Ricardo Ribeiro brings the portugality in his heart but embraces other musicality with the same passionate momentum, that makes him a unique voice in the world of fado. "memory square" is his last record and it is an example of how life, friends and affections mark his personal journey generously embraced also his career.
His last record work, "memory, square" was named best album of 2013.
Ricardo Ribeiro: Yes, fortunately for some entities.
Then this record also defines you as an artist? It was your best?
RR: Maybe it's one that best defines me. But I still have a long way to go. I do not have a knack, not a lot of freedom, let's just say, to quantify what I do, I can say that is a very lucid and generous from the people who I gathered on the CD and also by the type of repertoire work.
What does "memory square" far from the "door of the heart"?
RR: The "door of the heart" is a work full of traditional fado, ie, no approaches to other musical genres. Indeed, what distance this album from my previous current records is that it already meets other genres that embrace with the same love and tenderness, as fado. Hence the Arabic music, baroque, finally, the friends I work with and have great musical partnerships, not to mention the emotional part, as is with Pedro Jóia, the Rabih Abou-Khalil, Pedro Caldeira Cabral and Ricardo Rocha. Anyway, a lot of interesting people who gathered on this work that moves away from others and it has still different fados with Portuguese guitar.
Both the anthology, as the "door of the heart" are records of traditional fado, then how is it jumps onto an album of Portuguese and Arabic music, in a medium as traditional as is the fado?
RR: When I worked with Rabih Abou-Khalil had no desire to be, or approaching fado, ie, I was a Portuguese who happens to be singer, singing songs with his band since 2005's. The album only came out in 2008 but continues to work. At the time, it was viewed with amazement, people were much admired with that way of singing and I still reap the fruits of that work.
The next album will be more songs written by Ricardo Ribeiro?
RR: In this album there is a composition of mine that I dare to play guitar and that I dedicated to my daughter, who is called "when you were born." I have another theme, which is the "song to follow" which is a mine and Pedro Caldeira Cabral's melody and the verses are Manuel Alegre and Francisco Gaspar. In a next album will be much more my compositions and Pedro Jóia. In fact, he participates in "memory square" and I have faith that we do soon a albun in which we both could embrace music.
When you intend to lauch this new CD?
RR: I do not know yet, the "memory square" is still so little, was born in October 2013 has yet to live a long life.
With a career that began from a young age, why only four albums?
RR: I do not have records just to do it, I only do it when I need to say something to the listeners, have ideas and meanings defined. Do not do it because it is an obligation. The titles have to do with life experience, the "memory square" was inspired by a great Portuguese poet who is José Régio, from Portalegre. Are my moods and what I'm feeling when I edit albuns is when life goes forward and then feel that need.
Fado besides being immaterial legacy of humanity, thanks to Carlos do Carmo earned a grammy. You think this international recognition opens more doors for professionals like Ricardo Ribeiro?
RR: Oh yes, and always opens doors, there is no room for doubt. Fado is increasingly popular, with more power and affirmation either in Portugal or beyond.
And you feel it when sing abroad?
RR: I feel it perfectly.
But they still refer to Amalia?
RR: Always. Is still a name that is already mention and today they speak of Mariza and Misia. But first is the name of Amalia.
http://www.ricardoribeiro.pt/#!biography/cn8h
