Interview with Joana Amendoeira 25/1/2009

Μία από τις νέες φωνές της Πορτογαλίας στον χώρο του Fado βρίσκεται αυτές τις μέρες στην χώρα μας και θα την απολαύσουμε ζωντανά στον χώρο του Half NoteJazz Club από 23-29/01 . Είχαμε την τύχη να συναντήσουμε την Joana Amendoeira από κοντά και να μας δώσει μια συνέντευξη σχετικά για το Fado και για την νέα της δισκογραφική δουλειά με τίτλο “Joana Amendoeira & marensemble”.Η Συνέντευξη δόθηκε στους Αναστάσιο Φιλόπουλο & Δημήτρη Σαμιωτάκη

Ένα μεγάλο ευχαριστώ στο Half Note Jazz Club για την βοήθεια του για να υλοποιηθεί αυτή συνέντευξη και στην ίδια την Joana Amendoeira για τον πολύτιμο χρόνο της.

When was the first time you started listening to Fado and what were the first influences you had?

I was a very little child, I listened to Fado in my house, because my parents loved Fado and we used to listen to records and also go to Fado houses and concerts as well. I was six years old when I surprised myself and my parents when I started to sing.

Did you attend any musical school or study Fado?

No, I didn’t because Fado is very popular and we learn it from life. It is in the experience of life and cannot be studied. The only teachers you can have is other older Fado singers that give you details on how to sing better or tell you things that are useful and that’s how it works.

Shall I suppose that your main influence, as in many other young Fado singers, was Amalia Rodriguez?

Totally! She was a big person, very famous and I started to discover Fado through her.

Did you have the chance to see her live on stage?

No unfortunately i didn’t, but I met her when I was 16 years old, during the release of her book. I went there and I have an autograph of her which is very special to me!

It’s now almost ten years that you are singing professionally, you have released six albums and you have travelled to many countries around the world. Was there any place you felt that Fado was accepted a little bit more than other places in the world?

I have been in many countries with many different cultures like for example Japan where they are very quiet , they love the music so much , although they have a different way of expression, they applauded in the end but during the concert they were very quiet. But in Italy and Hungary it was different, and that’s mainly because of the culture. There was a big warm welcome from the people there as well. Also Sweden, where we played in 24 cities, was something amazing. I didn’t expect so much vibration and emotion from these concerts there and it was a very nice surprise to me!

Do you feel that Fado is changing through the years? Is it still the same as it used to be in the past?

Well it has changed but we try to keep the tradition as much as we can. There are many groups and artists that also love to experiment with new kinds of music and Fado can be mixed with new wave and electronica and many other ways that can be sung. I prefer the traditional way of Fado more, the way that it is in the Fado houses around Portugal, but I think the most important issue is to give new repertoire in Fado with new poets and musicians that express their emotions for what we are currently living today.

Tell us more about your new album titled “ Joana Amendoeira & mar ensemble” ? Is it released in Europe at the moment?

I hope that in a few months it will be released all around Europe. It is my new cd and also dvd from the concert recorded in the castle of Lisbon and in this concert there were many musicians invited and we had a beautiful concert with strings and many instruments. There are new songs in this live album and also a few more from my other albums. It was a very special place to sing and give this concert, the history and the energy there is amazing!

Do you know anything around Greek music? Have you heard any artists?

Well I know about Rembetiko and the traditional music of Greece, but I can’t remember any artists to say. I hope to get some time these days that I will be here in Athens and buy a few albums.

What do you think is the reason that many people around the world love to listen to Fado? What is so special?

Well that is a very difficult question to answer…it’s a kind of magic that Fado brings to people. It’s strange in a beautiful way, because many people outside Portugal do not understand the language and the words we sing, but at the same moment they get so close to the music and the passion of the songs and that is so nice and cannot be explained. Probably it has to do with the tradition and that is something that in any country is unique and beautiful.

Joana thank you so much for your time, we wish you a pleasant stay here in Athens and all the best for the concerts in Half Note Jazz Café. Muito Obrigado!

I thank you a lot, all the best for Atraktos Magazine! MuitoObrigada!

Τάσος Φιλόπουλος