Interview // With Minta

Francisca Cortesão is Minta is a very lovely singer-songwriter who got together with Mariana Ricardo (bass and ukulele), Manuel Dordio (guitars and lap steel) and Nuno Pessoa (drums) and together they've created Minta & The Brook Trout.

There's no way to distinguish one from another because they are deeply connected.

From Virginia Woolf to the connection to the US, passing through the Portuguese friends and her inspiration, this interview only shows how kind and lovely Minta is and how her personality is reflected in her songs.

Fuck Yeah Music Stories:  Hello! Your name is Francisca but your artistic name is Minta. Where did your inspiration for the name come from? Which name would you rather be recognized?
Francisca Cortesão - Minta:  Hey, there. I got it from Virginia Woolf's To The Lighthouse – there's a Minta Doyle in there, and I liked the name. Either name is fine for public recognition, as it were, but I only use Minta as a singer-songwriter.

FYMS:  Your new record – Olympia – that was recently released and it’s available as free download on Optimus Discos website. How did that happen?
F - M: Henrique Amaro, Optimus Discos’ artistic director, invited us to release an album through the label. We were lucky enough to come into the project just as they decided to start releasing full albums, besides EPs.

FYMS: You have been working with The Brook Trout. There is something that is a bit hard to explain to people, you are a band aren’t you? How did this close relationship started?
F - M: We are indeed a band, but, at least so far, I've been doing all the songwriting. I started working with Manuel Dordio (guitar) and Mariana Ricardo (bass, ukulele, vox) in the spring of 2009, shortly after I released Minta's debut EP. I was their fan and asked them if they were willing to try and play with me – gladly they went along with the idea, and we discovered we had wonderful chemistry from the beginning. The two of them recorded Minta & The Brook Trout (2009) with me, along with José Vilão on drums, as a guest. Nuno Pessoa (drums and vox) joined us to play live as soon as the record came out, in the fall on 2009, and has since been a committed Brook Trout.

FYMS: A few weeks, you made the first part for Old Jerusalem’s show in CCB. Which were your expectations? How did it go?
F - M: I've been a fan of Old Jerusalem's for years; it was an honor to open for his band and a pleasure to share the stage with all of them. We joined them to play Neil Young's "Out on the Weekend" at the end – it was a treat.

FYMS:  It’s usual to see you perform with different artists like You Can’t Win, Charlie Brown or Walter Benjamin. How did those collaborations happen?
F - M: Each one has a different story behind them, but they all come about out of friendship and pleasure to be a part of each other's music.

FYMS:  You are also part of David Fonseca’s tour band. Who did you find that opportunity? Is it easy to combine both things?
F - M: I basically responded to a job offer and was accepted! It's a pleasure to play with David and his band, and I've been learning a lot from it.

FYMS:  On your Olympia, music folk is really present and it’s almost possible to see some US culture inspiration as well. Were they part of the inspiration for the record?
F - M: Yes, for sure.

FYMS:  You toured the US with another project ‘They’re Heading West’. How did the experience go?
F - M: It was too good to put into words. We posted on our tumblr page while on tour, it tells a bit of the story: http://theyreheadingwest.tumblr.com/.

FYMS:  How has been the transition from Minta since the solo project until now, with your new record and The Brook Trout?
F - M: I think the best answer to that is in listening to the records, they're all available for full streaming on our bandcamp page: http://minta.bandcamp.com/.

FYMS: Why the name “Olympia” for this work? And which is the relation with the record’s design? F - M: Olympia is the capital of Washington State. It's a beautiful name, and it is a kind of homage to the North American West Coast, its landscapes and its music.

FYMS: As a singer-songwriter, what inspires you the most to compose your songs?
F - M: People, both real and fictional.

FYMS:  You and Mariana Ricardo have produced your previous record, but in Olympia you had the opportunity to work with Roger Siebel and Nelson Carvalho. How did they influenced/changed your record?
F - M: Nelson Carvalho is an absolute master; recording with him was as smooth as it comes. Roger Siebel, who mastered the album, we only worked with from a distance, but I really like the sound he came up with.

