Brazilian-born Montreal-based artist Diogo Ramos released his album, Samba sans frontières in 2018. Today, we have teamed up with him to unveil his new single from said album, “Liberté je t’aime” which features singer, Bïa, who lent her pen to the album and who highlights the Brazilian dance style samba de gafiera.
The music video was filmed last summer on a Montreal rooftop with Brazilian samba de gafiera dancers. Check it out below, and find out more about Diogo via our Five Questions With segment.
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
I’m a Brazilian-born musician, songwriter, and record producer from Sao Paulo. In 2010, I left Brazil to settle in Montreal, where I broke into the Montreal music scene, collaborating with artists such as Yves Lambert, Paulo Ramos, Bïa, Flavia Nascimento, Rommel Ribeiro, and Blanche Baillargeon, among others.
I have been working professionally for 20 years as a music producer, having released 16 albums. Once I became established in Canada, I produced the “Egológico Recycle” album in 2012, for which Rommel Ribeiro won the 2012-2013 Révélations Radio-Canada award in the world music category. In 2018, I released the album that I consider the most important of my career: “Samba sans Frontières”. Just like the name says, it proposes a “samba without borders” and reinforces the idea that Brazilian traditional music has a lot to offer all over the world.
Tell us a bit about your music and writing style.
I’ve dedicated my whole life to Brazilian music. My music is part of a long tradition of Brazilian folk singers. I have been studying music, in particular, the guitar, since the age of 13. I have learned, and keep learning the best lessons that masters like Antonio Carlos Jobim, Gilberto Gil, Edu Lobo, and Dori Caymmi have to offer and have built an intricate patchwork of complex music elements.
Now, I’ve decided to hop onto a new wave: franco bossa-nova! I work with the lyrics of Félix Leclerc, Pierre Perrault, and Gilles Vigneault and mix them with a Brazilian musical brew. I even wrote a samba in French: “Samba sans frontières,” or “Samba without borders.” My guitar doesn’t speak French – it’s the same Brazilian “gianinni” that I played when I won the Vinicius de Moraes Prize at age 15 – but my lips are learning the languages of my new country. I’m in love with Brazil, Canada, and Québec.
I’ve realized that what I love the most in my work is the critical aspect of my lyrics. Music has no borders – regardless of language and origin, and keeps traveling and ignoring all those silly borders that people try to put up.
Do you have any upcoming shows? For someone who has yet to see you live, how would you explain your live performance?
Last year, 2019, was like a dream. I performed with my musicians all over the world, touring Canada, Europe, and South America and now we have this new reality with COVID-19.
I’m doing some online concerts on Youtube, Facebook, and Instagram. On July 17th, I will perform a Facebook live and release a new single Liberté je t’aime remix 2020 feat Bïa. It will be a hybrid concert, with a limited in-person audience of 25 people and will also stream online. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/299983771136988/
Regardless of place and language, my songs can make you dance or, depending on the case, sit down, close your eyes, and wander. Usually, I perform with a talented quintet: Flavia Nascimento (voice-percusssions) Sacha Daoud (drums), Gabriel Schwartz (sax, flutes, and percussions) and André Galamba (bass), myself on guitar and voice.
Stay safe, listen to music and keep dreaming. And if you don’t know how to support the artists, we invite you to subscribe to their channels and support them online.
If you were asked to suggest only one of your songs for someone to hear, which would it be?
“Liberté je t’aime” is my favorite song and “Stella e a Lavadeira Mascarada” has the most audacious arrangements I have ever written. Both are featured on the album, Samba sans frontiers.
Canadian Beats is all about Canadian music, so who are your current favourite Canadian bands/ artists?
I like many Canadian artists and bands: Ariane Moffat, Bïa, Karim Ouellet, Louis-Jean Cormier, Nomadic Massive, Flavia Nascimento, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Boogat, Paulo Ramos, Trio Bruxo, Rommel Ribeiro, Djely Tapa, Vox Sambu and more…
Connect with Diogo Ramos:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube