Dear Telephone, That Violin Lesson Sucks

Dear Telephone are a band created in 2010 and composed by Graciela Coelho (vocals), André Simão (vocals, bass and guitars), Paulo Araújo (sax and keyboards) and Pedro Oliveira (drums).

Their name comes from Peter Greenaway's 1976 short-film Dear Phone and represents their minimal sound, their "cheesy pocket dramas" and mostly their personality and difference.

The band's name is also a metaphor for "incommunication; in alignment with everyday life, it has both a cynical and dazzling look over popular culture" as available on their official biography.

They released their debut EP Birth of a Robot, through PAD, in March 2011.
This new EP is a fun ride through the poetry of the night and the colourful literary and cinematographic references that deeply influence their composition and music.

Their first album Taxi Ballad is going to be released next May 6th and the single in advance is That Violin Lesson Sucks.
This single is catchy, it takes you to an emotional journey.
With whispered voices, soft drums and sweet keyboards, this song puts you in a weird dream that you can't run away from but it doesn't mean that it makes you feel uncomfortable, actually it is really easy to embrace all the song's spirit and softness.

This is a really strong presentation song. It gives big prospects to the upcoming album.

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oLudo, Queria Ficar Sem Receios

oLudo are a Portuguese band created in August 2005 by Davide Anjos (vocals and guitars), Nuno Campos (keyboards), João Baptista (guitars and vocals), Paulo Ferreirim (bass guitar) and Filipe Cabeçadas (drums).

With the previous drummer Manuel Ramires, they participated on MAIS Música 2006 - where they reached the second place and also the best cover for O Outro from Adriana Calcanhoto.

In 2009, they've released their debut EP Nascituro - which was being prepared since 2007 -, with six songs that represented oLudo's energy and sound.
A Minha Grande Culpa was included on the compilation Novos Talentos FNAC of the same year.
In 2010, they are invited by Henrique Amaro to record their other EP Mil Tentações and released through Optimus Discos.
They also participated on the Antena 3's festival Portugália - 3 Pistas playing songs with simpler approaches.

Almirante is the name of the new record but also it's the main character - a "being" with strange features that is somehow familiar. Resembles the ocean, the Portuguese wild spirit but it keeps being a simple and remarkable figure for those who dare to listen. 

This record talks about life, adventures, friendships and lost lovers - at the end, it is a reflection of what we live, a reflection of the present itself.

Queria Ficar Sem Receios is the new exciting single from oLudo taken from Almirante (and available on the band's website).

Just as their previous Fica Não Te Vás Daqui, the new single brings a new world of sensation and it's strong enough to make you travel to another world and touch your hidden-inner-self.

"Queria, ficar sem receios

Ler-te um verso do meu livro

Leva-me ao colo não me importo

Trata de mim"

Márcia, A Pele Que Há Em Mim

Márcia Santos, or just Márcia, is a Portuguese artist from Lisbon.
Inspired by her older brother, she always tried to imitate him starting to play organ and later discovering the guitar, receiving her first guitar - around her 13 years after convincing her father to give her one - that she describes as "(...) terrible. It was so bad that I had to play with my ear neat the guitar box to hear the sound."

She has a graduation in Painting, taken in the Lisbon's Fine Arts University, probably due to her father's profession - he was also a painter.
Márcia is usually compared to female artists like Carla Bruni or Adriana Calcanhotto because just like them, she goes to stage only with her voice and her guitar, being very uncommon in Portugal - not only for being a woman but for doing it solo.

She started to write in Portuguese, during her Erasmus trip in France where she felt alone and discovered how unique her mother language was, until then she only wrote in English.

Dá is released in 2010, a year after Márcia's self-titled EP release through Optimus Discos and mentioned as Fnac's "New Talent 2009".
This record is incredibly easy to listen. She plays a lot with the words and the arrangements have touches of acoustic and soft-rock.
From Dá we can recognize Cabra Cega, Pra Quem Quer or A Pele Que Há Em Mim

This record is going to be released this year, counting with a version of A Pele Que Há Em Mim with the Portuguese artist JP Simões.

"E a calma a aguardar lugar em mim
O desejo a contar segundo o fim.
Foi num ar que te deu
E o teu canto mudou
E o teu corpo do meu"