FYMS:  Do you feel more comfortable as a singer or as a songwriter?
F - M: Both – I love singing on other people's songs, and I also take great joy in singing and writing my own.

FYMS: What do you think of music made in Portugal, nowadays?
F - M: I can tell you a few Portuguese artists I love: Julie & The Carjackers, Márcia, You Can't Win Charlie Brown, Norberto Lobo, Old Jerusalem, Deolinda.

FYMS: How is your relationship with your fans?
F - M: It's wonderful to have people listen to the music we put out there. I try to do my part as best as I can.

FYMS: Complete these sentences...
a) One Day...                      
F - M:  ... We'll get to record an album in the US.
b) The best thing people can say about me...                  
F - M: ... Let them come up with that one.

c) And the worst...
F - M: ...  and that one too.
d) In ten years...
F - M: ... We'll be in 2022. How weird is that?

FYMS: What would you tell to FYMS readers?
F - M: Go catch us live! Tour dates on our website: www.minta.me 

[Special thanks to Minta for her time and sweetness and to Raquel Lains for everything]

Minta + The Brook Trout, Falcon

In 2009, Francisca Cortesão - a singer-songwriter very keen on guitars - found the need to create a band.
Mariana Ricardo (bass and ukulele), Manuel Dordio (guitars and lap steel) and Nuno Pessoa (drums) joined in and together they've created Minta & The Brook Trout.

In 2009, they released the homonymous record - very acclaimed by local critics showing how unexpected, poetic and how incredible and sublime they were. In 2011, they released Carnide - a live album recorded in December 2010 that counted with a huge guests including Márcia, Noiserv and Walter Benjamin.

Three years and several performances and collaborations after, they are releasing their second record: Olympia.
During the last years, they took the time to write and compose each song with a very relaxed inspiration, creating the best way to show their talent, once again, to the world.
Olympia was recorded between Lisbon and Phoenix with the help of Nelson Carvalho, being masterized by Roger Siebel and produced by Minta and Mariana Ricardo, after a busy but sucessful North American tour with They're Heading West, a side project with Sérgio Nascimento from Humanos and João Correia from Julie & The Carjackers. The record is set to be released next September through Optimus Discos.

Falcon is the first single from Olympia. On this song, they've invited Afonso Cabral and Salvador Menezes (You Can't Win, Charlie Brown) and Madalena Palmeirim (Nome Comum) on the chorus and João Cabrita on the wind instruments.

Falcon's process was quick and fit right away on the record's spirit. It's described to be a very classy pop song, almost mistaken by The Beatles earliest songs.
The background is clear - a person that tries to be tough during desperate moments.

The song has everything to shine.

themed week // David Fonseca, What Life Is For

This themed week is going to be very exciting. I've been thinking about doing it for a long time but there wasn't enough to do it properly.

I've been noticing that many artists are releasing new works, such as singles, albums or projects, during the next few months. So, this themed week is going to be related with the most recent singles taken from albums to be released between February and March. Curious to check my discoveries?

Last night, the Portuguese artist David Fonseca released his new single being included on the first album Rising from the project Seasons - to be released in March 21. The second part of Seasons, which is going to be named Falling is due to be released on next September 21. Read our post about it, clicking here.

The principal objective is to share Fonseca's life for an year on music - the deadline is March 2013.

What Life Is For is the presentation single for the first album Rising, from Seasons. The song has the contribution of Sérgio Nascimento on drums, Francisca Cortesão (Minta) on backing vocals and Rui Maia (from X-Wife) on keyboards. The production was done by David himself and Nelson Carvalho.

"A million stars up in the sky

Now can you tell me which one am I?

I never felt like this before

And my heart keeps wanting more

Then let’s not hide it, I won’t hide it anymore

Who knows what life is for?"

Follow this themed week clicking here. 


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