Here is an English translation of the latest Kiko Loureiro's blog post for Guitar Player published on past November 12th !
The guitarist explains what happen in the "off season" between studio and tour with his band Angra !
"And after recordings ?
Working hard, long, entrancing and when it's ready, gives us a sense of relief, completing a task. Creating, composing, rehearsing, discussing, analyzing, deciding, designing, recording, mixing, mastering. This is what we make with our musical ideas. Now it's over, turned into Aqua, the new Angra's album.
It took many months to develop our ideas and present them to everyone. When you think the work is completed, there is a side that appears more difficult. What to do with those 50 minutes of music ? Sure, create a cover and a booklet, taking beautifull photos and well presented, representing something as ethereal as music. And then ? With tracks and booklet ready set, starts another step. An intermediate phase between studio and shows. How to make the work recorded to the highest number of persons to be interested in hear new songs live ?
In Angra's case, we deal with countries of different cultures, in which each label has its own way of creating the expectation of the launch - How coordinate when the cover and the first song will be released, what better time to release the full CD. And what will be the single ? Japanese want speed music. German likes heavier. Brazilian wants everything, speed, heavy, and catchy tune ballad.
And we have to circumvent the MP3 effect which can get out ahead of time and destroy the hope, anyway , as the writer Antoine de Saint-Exupery said, everything looks better when we look for a certain something.
Time because wait is enjoyable and also amplifies the emotion.
Tireless meetings to define ways of marketing to create desire in people to listen to the album. How to distribute the album in Brazil, since we were well advised abroad with major labels, while here the territory is vast and eclectic ? We need to schedule pocket shows in megastores, broadcasting in radios, travel for sales campaign, chats and chats on the internet, making collective and individual interviews. Give priority to internet or magazines ? Exclusive photos for any media outlet ? Where to advertise ? Renegotiation of album contracts, advance royalties for record labels ... Another important fact : who collects and edits copyrights of the songs ? Each territory in the world has its own peculiar society of authors and composers.
And before that, there is the preparation of the ISRC, the DNA of the album where all the official informations regarding the release are digitally recorded.
And music itself, which fits into this epic bureaucratic ? rehearsals must be multiplied to add the new compositions to the main of our career. Rafael Bittencourt and I must relearn the songs we just recorded, because as each recorded a track, we must teach each other how each song was exactly played, in order to staying true with the album in live performances. So we need ton conduct several rehearsals together before joining the band. Some changes and rearrangements are necessary to turn numerous guitars recorded into two guitars on stage.
And about stage, we have also to reshape the look, to decide the background art and scenery. besides the art itself, weight, portability, security and resistance are important factors for a beautiful "backdrop". There are still isssues of lighting, techincal staff and equipement to be renovated for the tour.
And of course, we can't forget TV. Talks and talks to decide how and when we will produce video-clip and guidelines for us to be in television programs.
in this off-season studio / shows, many things are prepared and defined. Increasingly proving that when it comes to artistic expression, career development and a solid campaign's for new album, music is a part of the whole, not the absolute whole."
For more news : Kiko Loureiro Official Blog
