Interview: Diogo Ramos

We loved your previous song “Liberté je t’aime” and your new song “Sua mão direita feat. Boogát”, is equally great. What is the story behind the song and how did you create/write it? Also, what inspired the song title?
Sua mão direita was born on the beautiful beach of Cajaiba in Rio de Janeiro, while I was relaxing with some friends and talking about love and masturbation. The song is a metaphor on love and the political right, a critic of the political system. The idea that love and sexuality fills us completely but we do not have the ability to be together as we are tired of suffering at the hands of the conservative right. During my creative process, I encountered Boogát and asked him to talk about politics, however, his take on the extremist right was to present it through love. 

In the song, I also included female choirs as part of the dialogue, that singers Flavia Nascimento and Bianca Rocha exude here is the fruit of a divine world. This feminine universe is inspired by the songs my grandmother sang to me. Then, there are the brass arrangements that were made in Brazil by Cuca Ferreira (Bixiga 70) and Joel Lenhari (Roberto Carlos e Sandalia de Prata), to giants of the music world. Finally, to make this into a completely international track, the song was mixed and mastered by Andres Oddone an Argentinian from Mexico. 

Sua mão direita is the collaboration of multiple artists from across three regions that are bringing to the world a piece that makes us dance, dream but also question our society.

Diogo Ramos – Photo Credit: Nikita Bershanski
Boogát

If you had to describe your sound, how would you do so? Furthermore, what artists (or other sources) do you cite as influences?
I am the son of the Tropicalismo movement that was present in Brazil at the end of the 60s. The sound for this single can be mainly described as electro samba funk with roots in Samba de Roda de Bahia. After immigrating to Canada, I now mix multiple languages in my work that together create something magical. I am mainly inspired by Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Tom Zé et Mutantes.

What have been career highlights so far? And what is on your bucket list that you’d want to achieve?
In 2019, I got the chance to perform at the Montreal Jazz Festival which was an incredible experience for which I am really grateful. With my last album Samba sans frontieres, I was able to tour in three continents: North America, Europe and South America.
I dream of performing with Gilbert Gil on stage and have a music studio in front of the beach in Barra Grande, Bahia. All I want is to spread love with my music and try to change my community, to create harmony between people and nature.

If you could be the main support for any living artist, who would that be for and why? Alternatively, what would be your dream live booking?
My dream is to support all the young musicians that want to share their music with the world. Music should have a space in every school and households. To be an ambassador of music. 
In the present moment, I would love to tour locally in Quebec and Canada, to spread love and the joy of music to those closest to me. This would be more ecological, a booking event that is more environmentally friendly.

What artists have you been listening to? Additionally, who should others be listening to?
Currently I listen to the following artists: Louis-Jean Cormier (Québec); Péri (Brazil); and Emicida (Brazil). 
Suggestions for others: Rommel Ribeiro (Québec); Fabiana Cozza (Brazil); and Bixiga 70 (Brazil).

What music plans do you have for the year ahead?
In the following year 2021, I plan to release an EP in August and my full album in the beginning of 2022. Part of this album, in addition to Boogát, I will collaborate with Philippe Brault, Imposs, Mehdi Cayenne and Bïa. I am hoping to be able to have a couple performances live, like the one happening for this first single on April 16th with a small public, yet I know it will be an amazing feeling to perform in front of an audience for the first time in awhile.
Diogo Ramos: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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