The Mondego doesn't inspire only to conquer castles but also to create good music….Proof is Quatro e Meia a band from Coimbra which gives a “new look to the traditional Portuguese music”. Some of the members may be “just kids” but the talent, that one, are of full grown men! Get to know them better…
How did the project start?
The project Quatro e Meia was born out of an invitation made to one of the members to take part in a fundraising gala at the Academy of Dance of the Norton de Matos Centre. At the time, the dancers of the Academy had been selected to represent the country abroad and sent us an invitation to do a short concert, with three or four songs. Tiago and Ricardo had been school colleagues and knew Mario and Rui, from that same University circle. João is a long-time friend of Tiago's, from secondary school. At the time, Pedro could not go to this first public appearance, therefore only 5 of us went and played 7 songs. The public responded very well and that night we received two invitations for other events. We expected to be a onetime thing, so the band was born and grown naturally.
Why Quatro e Meia (Four and a Half in Portuguese) and not Five and a Quarter or Six and 1/20?
We were only five at the initial band. Rui, who didn't eat much as a child and now can't reach the higher shelves of the supermarket, is friendly nicknamed "Shorty". When we were about to go on stage and we gathered everyone to settle last minute details, there was that moment when we looked down and saw that there was four of us and "half a person". Hence "Four and a Half". When Pedro joined the band, when we appeared for the third time, it did not seem logical to change the name to "Five and a Half". And truth be told, Pedro also does not reach the higher shelves of the supermarket, he doesn't even have to bend over to go under the parking lot gates. The only way, would be for us to be called "Four and Two Halves"
Your songs are mainly originals or reinterpretations of existing traditional music?
We are trying to make more and more original songs. Our own songs have appeared more regularly, and will replacing some versions from other authors, but we look not to make the creation of original songs mandatory. They appear naturally. We enjoy traditional music as well as new songs, when they are good. Portugal as good quality music and we like every music style, so the blend that we have, in this moment, is very pleasing to us. We do not deny that older songs, like the ones by Amália Rodrigues, José Afonso or António Variações, among others, inspire us deeply. We grew up in Coimbra, a city that breathes tradition and mystique and this is a strong influence.
Does the Mondego River inspire you? What else inspires you?
"Our" city inspires us particularly, yes. To grow and to study in Coimbra is special and as stated in one of the most beautiful songs from this city "one learns to say saudade". Portugal was always a country of creative minds, we try not the make to much obvious the influence of the city in everything we do. Sometimes, we are aware that it is difficult to distance ourselves from the image we have of the place in which we spend more time, but we try, even in some songs and lyrics, to approach to the reality of other areas of the country. Everything is an inspiration. The daily life are, by itself, a source of imagination of parallel worlds. We have songs that speak of Lisbon or Oporto, which proofs what we are saying. We do not live there, but we put ourselves in the shoes of who does and that is a very interesting creative process. Otherwise, we are inspired by all that is logical, love, loss, nostalgia, affections, joy, parties, traditions, the countryside, the city, the sea, the moon,... we could spend the whole day listing inspirational sources!
The band members had a musical background or this is the first experience in the world of music?
We all have a musical past, mainly amateur. The only professional musician is João. We often say that it is the only one who needs the music sheet to play the songs, because, strictly speaking, é o único que as sabe ler 😉 ! The others, were learning along the way. At the University, all remained active, musically speaking, since Pedro, Ricardo and João were in the Students band of Medicine and Mário and Rui at the Quantunna - The Mix Students Band of F. C. T. of the University of Coimbra. João was also part of TAUC - Students Band of Coimbra's University.
You released a new video recently, the album is already scheduled to release?
The album doesn't have a release date yet. It is being built gradually, without haste. As a matter of fact, we are recording some songs along the way, when we have time to go to the studio and turn our ideas into reality. We have several songs "in the drawer" that we haven't shown to the world, because we understand that they need more work, but we believe in what we are doing and maybe, in a short while, we'll have enough material to release an album with the quality we want.
What can we find in your music box?
Our box has 6 partitions! Our tastes are very different and that is reflected in our repertoire. In João's case it should be Mozart, Paganini and Vivaldi. In Mário's one can find Astor Piazzolla, Beirut or Yann Tiersen. In Pedro's must be Jamiroquai, Dave Matthews Band or Danças Ocultas. In Ricardo's perhaps Jimi Hendrix, The Strokes and Queens of the Stone Age. In Rui must be Diabo na Cruz, Anaquim and Azeitonas. In James' must be Chico Buarque, Jorge Palma or Jorge Drexler. It's a huge box. As a matter of fact, everyone likes a bit of everything.
Do you define yourselves as being inside or outside the box?
From the inside and outside. There aren't better styles than others. There are good and bad music. There environments, contexts, moods and moments. So we get material stored in the box and try to reinvent it, as we try to catch something out of the box and do a trick that so it can be pulled in.
Where can we hear Quatro e Meia?
Live, for now, in Coimbra, to 6 of February, in Figueira da Foz 19 March, in Espinho at the end of April and a few other places that will be reveled in due time. Until then, there is our facebook page "Os Quatro e Meia" and the website www.osquatroemeia.com. On youtube you can find, also, some clips and, soon, we will launch more stuff. For now, we just want to invite all to visit us and enjoy the material that is online and, above all, to meet everyone in person, to 6 of February, at the Theatre of Saint Bernard, in Coimbra!
More information about the band here:www.osquatroemeia.com
Picture by: Os Quatro e Meia