Nominated for a Latin Grammy 2024 for the album Xande Canta Caetano (2023), Xande de Pilares will perform for the first time since being recognized at the Mada Festival
One of the biggest names in pagode and samba in Brazil, Xande de Pilares realized that the way Brazilian music is seen and consumed in the country has changed a lot in recent years, especially compared to what he experienced in the 1970s and 1980s.
This greater appreciation of Brazilian culture is due to several factors, such as music festivals entirely dedicated to Brazil to artists who celebrate and re-record their colleagues’ works. Including, Xande de Pilares was widely praised and acclaimed for the release of Xande Sings Caetano (2023), in which he reinterpreted ten great songs by Caetano Veloso. So much so that it was nominated in two important categories of Latin Grammy 2024: Album of the Year and Best Samba/Pagode Album.
The first major live celebration of the recognition of Latin Recording Academy will take place on the first day of MADA Festival (Music Food of the Soul) next Friday, the 18th, at Dune Arenain Natal, Rio Grande do Norte. With prices ranging between R$130 and R$560, tickets are available for purchase on the Join.
The line-up of MADA still has names like Ana FrangoElectric, Pitty, Duda Beat, BK’, Ebony, Duchess, Fresno, BaianaSystem and Djonga. However, this is not the only large-scale event that is entirely dedicated to celebrating Brazilian music. Annually, festivals such as Koala, John Rock and Nomadic attract thousands of people to sing the hymns created and produced in Brazil.
See this photo on InstagramA post shared by Música Alimento Da Alma (@festivalmada)
In an interview with Rolling Stone Brazil and the newspaper The People, Xande de Pilares he recalled how, in the 1970s and 1980s, imported music was very prevalent. Today, according to the artist, he began to feel this in his skin when participating in the Rock in Rio 2024.
“I was a little afraid to participate and, when I got there, I saw that the world had really changed a little,” he recalled. “So this thing about an artist paying homage to the old, or the old paying homage to the new, for our culture and Brazilian music, is very good. But the hierarchy has to exist for us to have a reference, you know? I think it’s important.”
Right away, Xande gave his opinion on why this happened in Brazil: “Well, firstly this is a divine thing, that comes from above, right? But valuing our own history makes a difference. We take care of it with affection, not just thinking about being successful ‘Let’s do some work, you know? How will the curiosity thing go?'”
“The interest, the artistic class, especially in music, is very bold. It is not afraid when you think about the collective. That individual thought is something that is remote. We pay attention to everything that happens, we enjoy each other’s work and that It’s very good for us,” he continued.
That thing about ‘sertanejo doesn’t like samba, funk doesn’t like rap, rap doesn’t like bolero, bolero doesn’t like capoeira’ is over! Today you listen to an album where there is bossa and rap, you know? We have Emicide, Creole, Marisa [Monte], Zeca [Pagodinho], Alcyone and I’m there transiting. This is very good because our young people are seeing all this. And, in a way, they are being encouraged. And we change history.
Xande Sings Caetano
Despite being a renowned and established artist, the album Xande Sings Caetano showed a new face of the singer, who left his comfort zone to perform one of the most important and exciting works of 2023.
With public, critical and recognition success in Latin Grammy, Xande de Pilares guarantees that his dynamic with the album and his live performance has not changed. Of course, every time he will sing Caetano Veloso It comes with butterflies in the stomach, anxiety and expectations far beyond normal.
“It’s not my normal show. And I’m getting into an atmosphere that’s practically what Xande Sings Caetano is taking me. So everything is new to me. I dedicate myself to the maximum, I do speech therapy, I keep everything tidy,” he said. “I never sang in the MADAa festival I’ve known for a long time. I never imagined myself in it, but since they placed this trust in me, I need to dedicate myself to the maximum.”
There are butterflies in your stomach, which is normal. But if it doesn’t happen, it’s not me. I hope it’s wonderful, like the last one I did just now Koala. It was emotional and I hope I can be moved and moved [os outros]also.
Xande de Pilares You are aware that, when you perform a song by another artist, whoever it may be, you need to have a different type of approach. This exercise even helps the artist, who never accepted himself as a singer (as incredible as it may seem), to accept himself.
“I always wanted to be a composer. I like creating much more. The creative side is what I like,” he explained. “After Xande Sings CaetanoI start to think differently. I’m starting to accept myself: ‘Hey, I’ve conquered this space here, so I need to take care of it because since I want to create a story within the music, I don’t want to pass it by, or be just another one. Why not enjoy this moment? Let’s enjoy!'”
Another great re-recording
Always tuned in, Xande de Pilares listen to music every day, every time and every moment, literally. According to him, because there is more music in the world than people. After listening “Leaf Bath,” greatest success of Luedji Luna compound next to Emillie Lapathe singer was delighted.
With authorization from Luedjidescribed as a “wonderful person,” Xande and the team started the idea of re-recording: “She thought it was cool, we made a wonderful video and, because of this song, I even wanted to let my hair down, which had been braided for a long time.”
I’m very happy with the song, because I identify with it a lot and I’m a very religious guy. [A letra] It talks about the positive thing, about taking care of ourselves in relation to everything we experience. It’s a really cool partnership that I really enjoy.
Right away, Xande He commented how re-recording works by other artists, especially those who sing musical genres other than samba and pagode, is one of the biggest challenges of his life. However, this whole process is made easier by the passion for art.
“I feel music as if it were a person that I need to hug all the time. Or that thing that you cultivate and care for with affection,” he said. “I can’t sing the work of Caetano anyway. You have to feel it. So much so that in one of the tracks we moved everyone, including himself… it’s so good that you pay homage to someone in life that you can see the result of your attitude in paying homage to certain artists.”
SERVICE
MADA Festival 2024
Dates: October 18th and 19th, 2024 (Friday and Saturday)
Location: Arena das Dunas – Avenida Prudente de Morais, from 4,807 to 5,813 – odd side – Lagoa Nova – Natal/RN
Values:
Individual Track (valid only for one day of the event) (2nd lot): From R$ 130.00 (half price) | From R$ 260.00 (full)
Individual Lounge (valid only for one day of the event) (2nd batch): From R$ 170.00 (half price) | From R$ 340.00 (full)
Track Passport (valid for both days of the event) (2nd batch): From R$ 200.00 (half price) | From R$ 400.00 (in full)
Lounge Passport (valid for both days of the event) (2nd batch): From R$ 280.00 (half price) | From R$ 560.00 (full)
Tickets: https://embedstore.ingresse.com/tickets/www.ingresse.com/event/76063?passkey=2024PRESS
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
