10 Questions For: Cláudia Pascoal

INTERVIEW

Her career had just begun, and she was already going international: as quickly as anyone could ever dream, she was showcasing her talented voice to a large European audience. Now, after a short break, she is back, with a new single and an album in preparation. And she took a bit of her time to talk to us about all of this. These are our 10 questions for Cláudia Pascoal:

Sounds European!: Let's start this interview talking about your history. What are your first memories with music? What did you use to listen during your childhood?

Cláudia Pascoal: The warmest memories I have, related to music, in my childhood, are the car trips with my family while listening to Marante's cassettes, and "cleaning the house" moments while listening to Roberto Carlos's vinyl. My family has always had fun with music, so I have always found it fascinating to entertain my family and friends with it, with music.

SE!: You began your career taking part of some talent shows (including the Portuguese versions of Idols, The X Factor and The Voice). What took you to enter these competitions? How were your experiences in them? What did you learn from these moments, that you took to the future of your professional career?

CP: I competed in these shows never for the purpose of winning, but to realize how far I could go, and to understand the television industry. The process of making creative content has always fascinated me, and I thought, at the time, that it would be a good learning experience. It turned out to be exactly that, a good way to learn and be in the television industry – and on this path, I met unbelievable people, who now, some of them, are my closest friends.

SE!: In 2018, you won Festival da Canção with "O jardim". Tell us about that moment. How did you get invited to participate? And why did you decide to embark on the adventure? After winning, how did it feel to have your music recognized in such a prestigious festival in your country?

CP: I was invited by the songwriter, Isaura. At the time, I was still in The Voice Portugal and I was super excited, of course. The whole experience was super positive. I met incredible people who are now helping me to make my way in music.

SE!: Your victory on Festival da Canção granted you the right to represent your country on Eurovision, on home soil. How did you live that experience? And what are the greatest memories you keep from that moment?

CP: It is a great honor to represent my country while being exactly in it. What I keep, with a lot of affection, is the union of so many people, Portuguese and not Portuguese, for a song they liked and felt identified with.

SE!: You have recently released "Ter e não ter", your first single in almost a year. Why did you decide to take this (small) break before another single? And speaking of the track, what is the story behind it? How would you describe it?

CP: At the moment, I am recording my album, and I am very enthusiastic about it. But I like to do things calmly and understand the right path for each song.

"Ter e não ter" is a song of mine, written by Miguel Lestre (lead singer of Prana). It talks about distance relationships, which sometimes dissolve, but are kept forever (a little of what happened to me during Eurovision). It is a theme which is dear to me, and I hope that a lot of people will be able to connect to it, as much as I do.

"My songs are just an expression of my fascination with other people's work"

SE!: You are now working on the release of a studio album. What can you tell us about the process of recording? In what stages are you involved? Did any of the stages make you more excited? And what can we expect from the album?

CP: At this time, the album is in the recording stage, and it's being built by people I love. The album is being produced by Tiago Bettencourt and, at the beginning, we had a stage of exploration – setting an aesthetic direction for the whole album that could embrace all of my personality, which is basically created by "unicorns". Now, we are in the stage of rehearsals and recording. It is being really exciting to me, because all the planned work is finally taking shape. There are some guests, songs of mine, songs of friends, music with love.

SE!: We feel that your music is quite unique and, especially, intimate. What do you like your music to produce in the audience? What genres and artists inspire you for your sound? And how would you describe your music, in your own words?

CP: I don't really like to think about what my music causes, or how it can be translated. I just feel that, sometimes, things can't stay in the drawer and I have to share them, so that someone can feel what I feel or connect with the same feeling that I'm singing. We are surrounded by unbelievable artists who inspire me every day. Not just music artists, but writers, painters... humans! My songs are just an expression of my fascination with other people's work.

SE!: If you could choose anyone, who would be some Portuguese and international artists you would like to collaborate with?

CP: The artists I am collaborating with in my album are already the artists that I have always dreamed to collaborate. That is why I feel that I am really living a dream. To know who they are, you will have to wait for the album release! :)

SE!: Besides the album, what are your plans for the remaining of 2019? What can your fans expect from you?

CP: I will continue to be myself, create a cartoon named "Blah", always go a little out of the usual with making music, keep looking for what is "beyond" and different, and I hope: many concerts!

SE!: We would like to finish this interview with a song of yours. What is your favorite song by Cláudia Pascoal, and why?

CP: At the moment, "Ter e não ter". I went through a phase of doubt, and realized that life comes down to this sentence:

"To want and not to want anymore, even divided, I give life to you".

When in doubt, always love.