I remember perfectly the day my dear friend João Diogo Leitão called to invite me to record the album. I was just coming back from the studio, sometime around March, I guess. I met João while we were studying at The Royal Conservatory in The Hague.
The following July, I packed my backpack full of microphones and flew to Portugal. The plan was simple: spend a week capturing music that João Almeida and João Leitão had been developing and performing live for a while. I met João Almeida over the phone while we were preparing for the recording. It quickly became clear that we 'spoke the same language'!
Before the recording sessions started, I had the opportunity to listen to their concert in Montemor-o-Novo, at a place called Oficinas do Convento. The vibe was incredible—a beautiful summer night in the courtyard of an old ruined convent. On our way back to Lisbon, we traveled quite late. I remember opening the window and feeling a fantastic breeze as we drove along the national road through the Alentejo region. It was such a powerful sensation that, in the song À Procura da Essência da Cebola, the final melody always brings me back to that exact memory.
The location wasn't what most people would call a "studio." It was, in fact, a home cinema testing room in a hi-fi shop on the outskirts of Amadora. The budget was small, but our spirit was high. We quickly turned that room into our workspace—cables everywhere, microphones, equipment stacked on makeshift tables, and a couch turned on its side to make space. It wasn't glamorous, but it had character. We had my microphones, a computer from Tiago, and a mixing desk borrowed from Coxo, a friend of João Almeida. Everyone contributed in some way!
We recorded for days—sometimes from early morning until everyone was completely exhausted. It was an intense week! There was something magical about those sessions: the shared focus and the sense that everyone was giving their absolute best for the music.
Before the recording sessions started, I had the opportunity to listen to their concert in Montemor-o-Novo, at a place called Oficinas do Convento. The vibe was incredible—a beautiful summer night in the courtyard of an old ruined convent.
On our way back to Lisbon, we traveled quite late. I remember opening the window and feeling a fantastic breeze as we drove along the national road through the Alentejo region. It was such a powerful sensation that, in the song 'A Essência da Cebola', the final melody always brings me back to that exact memory.
When I listen back now, I can still feel that energy. It’s one of those projects that reminds me why I do this work—the joy of capturing music that's alive, honest, artistic, and doesn't need any post-production 'miracle'!
With this project, I also had the chance to meet amazing and kind people such as Marta (João Almeida’s wife), always ready for a nice conversation and an amazing cook!
If I could go back to a project from the past? À Procura da Essência da Cebola, without any doubt!
A Well-Deserved Recognition
Fast-forward to 2025, and I received another call from João Almeida, with the wonderful news that the album had won the Carlos Paredes Prize. It was a beautiful surprise and a well-deserved recognition for everyone involved.
Looking back, I'm grateful—not only for the music but for the people, the conversations, the laughter, and the feeling of being part of something special. Thank you, João Diogo Leitão and João Almeida, for trusting me with this project.