Singer Nahoum is winning the hearts of the public and gaining prominence on the national pop scene with his most recent release, the single “FODA” – an acronym that plays with the word, referring to the English term “Fear Of Dating Again” (fear of relate again), used in psychology. This new single is the artist’s third work and is ready to captivate the public with an engaging combination of musical genres.
With “FODA,” Nahoum demonstrates his versatility and skill as a songwriter, delivering a track that fuses elements of pop with rock influences. The song is a creative exploration of the fear of getting involved in new relationships, something many can relate to. The track combines captivating lyrics with a powerful instrumental that ranges from guitar solos to violin arrangements, creating a unique and moving musical experience. To add even more excitement to the release, the music video for “FODA” premiered on Halloween, October 31st, providing an additional touch of mystery and charm to the work.
Nahoum continues its journey of growth and promises more engaging and innovative music for the public. With his talent on the rise, he is quickly becoming a revelation on the Brazilian music scene.
Hello Nahoum, your new single “FODA” is an intriguing combination of pop and rock. How would you describe the sound of this song and how it fits into your artistic evolution?
My proposal is to bring a different sound to the national pop scene. And rock is a genre that I really like, as well as indie and classical music. I’m shaping myself and finding myself as a singer. My sonic identity will emerge and be crystallized with each new song. in the end, we will see all of this in my first album.
“FUCK” is a pun on the acronym “Fear Of Dating Again”. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind this idea and how you incorporated it into the song?
I have a degree in psychoanalysis. Mental health is a very serious issue for me. And the “FUCK” syndrome, as it is called in the USA, has affected more and more people. I wanted to play with the pun on the word that appears in the Portuguese language. And, well, I believe it worked. (laughter)
The new single addresses themes related to relationships and feelings. What message or emotion do you hope to convey to listeners with this song?
I wanted to bring this concept to Brazil and put it in a song that expressed the complexity of the fear of giving oneself into a new relationship. I’ve seen a huge amount of feedback from a lot of people saying they identified with the lyrics. I think that when art expresses our feelings we feel relieved because we no longer feel so alone in our subjectivity of feeling.
You mentioned that the song features powerful instrumentals, including guitar solos and violins. What was the musical creation process like for “FODA”?
I arrived at the studio knowing exactly how I wanted it. So, producer Gus Collen brilliantly knew how to translate everything when building it. Kel Matoso also wrote an incredible melody for the lyrics. It’s great when talented professionals buy into an idea and make it take shape.
In addition to the song, the music video for “FODA” premiered on Halloween. How does the video complement the song’s narrative, and what can fans expect when they watch it?
The video plays with fear. Exactly what the song is about. That’s why I wanted to release it on Halloween. It has a silent film feel, including the projection of the classic horror film from that time “Nosferatu” which has a story of fear of surrendering to an unknown, but very attractive, being. I also place key words from psychoanalysis on black screens, as happens in silent film dialogues.
You’ve released several singles so far. What has your journey been like on the national pop scene and what achievements or notable moments would you highlight?
Everything is still beginning. I understand it as a birth where we develop little by little. Learning, evolving, taking the first steps. But, I am already very proud of everything I have achieved. The numbers at the beginning are important, there is no way around it. And they have been beautiful for an artist who is still independent. I highlight the single “Com Você” which currently has almost 70 thousand streams on Spotify alone and “FODA” which in one week reached 10 thousand on Spotify alone. These are very good numbers even for an artist just starting out and without a label/record company behind them. In addition, all my singles have been heard in dozens of countries around the world. These platforms make music global and heard by Brazilians in other countries. However, there are foreigners coming to talk to me who have heard some of my music and loved it. They came organically. There are people from France, the USA, Mexico, Argentina… Several people.
Authenticity is something that many artists value. How do you stay true to your own voice and style in your music?
Authenticity for me is everything. It’s who we are, it’s our honesty. If I’m not like that in music, then it doesn’t make sense. If it doesn’t give me passion I won’t stay for long. So I needed to do something that was really my style, my desire. My style is being formed like this.
What are your main musical influences and how have they shaped your approach to creating music?
I’m eclectic and listen to a lot of music/artists from different places. But, my biggest inspirations in music are Fleetwood Mac, Harry Styles, Sandy and Junior, Rita Lee, Britney Spears, Haim, Mika and Michael Jackson.
During the process of writing and producing your music, do you have a particular approach to finding inspiration? What inspired “FUCK”?
The process of composing lyrics is always a way of expressing what I’m feeling at the moment. I don’t stop and say “I’m going to sit down now and write”. I simply feel something latent and write about it. Then I polish it, give it rhymes, making it more streamlined in verse. Then production is a way of transforming what I feel into sounds, too. The “FUCK” was exactly in this process.
Finally, what are your future plans? Can we expect more album releases or projects soon?
In December, another single comes out with a more summery feel. And in the first half of next year I will release an EP or an album. We are still studying. A show with an original setlist is also being planned for next year.
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