Artist Interviews

Q&A: Bebel Gilberto

By | Published on Thursday 5 August 2010

Bebel Gilberto

The daughter of Brazilian singers Joao Gilberto and singer Miúcha, Bebel Gilberto has been performing in Rio de Janeiro from a young age – appearing on her mother’s first solo album at the age of seven.

Her own debut album, ‘Tanto Tempo’, which was released in 2000, was nominated for two Latin Grammy Awards. Her fourth album, ‘All In One’, was released at the end of last year and was her first for Universal jazz imprint Verve Records. Ahead of her gig at Koko in London on 6 Aug, we caught up with Bebel to find out more.

Q1 How did you start out making music?
I started making music without really being aware of it. I constantly sang with my parents at gigs when I was small. Then I started working on jingles and finally did my first recording with my mom on her debut solo album aged seven. After that we moved back to New York and I performed for the first time on stage at the Carnegie Hall with mom and Stan Getz. I got this gig because my dad was ill and he wanted me stand in for him.

Q2 What inspired your latest album?
Love. For the first time I had the privilege of working with my husband and that helps a lot. I also had the pleasure of having great producers like Carlinhos Brown, John King from The Dust Brothers, Daniel Jobim, Mario Caldato, Mark Ronson and Didi Gutman – all people I’m a big fan of!

Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
I basically follow my instincts. And as I’m also an arranger, when I’m creating a track, I know what I want. So that helps to get the right sounds and beats from the producers.

Q4 Which artists influence your work?
Many, from Michael Jackson, Duran Duran, George Gershwin, Earth Wind and Fire, João Gilberto to João Donato.

Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
That my sound is a mix of Brazilian styles with lots of influence from other genres of music I’ve heard over the years. I always try to say that I don’t do bossa nova, but sometimes I catch myself saying that my music remains bossa nova, but with a Bebel touch. I hate to label the type of music I do.

Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
My ambitions with my latest album, which is the first one on a major, were to reach a much bigger audience. Because the music business is collapsing I wasn’t that lucky, but now what I most like is to perform around the world and do what I like to call Bebel’s music.

MORE>> www.bebelgilberto.com



READ MORE ABOUT: