Myrella Nascimento
With her original new single ‘London London You Dont Know Me’ rapidly climbing the charts, Myrella Nascimento and her unique brand of well-honed Latin is rapidly becoming a musical success story thanks in large part to her impeccable melodic instincts.
LAUREN: As an artist on the rise, what is one thing you are most excited about and one thing you are most afraid of happening in your career?
MYRELLA NASCIMENTO: For an independent artist it is extraordinary to hear one of my songs on the radio and also to have a positive feedback from the audience. To compete with the major labels is not easy and if I get some space it is a great victory. I'm not afraid of anything because I'm building my career gradually and in a very solid way. It's only a matter of time to reap the fruits. I just need to manage my anxiety.
LAUREN: Your song 'London London You Don’t Know Me' ’London London You Dont Know Me’ is receiving a positive listener response on radio. What was your initial reaction when you first heard your song playing on radio?
MYRELLA NASCIMENTO: It was a mix of happiness and gratitude because it means that my music has the potential to be there. And this is the first step so that I can reach a new audience. Because I'm Brazilian and have recorded this song in English, it means I'm pleasing an audience who's beyond the borders of my country.
LAUREN: What was the inspiration behind your radio single?
MYRELLA NASCIMENTO: In Brazil, my first radio single was a song called “Mulher Brasileira” (Brazilian Woman) from my first record “Tempoética”. It is an original song of mine. My first álbum is very important because it is the result of a big struggle, since I did it all on my own, with no label. This album includes a song in Spanish that has a music video (“Un Amor te Regalé”). I have to stress that “London London/You Don't Know Me” is a mix of two well-known songs written by a very important artist, Caetano Veloso. These are songs that isnpire me because he wrote them when he was living in London in exile because of the Brazilian dictatorship in the 70's. The songs are full of meaning. Humblely I have made my own rendition because I wanted new generations to know the songs and I also wanted to experiment with my voice as a woman. The songs are mainly known with male vocals.
LAUREN: It is often said that great art arises from difficult experience. Is there something in your life experience thus far that you would describe as the ‘catalyst’ or ‘fuel’ for your desire to create music?
MYRELLA NASCIMENTO: The inspiration for my writing comes from personal experiences but also from friends or something I read in a newspaper. An example is a song that's in my last project, the EP Yes. (Same EP as London, London/You Don't Know Me). The feminist inspired song is respecting women's rights and will. The chorus states: 'When I say no it means no / it will never be maybe / and if I say yes, an affirmative is good / but you will have to wait your turn.' I wrote this song after reading several articles about sexual harassment in the subways of my city (Sao Paulo), and learning that, acoording to the statistic, a woman is sexually assaulted every 11 minutes in Brazil. The lack of respect is huge. I myself was disrespected when a man lifted my skirt in broad daylight on a busy avenue in São Paulo. These experiences, along with media stories, influenced me to compose the song “Minha Concessão” - “My Consentment”.
LAUREN: How would you characterize yourself as an artist/musician? (Ex. Down-to-earth, serious, fun-loving, complicated…)
MYRELLA NASCIMENTO: I'm very down-to-earth. I feel inspired by everyday events and feelings, I like paying attention to emotions. I have been writing songs and making music since I was very young. I was fifteen when I wrote my first song. I started writing poetry when I was 12.
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LAUREN: What has your experience been like working with the other people on your team?
MYRELLA NASCIMENTO: There are difficult moments during the process, but at the end of the day when we stop to listen to the result of a full day's work, all discussion and sweat are rewarding. We just wonder what will happen to the song with the mix ready and we imagine performing it live.
AUREN: Did you come from a musical background? Are there other musicians in your family?
MYRELLA NASCIMENTO: No one in my family is a musician, but since I was a child I only saw myself as an artist. I used to put my mother's heels, wearing shiny clothes, wielding a hairbrush as a microphone, and I sang in front of the mirror. I was a child when I started taking keyboard and guitar lessons. I wrote poetry throughout my teenage years that became my first compositions.
LAUREN: What do you find most rewarding about being an artist? What do you find most challenging?
MYRELLA NASCIMENTO: What fills my heart with joy is seeing the public singing one of my songs during the show. To hear that chorus of voices singing a song that came up in solitude inside my room is more than rewarding. The biggest challenge is to make my compositions reach a wider public. Without having a label that becomes a very difficult mission, but one day I still dream to see a whole stadium singing one of my songs.
LAUREN: Who are your role models in music?
MYRELLA NASCIMENTO: As a Brazilian I can't leave out my Brazilian idols: Tom Jobim, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Elis Regina. On the international scene they are: Sting, Norah Jones and Shakira.
LAUREN: Describe your best or most memorable performance.
MYRELLA NASCIMENTO: It was during the National Festival of Music in 2014. I was releasing my second album, “Faces”, and I had the chance to sing one of my songs to a qualified audience of musicians, producers and broadcasters. I wasn't with my band so I had to improvise with other musicians and to gibe more with my singing and guitar playing. I only had one chance to show my potential as an artist. It reminded me of a tryout for The Voice and it was a success. I sang a song that nobody knew and caught the attention of those who were there. The next day I was interviewed by the event's official magazine.
LAUREN: What advice would you give to young, aspiring artists out there who are unsure and need guidance?
MYRELLA NASCIMENTO: Never think that you're ready, or that you are a perfect artist. Always try to become someone better than you, so strive to be the best and be an example to the others. Study music, that is essential, there's always something new to learn. And immerse yourself in all kinds of art that can inspire you to make your own art. Learn know to listen to the opinion of more experienced people in the businness and never give up because you'll hear more no's, about 70 “No's” for a big “Yes”.
LAUREN: What's next for you as an artist? Is there a new single in the works? If so, what can you tell us about it?
MYRELLA NASCIMENTO: I have a single called “Silver Rose”; it went pretty well in Australia but I have to get it heard in other places. And next year I'm sure I will have new songs. In this second half of 2016 I had my first child, Sebastian, so I'm on maternity leave, spending some time with my baby. But surely his beautiful smile will inspire me to compose new songs.
LAUREN: That's wonderful! Congratulations on the new addition to your family. Thank you so much for letting us get to know you a little better. We wish you the best of luck and continued success.