Thank you to everyone who visited my profile on my myspace profile, www.myspace.com/nunocatarino, and contributed to its over 5.000 hits.
2.7.08
Improvising at Casa de Linhares
The last year and a half have been passed producing my first record, “Tu que Eu Trago Nos Sentidos”, which I hope to have completed by year’s end.
After recording a few songs with Ricardo Verdelho (pianist from the TV show “Contacto” from SIC TV) I went after one the biggest producers/authors/singers/musicians in fado, Jorge Fernando.
Therefore, a few weeks ago I went to meet Jorge and discuss dates, and to schedule the beginning of our work together. As usual, everytime I go the restaurant where Jorge plays regularly, Bacalhau de Molho – Casa de Linhares (where we can also hear artists such as Ana Moura, or Raquel Tavares), I end up singing. And that’s how it all happened. When I started to sing the second of the three fados I sang that night, the traditional fado loucura (madness), with lyrics written by me, we started on the wrong key and ended up creating a whole new style, that I seriously doubt we’ll be able to reproduce (if only it had been recorded). From the melody to the lyrics there wasn’t a single phrase that matched what we had in mind, or had been written. If it wasn’t for the talent, and professionalism of the musicians that accompanied me it wouldn’t have been the success it was.
After recording a few songs with Ricardo Verdelho (pianist from the TV show “Contacto” from SIC TV) I went after one the biggest producers/authors/singers/musicians in fado, Jorge Fernando.
Therefore, a few weeks ago I went to meet Jorge and discuss dates, and to schedule the beginning of our work together. As usual, everytime I go the restaurant where Jorge plays regularly, Bacalhau de Molho – Casa de Linhares (where we can also hear artists such as Ana Moura, or Raquel Tavares), I end up singing. And that’s how it all happened. When I started to sing the second of the three fados I sang that night, the traditional fado loucura (madness), with lyrics written by me, we started on the wrong key and ended up creating a whole new style, that I seriously doubt we’ll be able to reproduce (if only it had been recorded). From the melody to the lyrics there wasn’t a single phrase that matched what we had in mind, or had been written. If it wasn’t for the talent, and professionalism of the musicians that accompanied me it wouldn’t have been the success it was.
19.4.08
My Life and a Fado*
My Life and a Fado is about everyday stories told by Ms. Lavínia, a porter in Lisbon. Being for the first time in a casa de fado**, Ms. Lavínia is amazed by the several points in common she finds between fado* and life in general. So, she keeps interrupting the fado* singer (myself), to share her stories, the stories she knows from the building she Works at.
Though some of these stories might appear unbelievable at first glance, they are all true, and were all taken from newspapers and magazines from around the world.
Soon in a casa de fado** near you.
Fado: traditional music from Portugal
Casa de fado: restaurant where fado is played every night
17.3.08
There was no need
For a very long time I wondered if i should create a myspace to promote myself and my singing career. Finally, last August, I created one: www.myspace.com\nunocatarino.In my opinion the sole purpose of creating such a space is to promote ourselves through searching for other acts/musicians, and to let them know you. Therefore, I regularly search for new artists and, if I like what I hear, I send them an invite.Just last week, after one of those searching quests I got one of the strangest responses ever: Not even 20m after inviting a band to add me as a friend, I received a message from them saying that has we hadn’t had no further contact, nor interaction, after I sent my invitation, they decided to eliminate me from their group of friends. I’m really not sure about the type of interaction they were expecting from me in just 20m, but ok. It’s bizarre, but whatever.
But that wasn’t all. The creatures felt the need to explain me that beyond the lack of interaction between us in those 20m, they thought my music was a bit scary musically, even though they conceded my voice was quite good, as if I had asked for their opinion. Why bother with such work, if it had been quite easier to just reject my request.I know we cannot please everyone, it would actually be quite boring if that happened. But I don’t know, maybe it’s just me, but I’ve always been taught not to criticize anyone, unless people ask for your opinion, or you feel the need to compliment someone; but never, I mean NEVER make a negative comment about someone just because you can.On a last note, the creatures also wondered how I had found their myspace, guessing that probably not even I knew how I ended up there, and apologizing for eliminating me from their group of friends, stating that it was just that, a page for their friends. Well, I would like to state here, in this public forum, that I do not send random invitations, and that there are more efficient ways of restricting up your myspace page, it’s just a question of wanting to.
But that wasn’t all. The creatures felt the need to explain me that beyond the lack of interaction between us in those 20m, they thought my music was a bit scary musically, even though they conceded my voice was quite good, as if I had asked for their opinion. Why bother with such work, if it had been quite easier to just reject my request.I know we cannot please everyone, it would actually be quite boring if that happened. But I don’t know, maybe it’s just me, but I’ve always been taught not to criticize anyone, unless people ask for your opinion, or you feel the need to compliment someone; but never, I mean NEVER make a negative comment about someone just because you can.On a last note, the creatures also wondered how I had found their myspace, guessing that probably not even I knew how I ended up there, and apologizing for eliminating me from their group of friends, stating that it was just that, a page for their friends. Well, I would like to state here, in this public forum, that I do not send random invitations, and that there are more efficient ways of restricting up your myspace page, it’s just a question of wanting to.
África em Movimento - Nuno Catarino ao Vivo
What a better way of combining, in the same event, two of the things that are closer to my heart right now, then by producing a concert that will, at the same time, be my first proper concert and a fundraiser to help a Portuguese couple doing volunteer work in Africa to realize their project (Hi Inês! Hi Luís! Sorry for stealing the name you created, but this event is, after all, also to help you). Inês Jorge and Luís Costa want to add a new building to the current Mumemo kinder garden in Mozambique to increase its capacity because it’s currently running above it. To know more about this Project, please visit africa-nossa.blogspot.com/2007/11/precisamos-de-vocs.html (sorry but it’s in portuguese, if you want any further info please contact nunocatarino@nunocatarino.com)
I’ll be keeping you posted about what happens.
And now, please tell me if this world isn’t filled with complete idiots. As part of this project, I’m trying to contract an event management company to help me. The owner of one of those companies, one of the best known in the market, after hearing a brief explanation of what the event was told me: “Oh! A charity event, no way we can do it! We have a lot of work scheduled ‘till summer, and it’s impossible to make Money with charity events. I can understand that someone isn’t interested in managing a fundraiser, what I found appalling was the fact that he assumed right away that as it was a charity gala, I didn’t want to pay him. Don’t get me wrong, if the company that works with me on this event wants to donate its fee, I would be more than thankful, but otherwise, I’m expecting to pay for their service.
I’ll be keeping you posted about what happens.
And now, please tell me if this world isn’t filled with complete idiots. As part of this project, I’m trying to contract an event management company to help me. The owner of one of those companies, one of the best known in the market, after hearing a brief explanation of what the event was told me: “Oh! A charity event, no way we can do it! We have a lot of work scheduled ‘till summer, and it’s impossible to make Money with charity events. I can understand that someone isn’t interested in managing a fundraiser, what I found appalling was the fact that he assumed right away that as it was a charity gala, I didn’t want to pay him. Don’t get me wrong, if the company that works with me on this event wants to donate its fee, I would be more than thankful, but otherwise, I’m expecting to pay for their service.
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