This Saturday, June 20, the Algarve singer Susana Travassos will give a concert in São Paulo, Brazil, having as her guest Chico César, one of the most famous names in Brazilian music today.
O Sul Informação spoke with the singer, who is in São Paulo preparing the show, to find out how a Portuguese artist, born in the Algarve, makes a career in Brazil and even sings alongside monsters of the music of that country.
How did this happen? «I believe that it is just one of the stages, a moment… and I consider it natural that it has been so far», explains Susana Travassos.
“Our position in life also depends on the choices we make, the steps we take, the opportunities that arise. In 2008, I decided to become a singer, recorded a CD independently and, six months later, I was in São Paulo, at SESC Pompeia's theater, alongside Zeca Baleiro. I was received with so much affection and enthusiasm by the artistic community and the public that it was a great incentive to continue my quest to be a singer», adds the young woman born in Vila Real de Santo António and with a degree in Psychology.
“I have a lot of respect and affection for the way my life has been happening. The truth is a big concern for me, both in life and in the art I try to make, and I think my path is true and that gives me so much pleasure», he says.
«Maybe Brazil and also being far away make it possible for me to be this singer full of doubts, longings and under construction. But I love Portugal, I take it in my corner, on every flight, on every breath…», assures Susana Travassos.
The young artist made her debut in 2008, with the album «Oi Elis», where she mixed themes by Elis Regina with traditional instruments, but without a Brazilian accent. Could it be that today, after so much time spent on the other side of the Atlantic, Susana Travassos still navigates these same musical waters? Or after so many years in Brazil, have you gained an accent, at least singing?
«My first CD was in fact a tribute to Elis Regina» and ended up being almost «an outline of everything that has been my career after that moment. I think I already sensed something in this middle path between Brazil and Portugal. Something bigger… And that today I feel I am close to having discovered».
However, he guarantees, «I never stopped singing with a Portuguese accent, even the Brazilian songs!».
«The great challenge, the great desire when I know a new Brazilian song, is to bring it, to reveal what Portuguese is in it, to create this intermediate, magical place, to create this confusion of not knowing if it's from there or here...»
From early on that Susana Travassos collaborates with renowned Brazilian musicians and artists. Was it easy, being Portuguese and Algarvian, to penetrate this milieu? “Things happened so naturally, collaborations always emerged from meetings, from true friendships”, he confesses.
Susana Travassos: «The great challenge, the great desire when I know a new Brazilian song, is to bring, to reveal what Portuguese is in it, to create this intermediate, magical place, to create this confusion of not knowing if it's from there or from here…"
Divided between the two sides of the Atlantic, the Algarve singer says that she spends seasons in Portugal, seasons in Brazil, but that this «always depends on the projects, the concerts». Laughing, he comments that "I usually divide it more or less in the middle so as not to create jealousy between the countries…"
However, perhaps because she is currently better known on the other side of the Atlantic than in her homeland, Susana admits that "a lot of work is actually coming up this year in Brazil."
In this country, he has sung in several cities: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Cuiabá, Goiânia, Maceió, Vitória da Conquista, Divinopolis, João Pessoa, several cities in the interior of São Paulo. «I've also traveled a lot in the state of Santa Catarina, toured six cities... Anyway, I can say that I've seen a lot of Brazil...»
During her career, which still only takes seven years, Susana Travassos has already edited two albums. The second is called «Tejo-Tietê», the name of the rivers that flow in Lisbon and São Paulo, and was made in partnership with the composer and guitarist Chico Saraiva, having been produced by one of the greatest Brazilian guitarists, Paulo Bellinati. In addition to these works, he has participated in six albums by other artists and the poet Murilo Antunes' DVD.
But Susana Travassos doesn't stop: «I'm currently in the process for my next CD», she revealed to Sul Informação.
Another of his passions is Psychology, which he graduated from, still in Portugal, or Psychoanalysis, in which he is now training, at the Lacanian Forum, in São Paulo. «Although music takes a lot of time, I am currently doing this training in psychoanalysis and I want to start attending after a while, as it is another great passion».
Tonight's concert, in São Paulo, will take place at SESC Carmo, a space that is part of the Sesc – Social Service for Commerce network, a private entity whose objective is to provide well-being and quality of life to workers and their families. There are several units across the country.
Susana Travassos explains that “Sesc is responsible for democratizing citizens' access to theater, cinema, concerts, museums, libraries, etc. It has an incredible cultural program on a regular basis and concert halls with extraordinary conditions». And it will be in one of these that tonight, the Algarve singer will take the stage, with Chico César as a guest.
«What connects me to Chico is a huge admiration for his work and for the beautiful person he is. I feel very happy to have the privilege of being your friend», she tells Sul Informação.
«Two years ago, Chico César invited me to participate in his shows in Lisbon and Spain, so it was natural for us to repeat the dose in São Paulo. I'm very happy that you accepted and that we can sing together again».
And how will tonight's show be? «I will present my latest show. I could even say it's a preview of my next CD. I've been experimenting with repertoire for six months and I think the show has already reached a very satisfactory format».
«The formation will be seven-string guitar, by the Austrian Michi Ruzitschka, Portuguese guitar by Ricardo Araújo and me in voice, guitar and accordion. I will sing some fados, some Brazilian songs by composers such as Vinicius and Tom, Egberto Gismonti, Sueli Costa and Pixinguinha.
With Chico César, I'll make a unique fado of his, which he did when he was leaving Lisbon and talks about the Tagus, and two more of his songs that I love, “Moer a Cana” and “Mealheiro”, from his new CD that has just been released ».
Despite not having anything marked yet in Portugal, Susana Travassos hopes that, "soon", she will be able to return to acting in her native country. And who knows if it won't bring the show that tonight presents in São Paulo…
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