Review Fix chats with singer/songwriter Ian Carvalho, who discusses his newest solo project and unique creative process.
Review Fix: How did this project come together?
Ian Carvalho: After Novonada, the band I played with for eight years, took a break I decided to embark on this solo project. I had this idea for quite a long time, you know, being part of a band is like being part of a family, but you need a bit of independence when you grow older.
Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?
Carvalho: Lyrics wise I usually take inspiration by what surrounds me, from my experiences and interests. IÂ like my lyrics to be a blend of the languages I speak (Italian, English, Portuguese and Spanish). Inspiration can come from a book I read, a conversation I had etc. as well as from my own origins and heritage. Being Italian-Brazilian gave me the chance of living in both countries and as a result to know more about the South American history and culture and to being willing to go deeper and to try incorporate it in my music.
Of course, not all the songs describe happy moments or feelings, but that’s why writing music is helpful, almost therapeutic.
When it comes to creating the music I start by searching the harmony, the sonorities, that I think will better convey the feelings I want to express.
I’m deeply influenced by Brazilian folk and traditional music (as it’s part of my heritage) and from the Punk Hardcore Bands of the 90s. As you can imagine I enjoy myself trying to bring two so different genres into my own work.
Review Fix: What’s your standout song? How was it written?
Carvalho: I cannot choose one song in the specific, will you ever pick one of your children over the other? Each piece is expressing a part of me and of my passions so I consider my work as an organic thing, an unicum. My work focused deeply on the ideas of love and death, and to portray them I tend to use real life situations such as social class injustice, politics, history and so on.
To make an example the EP I’m releasing in November, “Morpheo in Eros” talks about what was going down in Santiago del Chile in the 70s and 80s (Pinochet dictatorship and what came with it).
Review Fix: What are your goals for 2016?
Carvalho: My plan for 2016, or what is left of it, is to release my EP (12th November @ The Finsbury) and to organise a tour in South America and the US to better promote my work.
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