Rodrigo Leão Presents New Album in Tenerife Debut

Portuguese music icon Rodrigo Leão is presenting his new album, 'O rapaz da montanha' (The Mountain Boy), this evening at 7:30 PM. The concert will take place in the Chamber Hall of the Auditorio de Tenerife. This will be his first visit to the Canary Islands, a trip he has long wished to make.

Leão explains that 'O rapaz da montanha' stands out for several reasons. It's entirely sung in Portuguese and features more vocal tracks than many of his previous works. The album also incorporates many traditional Portuguese percussion instruments and a more prominent classical guitar sound, thanks to his long-time friend and Madredeus bandmate, Josep Soto. He believes Soto's contribution is key to the album's unique sound. The music also draws inspiration from 1970s Portuguese composers like José Alfonso, José Mario Branco, and Sergio Budín. Notably, the album was created during the 50th anniversary of the Portuguese revolution and includes lyrics by his wife that touch on themes such as women's rights. Leão acknowledges a "somewhat political side" to the album, stating that while he doesn't "strongly associate" with these specific political topics, he identifies as a man of the left.

He confirms recent performances in Spain, including Madrid and Barakaldo a couple of weeks ago, and hopes for more next year. Leão recalls having more concerts in Spain when he began his solo career in the 1990s. He emphasizes the strong connection between Portugal and Spain, expressing his pleasure in continuing to share his music with his "Spanish brothers."

Despite being called the "most relevant figure" in Portuguese music, Leão humbly states he doesn't feel a huge responsibility, believing there are many better musicians in his country. He acknowledges his good fortune in being part of groups like Madredeus, where he learned immensely and toured globally. He continues to forge his own musical path, drawing on diverse influences from British pop to classical music. Leão stresses the importance of avoiding monotony and values the opportunity to collaborate with talented musicians from other countries whom he deeply admires.

His creative method remains consistent, driven primarily by intuition. He estimates that about half of his inspiration comes from the journeys people undertake and the places they discover.

Leão reveals a childhood dream of composing for cinema. He has been fortunate to work on several film projects and continues to create music for documentaries. While he enjoys this work, he admits he wouldn't want it to be his sole focus.