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Feature: Ed Motta Interview
Writer: Damian Platt
Whilst picking up some records in West London's Honest Jon's recently, who
should we find browsing through the vinyl alongside us but the Brazilian
composer Ed Motta. The very dapper Ed, dressed in crisp tweeds, hails from Rio de Janeiro, with his
musical inspiration coming from a wide variety of international musical
styles including rock, soul and funk. He draws his own creative
boundaries, and has been recording and releasing original sounds since
1988. Last year his album of samba and jazz oriented music called ‘Dwitza’
was a critical success. And Ed comes from a musical family - his uncle was the
hugely popular Brazilian soul singer Tim Maia.
He kindly gave up a few minutes to let us know what he's up to right now.
What are you doing in London at the moment Ed?
I came as a guest of Incognito. I've been collaborating and working with
them on their new album 'Who Needs Love'. I wrote the title track with band
leader Bluey, and I've been over here for a week with them [for their dates
at the Jazz Café]. We just toured Japan for almost a month - not with the
whole of Incognito, but with my band and the Incognito horn section, Bluey
on the guitar, me on the piano.
What instruments do you play?
I play the piano, and I like to mess around with various instruments. On my
second album I played guitar, bass, the drums.
Do you have a preferred instrument?
Piano. The piano is my favourite instrument, though, not just for me. I
think that the piano should be the principal instrument for everyone. The
piano is like water for music, it's vital - the father of all instruments,
it enables you to visualise everything clearly.
Are you working on any other projects now?
Yeah, right now I've got a new record called Poptical, coming out now in
June.
Poptical?
That's right, it's a mix of pop art and opt art: optical art and pop art!
Is this finished?
Yep, it will be coming out on Trama this summer.
Will you be coming back to the UK to launch it?
Yes definitely, in September or August.
And did you already know Honest Jon's?
Yeah, yeah, I first came here in 1992, and I've been coming back ever since.
Have you been listening to any of the stuff coming out of London at the
moment, the 'broken beat' sound prodeuced by the likes of IG Culture and 4
Hero?
I like all that stuff, but I mostly listen to old music. The newest stuff
that I listen to is from 1985.
But you've done stuff in the studio with Marc Mac, right, under the name
Nature's Plan?
That's right, I also just recorded something with Alex Attias as well.
At this point Mr Motta explainrd that he had a plane to catch, and we're
outta time! Obrigado Ed, valeu!
Check out www.edmotta.com.br for more
information on Ed and his music,
including audio clips of his new single. He puts up a weekly radio show
called Empoeirado - the current show Empoeirado 20 has a special Brazilian
funk and soul selection. Listen and learn!
RELATED LINKS:
Ed Motta website
Trama Records
Buy album at Amazon.co.uk
PUBLISHED: Monday 5 May 2003
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::: RELATED LINKS
Ed Motta website
Trama Records
Buy album at Amazon.co.uk
More Features
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