I grew up in a neighborhood called Cavaleiro, Recife, with my parents and my sister. I would fall asleep listening to my parents sing traditional lullabies. I also remember playing in the yard with my father’s work tools, pretending to make bread, as my father was a talented baker. I used to play tag with my sister and my father would walk around carrying me on his back. My mother’s food was the best ever. I still remember its smell, that’s why I always come back home. These memories are still very strong in my mind. As my parents were protestants, we would go to the church every Sunday. I sang with the church choir from a very early age.
From my mother I’ve inherited her creativity and curiousity. Her expression of it was cooking, dreaming of a better place and architecting this place even without being educated for that. I bring this creativity to the way I play the piano and compose my songs. From my father, I inherited the focus. My father is extremely concentrated on the things he does, just as I am, painstakingly, on my job.
One of the most influential people in my childhood was our church leader, Roldão Souza. He insisted that we all study to stand out one day in life. He was a police officer and band leader and he fostered kids. I will never forget the uniform he gave me to play in the band, because my parents could not afford it, as well as food when I was hungry. Above all, he saw my talent, pushed me to attend music school and paid my tuition. I am who I am largely because of him.
The hardest thing I had to overcome was our house collapsing. Because of the hard rain of our rainy season, and because our house had been poorly built with clay, it came to the ground. Luckly, it did not collapse at once, which gave neighbors time to come and rescue us and some of our belongings. This gave us a strong sense of community despite the tragedy we endured.
The most memorable book I’ve read is ‘Moacir Santos Ou Os Caminhos De Um Músico Brasileiro’ by Andrea Ernest Dias. Moacir Santos is a pianist from the countryside of my state (Flores) who was acknowledged worldwide, but not so much in Brazil. He played the piano percussively from an Afro-Brazilian standpoint. That’s what I somehow try to bring to my music. This book matters to me because it unveils his creative process and the reasons for his work.
One of the most influential musicians for me is Ray Charles. An African-descendent pianist just like me, his life and work inspired me to believe it is possible to make a living through music despite the hardships. Ray’s voice and piano sang and played the clamour of country labourers and their ancestors and that’s somehow what I want to play with my piano. Ray’s piano is an extension of his soul.
An album that changed me was ‘Alive’ by Chick Corea. This album was recorded in 1991 at Blue Note Jazz club in New York. It was the first DVD I was given and It changed the way I perceive music. By listening to his music every single day, I was moved and started to surf the Jazz universe. It was when I learned I would make a living through music.
My career highlights include...touring the world, having two albums nationally and internationally acknowledged by the critics; having articles in important Jazz magazines and websites talking about the quality of our work such as Downbeat Magazine, Music Jazz, About Jazz, and All Jazz, recording a third album sponsored by important companies of Brazil (Natura); having a solid team to share ideas and build and grow together; featuring with Milton Nascimento and Crioulo in the album Existe Amor, and the Saint Petersburg Orchestra, recording the song Drão by Gilberto Gil in 2020; just to name a few!
Success looks like... listeners connecting with the music I compose and when this connection is reflected in streaming, sales of records and CDs, concerts, etc. Success also comes in the form of gratitude. Listening to people say my music touches their hearts, their souls, and it brings hope for the world makes me believe I am doing the right thing. That’s pure success.
Two things I have learnt...firstly that, being in different places makes you have different viewpoints of the world. Secondly, the importance of my family. Being with my family close to me has made much more sense in my life.
A piece of advice I would give my younger self would be to study languages such as English, French, Spanish, German, the original languages of Brazil and others. Forget about soccer.
There is nothing better than...sipping coffee with my father, cooking with my mother, and playing with my nephews. I love being in my studio. with my friends and mates practicing and creating. And ofcourse nature: being in the woods, breathing its air, listening to the birds and streams running make me feel full of life and energized.
An underrated virtue is the work of the original people of our land, who observe nature and live in harmony with it. Also the work of the peasants, who work on the land to produce our food, artisans, who transform wood, clay and other raw material in art. As well as the basic job positions as bus drivers, trash collectors. All the people whose work is considered unskilled simply because their skill is not valued by those who control the public narrative.
Two living people I admire...Stevie Wonder and Viola Davis. Stevie Wonder, because of his music and his stand for black causes and the light he brings to humanity, and for the same reasons, except through acting, Viola Davis.
I'd like to say thank you to...Tereza de Benguela Abdias do Nascimento from Zumbi dos Palmares, all my abolitionist ancestors, Mahommah G. Baquaqua, and all those who fought for the lives of black people, raising awareness for the cause and giving hope for future generations.
My favorite word is connection
A motto our team uses a lot is 'We For Us'
My favourite question is “Family, shall we connect?”
My greatest fear is that we cannot stop the harm we have caused to our planet. I fear for the amazon, the Pantanal, and global warming. I fear not having time to stop all of this.
A person who inspired me is Djamila Ribeiro, one of the most important voices on structural racism in Brazil. An activist who is always speaking up for the most vulnerable, her voice reaches all corners of the country and helps to give hope to many families.
The last thing that made me cry was Covid-19 taking away my grandmother; whenever I remember her I cry. The pain of families who have lost their loved ones to covid-19 also makes me sad. It is revolting to see the chaos of so many people passing away and our government watching everything with crossed arms. That is disgusting.
Laughing is not hard for me. Everyone around me, my family and friends, give me reasons galore to laugh.I am happy when I am with them, so laughing is spontaneous and easy.
Amaro Freitas's new album SANKOFA is out now
