Daughter of Martinho da Vila, one of the greatest samba composers in Brazil, Mart’nália, was born and raised in a samba dynasty. Her delicate, small voice and singing style often reminds us of her father. However, there is only a slight resemblance in her new album.
On “Não Tente Compreender” (don’t try to figure out) she lends her voice to pop songs. Well, not quite the kind of pop songs non Brazilians are used to, but a mix among the styles that coined Brazilian popular music such as rock, bossa nova, and samba.
“I have no commitment to samba whatsoever,” she told me in an exclusive interview. “I am much more free in this album. Free to try new things and to listen to other people´s opinions.”
To accomplish this, she counted on a collaboration with the album’s producer, Djavan. Djavan, a post-tropicalist singer composer, truly excelled the concept of metaphor within Brazilian songwriting. In addition, Ney Matogrosso, the ex-lead singer of Secos & Molhados, is her light designer and Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil, authors of “Demorou” and “Eu Te Ofereço” are among the best known composers in her generous 14 track release.
Watch a version of “Entretanto” below.
