SONHOS TOMAM CONTA - Interview

ETHEREAL.PRESS

Tell us about, 'sonhos tomam conta.'

sonhos tomam conta

“sonhos tomam conta” is my main solo project. I release stuff there to explore different ways of painting alternative rock dreamscapes, always experimenting with new ways of creating sounds. I created this project to express artistically those feelings present throughout my life of depersonalization, dissociation, delirium, and maladaptive daydreaming; “sonhos tomam conta” means “dreams take over” in English. Making music is the only way I could find to translate this psychotic, delusional feeling of being out of contact with reality into something that keeps me grounded somehow.

Art makes me feel truly understood like there is actually a place for me in the world.

ETHEREAL.PRESS

Talk to us a bit about your 2021 project, 'Downfall of The Neon Youth.'

sonhos tomam conta

DOTNY is a project that truly changed my life, and I’ll always be grateful for Parannoul, Asian Glow and Matt from Longinus. Working with them completely changed my perspective on making music, they showed me so many more nuances through their unique artistic vision, and I feel honestly privileged to be able to witness their music-making process so closely.

I’m very thankful for this opportunity and the doors they opened for me, but I’m especially thankful for our friendship, it means the world to me.

ETHEREAL.PRESS

One of the things I appreciate about this collaboration is how so many different languages are mixed (Korean, English, and Portuguese).

Was it difficult to conceptualize a collaborative album with all the different language influences?

sonhos tomam conta

As someone who has been so lonely throughout all my life, as someone who never really had a band, as a terminally online person who only learned how to live through the internet due to the lack of social skills and impulses of self-isolation, the language barrier was the least of the problems. We all could communicate very easily because we all understood each other effortlessly, after all we’re very much alike. The idea of a multilanguage album was very appealing to us to show how people from opposite parts of the world could connect with each other. We all feel alienated the same way, it’s hard not to.

ETHEREAL.PRESS

How would you describe your sound?

sonhos tomam conta

I like to describe the sound of my both aliases (sonhos and moondaughter) as dreams, simply put. They can be haunting and beautiful, carrying a sense of eeriness. Sometimes it feels like my distorted perception of reality but in a very comforting way. Afterall, real life sorrow, depression and suicidal thoughts lacks a deep sense of meaning.

On some psychotic episodes, I catch myself hallucinating cameras on the corners of my bedroom, broadcasting to a non-existent audience my suffering, as if it were just a theatrical performance. Just because all that suffering by itself lacks purpose, feels empty. I like to describe my sound as a way to transform the delusional life I’ve always had into something meaningful, some dream that can bring some comfort.

Art has this magical effect that creates meaning and purpose, making it possible to connect with others who feel the same way.

ETHEREAL.PRESS

One of our standout listens from last year was your project titled, 'Insolação.' can you talk to us a bit about that project?

sonhos tomam conta

‘Insolação’ is one of my favorite projects. I was in a very good place mentally when I made it, and it helped me a lot to focus on doing stuff I genuinely appreciate without much pressure. It feels warm, longing and heartwarming to me. ‘Saudade’ is one of those Portuguese words with no perfect English translation, but that is the exact feeling it brings me.

At the time, I had the company of one of the most important persons I had in my life, who made me feel so happy and understood, but now she is no longer with us. I still think about her everyday. Despite everything, this EP means so much to me cause It reminds me somehow that I can still find happiness.

ETHEREAL.PRESS

How did growing up in Brazil influence you creatively?

sonhos tomam conta

I like to think how every piece of art has an inherent metadata attached to it. Things can only exist the way they are because they originated from a certain time and place. I listened to Brazilian music all my life and it always influenced me very deeply on my music vocabulary. Consciously or not, I’m always taking inspiration from samba, MPB and bossa-nova to make my compositions a little more flavourful, to better represent who I am. After all, I’m a Brazilian zoomer, who grew up alienated and poor with almost no resources.

I had to figure out how to do my stuff with the little resources I had, just like many of my inspirations. It’s no wonder I make internet music, and I’m content with it. It makes sense.

ETHEREAL.PRESS

What do you hope that fans take away from your work?

sonhos tomam conta

I’m always very open to my fans when it comes to my music.

I like to talk a bit about every album I release, it seems like many of them relate to what I’m saying on many levels. I feel very bad for not being able to respond to many of their DMs or for disappearing from time to time.

Life can get really hard sometimes. But I think they can understand it.

ETHEREAL.PRESS

What's next for 'sonhos tomam conta?'

sonhos tomam conta

I’m feeling very lost artistically, alienated and lacking purpose. I want to do different stuff from now on, but I’m lacking so much motivation. It’s really hard to always do everything just by yourself, it feels like I’m getting lost in my own delusional mind traps. This year I want to do lots of stuff I’ve never done before... I want to make lots of collabs with different artists to explore those new sounds, to complement each other into something that feels unique.

I also want to keep working on my side ambient project, moondaughter. I released an album with this alias on November/22, “phosphenes and iridescent lights”. It helped me a lot to cope with the loss of my loved one who I referred on ‘insolação’. I discovered how much I love to make ambient songs, and to be honest it is my favorite project to date. I really hope to be able to release lots of stuff this year.

I’ll try my best.

sonhos tomam conta: BANDCAMP - INSTAGRAM - TWITTER

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