Press release Neco Novellas
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"This album is my answer to globalization, not in a political way but in a musical sense " says Anselmo ‘Neco’ João Johanhane alias Neco Novellas. "It talks about music as a universal language." The singer-songwriter from Mozambique has just finished his album New Dawn – Ku Khata, released on World Connection. The album presents contemporary music with African roots. "It's a document of where I am right now." The album reflects Neco's musical identity. Therefore it goes beyond categorization. "I never tied myself down to one genre of music. Why should I? I enjoy the richness of music everywhere around me and use it all. I also dig deep inside myself.” The fourteen songs of "New Dawn – Ku Khata" lead you from Mozambican pop to jazz, to funk, to afro beat and gospel and along the way there is reggae, rock and classical music. The album may be diverse in styles and languages; at the same time there is a recognizable and distinctive 'Novellas sound'. This is a soulful, warm and rhythmic music held together by the unity of a family. The album is the result of an intense and personal musical journey. "There is a story for each song. They tell about the experiences I went through, says Neco. ”I've been taken by music ever since I heard sounds around me. I've collected and registered all of it. I remember listening at the door of our South African neighbours in Mozambique, who had fled their own country. They used vocal harmonic music in Zulu and Swati for their spiritual ceremonies. Their singing expressed the longing for their homelands and the sorrow they felt. The music lifted them up. I now realize their sounds left their traces in mine. The intro song "Ku Khata", for example has a straight line to that music. I put my own blues in it." Neco’s intense interest in music took him to other countries. He wanted to learn everything there is to learn about music. It led him to Portugal where he studied classical guitar and singing and later on to Holland where he focused on jazz, classical and world music. In the meantime two of his brothers, who were experimenting with rock in South Africa, have joined him in Rotterdam. Together they worked continuously on the songs of New Dawn – Ku Khata. Neco: ”those songs have grown on me. They are my companions. The songs are carefully composed, layer upon layer. We've tried to give the music the right balance between lightness and depth. You can dance to some of them but also sit down and find the richness of the compositions, rhythms and harmonies.” T  he music on this album is the result of some fruitful collaborations. For the most part, Neco worked with his two brothers Nelson (electric guitar, percussion, vocals) and Isildo (bass guitar, vocals, percussion) and sisters Cidalia and Isabel (both backing vocals). He also worked with singer Lilian Vieira (Zuco 103), who's originally from Brazil and speaks another kind of Portuguese than he does. ”In the studio, that worked fantastically. We sang a Mozambican samba duet called "Vermelha" in our mutual language and connected instantly.” Neco sings about memories, loss and longing. Lilian sings about a kid growing up on the streets of Brazil and finding joy in playing with a ball. Another example of how you don't need words corresponding through music was when Gideon van Gelder played his part for "Tikona" on the piano on the other side of the Atlantic, in a studio in New York. “We never spoke about the music but he just hit the soul of that song straight away! That's how global music gets.” And the family affair went on: Gideon’s brother Ben van Gelder played the saxophone in ”Yeke Yo”.
"Tikona" is the key song of the album. Everything is in there: blues, jazz from South Africa and ethnic sounds. The lyrics talk about how there was nothing at the beginning of time, like the Bible says. It’s like this song already existed. Everybody instantly knew how to play it." "The song "Tsanganane" which means togetherness talks about the joy of doing things together. It's so much more fun to exchange your experiences with others. Music is a way to bring people together, to unite people, and cultures. Unconsciously, for me it's a reason for me to make music. Its also logical for me to work with others because we were eight kids at home!" Neco doesn’t have a political message with his album. He leaves that to others, though he reflects on things happening in the world. "Hi Rhama" for example is a song about the floods that have hit Mozambique since the year 2000. Neco: ”I experienced our home being completely flooded. It looked like a canal from our front door to the church where I first learned to sing. I couldn't reach that place anymore.” In "Zuma Luei" Neco experiments with the traditional music the Portuguese brought to Mozambique. Their classical three chord music was mixed with local Mozambican music and people call it Marabenta which means wow! Marabenta is simple, popular dance music. It was exported to many Portuguese-speaking countries. Many people think this is the typical music from Mozambique but there is so much more, says Neco. “I reflect on that in my version of Marabenta by twisting things around and making it a bit theatrical.” Ku khata means new dawn. Neco: “I see this album as a new start and wonder what the future has in store. Every day is a new one and I'm curious about what it will bring. I'm ready for it! World Connection, February 2008 Press quotes 4th place in World Music Charts Europe April: ”Neco Novellas has a remarkably, dark, smoky voice sometimes reminiscent of a deeper-toned Al Jarreau in delivery, and his tunes allow him to show it off to fine effect.” - World Music Charts Europe "The Mozambican singer Neco Novellas absorbs music from all over the world and from all times like a sponge. His record contains except for jazz, warm African harmonies and his bariton. – Volkskrant, Netherlands 5 stars album review: "Neco Novellas transforms the musical richness of Africa into fresh arrangements where Africa (Mozambique) touches Brazil, Europe and Jamaica. " - Jazz Magazine, Netherlands 4 stars album review: “Neco Novellas has a luxury problem: he can do almost anything musically.” - NRC Handelsblad ”Neco Novellas makes music intuitively, it’s in his blood.” – Volkskrant, Netherlands ”Attractive African pop with surprising changes in tempo and whose live shows continually mesmerize audiences.” - NRC Next, Netherlands ”On New Dawn – Ku Khata you’ll find songs where Mozambican roots, jazz, Brazilian and classical influences flow melodiously and soulfully.” - Mixed Magazine, Netherlands Watch Neco’s EPK at this link: http://www.worldconnection.nl/movies/NecoEPK_M_SubStream.mov Upcoming shows & achievements TV/Radio 2008 Thu 13 March PRESS DAY NETHERLANDS Amsterdam Netherlands Sun 23 March Ancienne Belgique Brussels Belgium Fri 28 March Sugarfactory Amsterdam Netherlands CD presentation + special guest Lilian Vieira Fri 4 April live TV 1 performance “Goedemorgen Nederland” National Dutch TV Sat 5 April WMDC Rotterdam Netherlands Sun 6 April TV special Live session + interview “Vrije Geluiden” National Dutch TV Fri 25 April PRESS DAY GERMANY Koeln Germany Thu 1 May 1 May festival Rotterdam Netherlands Sat 3 May live radio 2 “TROS Muziekcafe” National Dutch radio Sat 3 May live radio 1 “Met het oog op morgen” National Dutch radio Sat 10 May TV 3 “RAYMAN IS LAAT” (646.000 viewers) National Dutch TV Fri 16 May Showcase Nederlandse Dag v/d Jazz Amersfoort Netherlands Sat 17 May live radio 2 “Cappuccino” National Dutch radio Wed 21 May PRESS DAY FRANCE Paris France Fri 23 May showcase Dutch Blend Festival Rotterdam Netherlands Sat 24 May Africa Festival Würzburg Germany Wed 4 June PRESS DAY FRANCE Paris France Thu 5 June Satellit Café Paris France Mon 9 June PRESS DAY SPAIN Madrid Spain Thu 15 June Hout Festival Haarlem Netherlands Thu 19 June World Refugee Day, Tropentheater Amsterdam Netherlands Sat 21 June Afro-Latino Festival Bree België Sat 21 June Kleur van de nacht Arnhem Netherlands Sat 28 June Festival Zomerzone Sittard Netherlands Sun 29 June Wereldfeest Utrecht Netherlands Fri 11 July North Sea Round Town Rotterdam Netherlands Sat 12 July NORTH SEA JAZZ FESTIVAL Rotterdam Netherlands Sat 2 August Zwoele Avonden, Kroller Muller Museum Otterlo Netherlands Sun 3 Aug African Spirits Festival Berg en Dal Netherlands Wed. 6 Aug Festival Les Mediterranéenes Leucate France Thu 7 Aug Helden in het Park Eeklo Belgium Tue. 12 Aug Muziek in de wijk, Hof De Bist Ekeren Belgium Wed 13 Aug Muziek in de wijk, Gevangenis Antwerpen Belgium Thu 14 Aug Muziek in de wijk, De Coninckplein Antwerpen Belgium Fri 15 Aug Muziek in de wijk, Dageraadplaats Zurenborg Belgium Sat 16 Aug Muziek in de wijk, Botermarkt Zandvliet Belgium Sun 17 Aug Muziek in de wijk, Kroonplein Merksem Belgium Sat 30 Aug Wereld Jazz Dagen Dordrecht Netherlands Sat 30 Aug. UITmarkt Amsterdam Amsterdam Netherlands Sat 13 Sept Pure Jazz Festival Den Haag Netherlands Sun 21 Sept Marcato Mondial Venlo Netherlands Thu 25 Sept World Sessions: Burgerweeshuis Deventer Netherlands Fri 26 Sept World Sessions: Vredenburg Utrecht Netherlands Sat 27 Sept World Sessions: Podium Mozaiek Amsterdam Netherlands Sat 27 Sept Night of Poetry, Vredenburg Utrecht Netherlands Sun 28 Sept World Sessions: Theaters Tilburg Tilburg Netherlands Wed 1 Oct World Sessions: Lantaren Venster Rotterdam Netherlands Fri 3 Oct World Sessions: Poppodium Romein Leeuwarden Netherlands Sun 5 Oct World Sessions: Luxor Live Arnhem Netherlands
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