Interview with BETINA IGNACIO LEAD VOCALIST OF Bê
1. What is your music background? (Who are you and your band members? Tell your story.)
My name is Betina Ignacio and I was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil. My mother is a German immigrant and my father is afro-Brazilian. I grew up in a mostly poor and lively neighbourhood, spending most of my time in the “Favela” (Brazilian slum) where my parents worked as social workers and co-founded the NGO “Monte Azul”. Later, I started studying theatre at the “Teatro Escola Celia Helena” in Sao Paulo but realized quite soon that I wanted to become a singer and not an actress.
To support my passion, I spent nearly one year handcrafting jewellery almost completely out of natural materials and selling it at the Theatre School and, at Sao Paulos big Hippie market. This was so that I could buy the ticket to Europe and pass the qualifying examination to study Singing at Stuttgart Music State University, where I graduated in the year 2007.
At the University I met the German musician Markus Schmidt and we immediately began to play together. Before we met he had already played and studied in France, Cuba, Brazil and Indonesia. Ever since that fateful meeting, we began to write all our songs together; Markus even produced our CDs, while playing drums, percussion and clarinet.
In the year 2006, I met the Brazilian Grammy-award winner and guitar player Luiz Brasil, who produced, wrote and played in our first album “Mistura Fina”, which was recorded in Salvador da Bahia. With his experience and expertise he really brought our work to a higher level. Without him I would not be where I am today or in the future.
In 2009, Markus and I produced our second album “Mistura Natural” in New York with the help of our dear friend Klaus Mueller, an excellent piano-player, composer and arranger who had already worked with Herbie Hancock and other great musicians. I had the great pleasure to record and work with the great engineer Dave Darlington. He made me feel so comfortable singing in his studio in Manhattan; his experience and confidence were amazing. He has won several Grammies working with such great artists like Wayne Shorter, Janet Jackson, Oleta Adams and lots more.
In the actual band we have Markus´long time friend and percussion teacher Edmundo Carneiro from Sao Paulo, who actually lives in Paris, France. World famous musicians like St. Germain, Tania Maria or Seu Jorge enjoy his outstanding musical abilities, expertise and charisma.
Coming from Salvador da Bahia in Brazil and now living in Cologne, Germany, the young guitar player Jonivon Freitas contributes with his excellent rhythmic guitar to our sound. Jonivon had accompanied the great Caetano Veloso before joining Bê
2. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)
The songs are basically about me-in the sense that I try to express and tell stories, feelings, and moments that I really live. Or long to live. Or never want to live again.
3. Who are your musical influences? (Cite specific examples.)
In my childhood I used to hear European classical music as well as Brazilian popular music like Samba, Bossa Nova and Jazz. I don´t really have an idol that I try to come close to, but I really like Sade, Djavan, Rosa Passos and Seu Jorge.
4. How do you describe your music to people?
…not easy…With one word I´d say World Pop, which is a mixture of Brazilian Popular music which includes Bossa Nova and Samba, Funk, Reggae and Jazz. In our shows we try to create a completely cosy and relaxed atmosphere. Normally we even start by playing and singing acoustically in the middle of the audience. Then we try to take the people to a trip to the ambience of a Brazilian sunset in Rio to a Party in Salvador da Bahia.
5. What image do you think your music conveys?
Joy. And a feeling of come-together.
6. What are your immediate music career goals?
Play some great concerts in Asia, have a successful tour in Germany and Switzerland, continue to compose the songs for the next album which is to come out 2011.
7. What are your long-term career goals as a musician?
I want to transport the joy I have as a singer and in life to the people who listen to my music and come to my shows. I want to continue singing, composing, producing CD´s, to make a career out of my passion
8. How would you define the word “success”?
To be able to live healthy, in peace and no fears doing what one really loves to do.
9. What live performance experience have you had? (Any industry showcases?)
In the beginning of my career I sang a lot of Cover music at all kinds of events, mostly corporate events for big brands like Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Fairs like the Millionaire Fairs in Cannes or Amsterdam, Grand-Hotels in St Moritz, Berlin or Paris. I quite liked the experience; I never hated it like some singers do. The experience I gained is immeasurable.
10. How do you rate your live performance ability?
It´s hard to rate myself. My biggest goal is to act on stage one hundred percent the same as I would in normal life…to act is not the right word…maybe to “Bê” the same person I am without being on stage. I never really prepared a dance choreography or words to say…which is sometimes very funny, especially when I see myself in a video after the show.
11. How do you feel about being able to perform here in Malaysia for the first time?
Very happy. I have never been to Asia but I always wanted to. Unfortunately I will stay only 10 days but I hope to get a good first impression and come back again a lot more in the future.
12. What is the music scene like in Brazil?
As music is constantly present and an essential part of life, the music scene is extremely vibrant and vibrating. It doesn´t matter if you are in a faraway village or in the midst of 20million people in Sao Paulo, everywhere surges new music, new artists, new styles, new remakes, new fusions. It is extremely hard to become famous and make a name; therefore it is extremely hard to earn money being a musician.
13. What can we expect from you and the band in the future?
A constant and down-to-earth career, hopefully steadily upwards and never forgetting the joy and awareness of the luck I have being able to do what I do.
14. List us 5 of the favourite Brazilian things you would like to introduce to us here in Malaysia:
As I don´t know Malaysia, it´s hard to mention things. Things that I really love about Brazil is the big spontaneity, the lust for life, the indestructible hopefulness, Maracuja-juice and the everywhere present hammocks that invite to a siesta any time of the day.
The most special thing about Brazil is named “Saudade”, a word that cannot be translated, describing a wonderful feeling about the ambiguity of Joy: When sadness inhabits happiness in the presentiment of loss or when joy inhabits sadness in the hope for better times. If you once cried smiling or smiled crying you probably had a moment of “Saudade”.
