain point, the work developed with the cover band stopped being challenging, and composition naturally emerged as the next step.

What’s your relationship with the band Undercover?

I take away great friendships from that time. Undercover came to an end precisely for the reason I mentioned earlier. We realized it was time to cherish the good memories and seek new challenges. However, if any of the three bass players who were part of the band happen to be in São Miguel (as they all live elsewhere), there’s always the possibility of performing a show for old times' sake. We’ve done it once before, and especially after these last two years, there’s a strong desire to do it again.

What does the Jardim Fest festival mean to you?

Jardim Fest is a very special place for me because it was there, in 2015, that I performed my music live for the first time, with two original tracks. Later, in 2019, I had the opportunity to return, this time accompanied by my friend Vasco Cabral, with a setlist entirely composed of original songs. For all of this, I must thank the festival’s organization, especially Filipe Mota, for believing in a musician whose work as a composer was completely unknown until then.

How was your participation in the Tremor festival?

Unforgettable. Tremor has a unique energy and mystique, and being part of it was absolutely gratifying. I knew the festival attracts a very attentive and curious audience, and because of that, I remember feeling nervous in a way I hadn’t in a long time. The room at 3/4 Hostel was packed, and the warmth of the audience is an unforgettable memory. The recognition I received from this participation later opened doors to new stages.

Tell us about accompanying David Fonseca on stage at Teatro Micaelense.

This story came about purely by chance, without any merit on my part. David Fonseca asked if anyone knew how to sing “Borrow” by Silence 4. I was simply the quickest to raise my hand and was chosen because of that. It holds a special meaning for me because of the connection I have as a fan of David Fonseca and Silence 4. Their debut album (“Silence Becomes It”) was the first I bought after starting college, and it became the soundtrack to that new phase of my life. I listened to it countless times and could play it on the guitar from start to finish. It was unimaginable that, nearly 20 years later, I’d be singing and sharing the stage with David Fonseca himself. After the concert, we had a lovely backstage conversation where he shared various stories and curiosities about Silence 4’s early days.

Who are your musical influences?

I think about this often and never arrive at a definitive answer... I listen to artists and bands from very diverse styles, which surely influence me, though I can’t precisely identify how. My list of favorites includes names like The Beatles, Jorge Palma, Manuel Cruz, Radiohead, Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, and Jamie Cullum. However, it would be pretentious to compare myself or suggest that my music resembles any of theirs.

Has this pandemic affected your music career?

When the pandemic hit, we were already in the studio recording, and the process was well advanced. All the instruments had been recorded, leaving only the vocals. So, there was a light at the end of the tunnel for the release of these songs. With the pandemic, we had to postpone everything and only returned to the studio about six months later to finish the work. The release of the tracks happened gradually over a period marked by very few live concerts. As a result, evaluating each song became somewhat abstract, as it was almost entirely limited to reactions on social media and streaming numbers on platforms like YouTube and Spotify. Now that the tracks have been released, I miss the stage and the audience’s reaction to each song even more.

How long have you been connected to music?

I think this connection began in childhood, sitting on the living room floor for hours listening to my dad’s vinyl records. In my teenage years, I took guitar lessons for about two years, and from then on, my learning process became mostly self-taught. However, it wasn’t until I was 27 that I started taking music more seriously after participating in the Voice and Orchestra Workshop by Hot Club Portugal at Teatro Micaelense. For a week, I took classes with fantastic teachers and musicians who taught me a lot and encouraged me to pursue this path.

What projects await you in 2022?

I’m not one for big plans, and after what we’ve been through over the past two years, even less so... The only certainty I have is that on March 18th, I’ll be releasing another original track, “Last Memory”. Beyond that, everything is still very uncertain, but I can see cultural events starting to be announced. In that sense, I’d like to organize an official performance with the full band and then take my work to as many stages as possible. I’d love to bring my music to other islands in the Azores.

What are the most challenging aspects of music?

One of the main challenges I face when composing is overcoming the almost bipolar thoughts that swing between believing what I’m creating could be interesting and, two minutes later, thinking it’s worthless. This happens frequently and cyclically... Beyond that, I have two other clear challenges: trying not to sound like something that’s already been done by others and believing in what I’m creating. On a broader level, it’s much easier today to record music and have it heard worldwide immediately after release. However, like me, there are millions of other musicians releasing their music. To give you an idea, Spotify recently confirmed that over 60,000 tracks are uploaded daily to their platform—almost one song per second. The challenge of standing out and getting noticed is immense.

What’s your greatest passion: singer, composer, or guitarist?

This is a difficult evaluation... First of all, I can’t separate the singer from the guitarist; together, they are my oldest passion. Composition is much more recent, but I’ve discovered an incredible joy and satisfaction in the process. It’s an exercise filled with uncertainties, which makes it both very challenging and rewarding.

How has music shaped your perspective on the world?

Music, like any other art form, tells stories and evokes emotions that can influence how I see the world. However, it has a much deeper impact on my life and well-being. Music has an incredible ability to transport me through time and space. Since childhood, I’ve listened to music with headphones, which allows me to isolate myself from my surroundings and “dive” into environments and places—many created only in my imagination. It also has a very therapeutic side; I know exactly what music I need to listen to based on my mood.

What’s your dream in this career?

I’m not one for big dreams—I like to say I’m micro-ambitious. I prefer to set several small goals and then see where they take me. It would be a dream to fully dedicate myself to music and make a living from it, but until then, it’s very important to enjoy the journey.

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