Not afraid to experiment

Azorean contemporary musical project “O Experimentar Na M’Incomoda” turns 7 years-old

Rogério Sousa
Aug 25, 2017 · 3 min read

“O Experimentar Na M’Incomoda” is a «contemporary recreation of azorean traditional music. Using ancient folk songs, religious chants and whaler’s songs from one of the Portuguese archipelagos, lost in the middle of the Atlantic, they re-contextualize songs and sounds giving them a contemporary and urban feel.»

“O Experimentar na M’Incomoda” (Pedro Lucas)

This is how the band presents itself on their bandcamp page: a recreation of traditional Azorean music, with the use of digital and electronic sounds mixed together with traditional islander folclore, religious chants and whaler’s songs from Pedro Luca’s birthplace: the Archipelago of the Azores.

Their first album came like a stone thrown in a somewhat quiet puddle of Azorean music, with songs like “Ilhas de Bruma” with islander singer Zeca Medeiros, or “Caracol” by Carlos Medeiros tearing away the traditional clothing that we are all used to. Two traditional azorean songs reinvented and remixed with electronic and industrial sounds. No regrets and no boundaries for experimentation. Because this is what they are all about. “O Experimentar Na M’Incomoda” means “To Experiment doesn’t bother me”

Pedro Lucas and Carlos Medeiros (“Público” Newspaper)

The name of the band is a reference to Carlos Medeiros’ LP intitled “O Cantar na m’Incomoda” (Singing doesn’t bother me), which came out in January 1, 1998. This album was the inspiration for “O Experimentar Na M’Incomoda” debut album “Septimus” (buy)and included remixes of Carlos Medeiros’ recordings, such as “O Caracol”, “Lenga lenga”, “Santiana”, “As Vacas” and “Rema”. Besides these five songs, the first album also contains Azorean traditional classics, such as: “Ilhas de Bruma”, “Fiando o linho”, “Foliões”, “Bela-Aurora” e “Os Bravos”.

Thank goodness there are musicians like these. They deconstruct everyday habits of the Azorean inhabitant, mixing popular music with religious chants, traditional musical instruments with contemporary and digital loops, songs and lullabies. They mix, with no shame or regret, the deep roots of Religion with the light treetops of Pagan living. Such is the title of their second album “O Sagrado e o Profano”, which is to say “The Sacred and the Profane”.

Live Performance / Screenshot Youtube

The duality of modern day Azores: everyday modern Contemporaneity side by side with the deep rooted religious feeling of Tradition. Past, Present and Future that goes beyond the earthly boundaries of the island. And the Azores are more than just nine islands — they are universal — and “O Experimentar Na M’Incomoda” is proof of this. A reinterpretation of tradition with the digital and contemporary sound manipulation of today.

It’s just one of those wonderful things…

“2: O Sagrado e o Profano” — available at www.madeinazores.eu/en/music
“Septimus” — available at www.madeinazores.eu/en/music

Made in Azores

Made in Azores intends to be a place where the excellence of regional gastronomic and cultural products from the Islands of the Azores is just a click away.

)
Rogério Sousa

Written by

CEO @ Made in Azores (www.madeinazores.eu)

Made in Azores

Made in Azores intends to be a place where the excellence of regional gastronomic and cultural products from the Islands of the Azores is just a click away.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade