#Introducing #107 - Afonso
Let us introduce you to London-based Portuguese musician Afonso, who has just released his debut single ‘Gold Hour’. The track is a perfect combination of jazz and soul, he took a moment to talk to us about the track and the experience of moving to London.
So you have just released your debut single ‘Golden Hour’, can you tell us what the track is about?
This was one of the first songs I wrote, after moving to London and it’s sort of a conversation with myself. The song came from an introspection when I realised I was feeling different because of how much I had adapted to all the new surroundings and how I accepted and overcame those changes. The golden hour, to me, feels like a let go of everything that’s holding me back and kind of makes me feel restored, similarly to the feeling of growth and change.
Where was the track recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the process?
’Golden Hour’ was recorded at a studio that’s ran by some of my friends and team in north London. These studios are where I record most of my tracks and it’s a place that’s really close to my heart. This track was recorded in the end of summer with my producers Dario and Manny, and my band Telmo, Clemence, Dom and Ricardo. It was a sick experience to be able to work on our ideas and turn them into real things.
The track deals with your younger and older self, what were you like as a teenager?
As a teenager I was always very creative and always wanting to know more about things that interested me. I really was the kind who praised fun times much more than serious/ study time. So it was always hard for me to feel connected with school, it felt like a very forced system to me. Otherwise I would spend a lot of that time with friends at the beach or at each other’s playing music, talking, doing nothing, just being together.
If you could tell the younger version of yourself anything, what would it be?
You’re doing great! Love you <3
You moved to London from Portugal in 2016, what made you decide to do that? And how are you finding London now, is it what you expected?
I moved to London to study a music degree, that was the main reason, which led me to start writing my own music. London is great for its music scene and the amount of opportunities flying around all the time. Although, I’ve decided I need to live in a warmer place in the future.
There is a lot of soul and jazz vibes to this track, what would you say are your key musical influences as an artist?
I would say biggest influences at the moment are Cleo Sol, Erykah Badu, George Benson and all the artists under the Tropicalia movement.
Now your debut single is out there, what next? What are your plans for the next few months?
I’ll be releasing my next singles through the year of 2020 along new videos and gig dates to be announced soon.