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]