1. What is your music background?
My name is Betina Ignacio and I was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil. My mother is a German immigrant and my father is afro-Brazilian. I grew up in a mostly poor and lively neighbourhood, spending most of my time in the “Favela” (Brazilian slum) where my parents worked as social workers and co-founded the NGO “Monte Azul”. Later, I started studying theatre at the “Teatro Escola Celia Helena” in Sao Paulo but realized quite soon that I wanted to become a singer and not an actress.
To support my passion, I spent nearly one year handcrafting jewellery almost completely out of natural materials and selling it at the Theatre School and, at Sao Paulos big Hippie market. This was so that I could buy the ticket to Europe and pass the qualifying examination to study Singing at Stuttgart Music State University, where I graduated in the year 2007.
At the University I met the German musician Markus Schmidt and we immediately began to play together. Before we met he had already played and studied in France, Cuba, Brazil and Indonesia. Ever since that fateful meeting, we began to write all our songs together; Markus even produced our CDs, while playing drums, percussion and clarinet.
In the year 2006, I met the Brazilian Grammy-award winner and guitar player Luiz Brasil, who produced, wrote and played in our first album “Mistura Fina”, which was recorded in Salvador da Bahia. With his experience and expertise he really brought our work to a higher level. Without him I would not be where I am today or in the future.
In 2009, Markus and I produced our second album “Mistura Natural” in New York with the help of our dear friend Klaus Mueller, an excellent piano-player, composer and arranger who had already worked with Herbie Hancock and other great musicians. I had the great pleasure to record and work with the great engineer Dave Darlington. He made me feel so comfortable singing in his studio in Manhattan; his experience and confidence were amazing. He has won several Grammies working with such great artists like Wayne Shorter, Janet Jackson, Oleta Adams and lots more.
In the actual band we have Markus´long time friend and percussion teacher Edmundo Carneiro from Sao Paulo, who actually lives in Paris, France. World famous musicians like St. Germain, Tania Maria or Seu Jorge enjoy his outstanding musical abilities, expertise and charisma.
Coming from Salvador da Bahia in Brazil and now living in Cologne, Germany, the young guitar player Jonivon Freitas contributes with his excellent rhythmic guitar to our sound. Jonivon had accompanied the great Caetano Veloso before joining Bê
2. What are your songs about?
The songs are basically about me-in the sense that I try to express and tell stories, feelings, and moments that I really live. Or long to live. Or never want to live again.
3. Who are your musical influences?
In my childhood I used to hear European classical music as well as Brazilian popular music like Samba, Bossa Nova and Jazz. I don´t really have an idol that I try to come close to, but I really like Sade, Djavan, Rosa Passos and Seu Jorge.
4. How do you describe your music to people?
…not easy…With one word I´d say World Pop, which is a mixture of Brazilian Popular music which includes Bossa Nova and Samba, Funk, Reggae and Jazz. In our shows we try to create a completely cosy and relaxed atmosphere. Normally we even start by playing and singing acoustically in the middle of the audience. Then we try to take the people to a trip to the ambience of a Brazilian sunset in Rio to a Party in Salvador da Bahia.
5. What image do you think your music conveys?
Joy. And a feeling of come-together.
6. What are your immediate music career goals?
Play some great concerts in Asia, have a successful tour in Germany and Switzerland, continue to compose the songs for the next album which is to come out 2011.
7. What are your long-term career goals as a musician?
I want to transport the joy I have as a singer and in life to the people who listen to my music and come to my shows. I want to continue singing, composing, producing CD´s, to make a career out of my passion.
8. How would you define the word “success”?
To be able to live healthy, in peace and no fears doing what one really loves to do.
9. What live performance experience have you had?
In the beginning of my career I sang a lot of Cover music at all kinds of events, mostly corporate events for big brands like Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Fairs like the Millionaire Fairs in Cannes or Amsterdam, Grand-Hotels in St Moritz, Berlin or Paris. I quite liked the experience; I never hated it like some singers do. The experience I gained is immeasurable.
10. How do you rate your live performance ability?
It´s hard to rate myself. My biggest goal is to act on stage one hundred percent the same as I would in normal life…to act is not the right word…maybe to “Bê” the same person I am without being on stage. I never really prepared a dance choreography or words to say…which is sometimes very funny, especially when I see myself in a video after the show.
11. How do you feel about being able to perform here in Malaysia for the first time?
Very happy. I have never been to Asia but I always wanted to. Unfortunately I will stay only 10 days but I hope to get a good first impression and come back again a lot more in the future.
12. What is the music scene like in Brazil?
As music is constantly present and an essential part of life, the music scene is extremely vibrant and vibrating. It doesn´t matter if you are in a faraway village or in the midst of 20million people in Sao Paulo, everywhere surges new music, new artists, new styles, new remakes, new fusions. It is extremely hard to become famous and make a name; therefore it is extremely hard to earn money being a musician.
13. What can we expect from you and the band in the future?
A constant and down-to-earth career, hopefully steadily upwards and never forgetting the joy and awareness of the luck I have being able to do what I do.
14. List us 5 of the favourite Brazilian things you would like to introduce to us here in Malaysia:
As I don´t know Malaysia, it´s hard to mention things. Things that I really love about Brazil is the big spontaneity, the lust for life, the indestructible hopefulness, Maracuja-juice and the everywhere present hammocks that invite to a siesta any time of the day.
The most special thing about Brazil is named “Saudade”, a word that cannot be translated, describing a wonderful feeling about the ambiguity of Joy: When sadness inhabits happiness in the presentiment of loss or when joy inhabits sadness in the hope for better times. If you once cried smiling or smiled crying you probably had a moment of “Saudade”.
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