Naiá Camargo, from São Paulo, is a restless artist who ventures into different musical genres. The singer and songwriter goes from MPB to pop without straying from the very Brazilian swing and electronic rhythms. Seeking new strength and renewal, she reinvents her single “Lua Nova” in a remix signed by Deep Leaks, which brings to the dancefloor the energies of restarting lunar cycles.
From an early age, art, music and dance are part of Naiá’s life, under the influence of her mother Maria Mommensohn, dancer, choreographer and Brazilian dance researcher, and her father, a capoeirista. She started in music with the project “Caetane-se” and released three singles between 2020 and 2022, with emphasis on “Lua Nova”, a single that reached numerous radio stations in the country. In addition, the clip was awarded at film festivals in Brazil, Latin America and Europe. Now she prepares the release of her first EP.
His remix partners are the duo formed by Juliano Parreira and Gustavo Koshikumo. Deep Leaks is a duo of producers, known for their work with Ekena, Mel (Banda Uó), Renata Éssis (Liniker and the Caramelows) and for being members of ATR, Mandale Mecha and AQUAmono. Check out the interview!
Restless and not afraid to take risks, the issue of uniting different musical genres has already become a hallmark of her work, ranging from MPB to pop music, however, with Brazilian swings and electronic rhythms. How has the experience been of uniting all these veins in a single project?
Mixing rhythms is something I really like and partnerships with musicians from different segments expand my artistic possibilities. When I connected with the Deep Leaks duo, we had an immediate match and they quickly grasped what I wanted. In parallel to my career, I have a project called MBoraFest, which has a “tropical dancing” concept and so I thought: I need to have a track to make people dance! Hence the idea of the remix of the track.
Almost as an update, you recently re-released the song “Lua Nova” in remix form, together with producer Deep Leaks, seeking to capture the hints and energies of lunar new beginnings. What were the paths that led you to explore these new approaches?
The idea of making the remix of the track Lua Nova, composed by Felipe El, was really to bring the track to the dance floor. In addition to being a singer, I like performance and I love the dance floor, dancing, going out dancing and the song has light lyrics, of hope, of love and making people dance with this thought proposal is something I always wanted to hear on the dance floor , sounds that bring this optimism in the face of life’s adversities. Working with the mix of rhythms is something I really like and partnerships with musicians from different segments, expands the artistic possibilities. In my trajectory, I experimented with many rhythms and in different segments and, at this moment, I’ve been finding myself in samba, like a home that makes me comfortable, and I’ve been elaborating a project that will come in a little while.
In addition to the sound, this new version follows the lunar positions and the meanings of astrology. How is your relationship with the subject usually?
I love astrology, I always did my birth chart (once or twice a year) and I even stopped doing so much to have more surprises in life. (laughter). Everyone I know I ask what the sign is, and I’m already making a scenario of how the best way to relate to people will be. I’m Capricorniana and I love to be. The moon, that strong satellite that governs the tides, changes us too much and the new moon brings us a sense of renewal.
“Lua Nova” originally arrived in 2021, at the time when the COVID-19 pandemic was still raging and we were going through a very complicated time, and today you tried to bring the feelings that the world still needs, such as – love, hope and prosperity. What are the main differences that you have noticed in the meantime and why the idea of re-releasing the song right now in 2023?
I think when I originally released the track, I had a collective hope (and a lot of mine) that people would get better, more human, that this difficult time would bring about something bigger and deeper. I don’t think it happened as much as I imagined but I’m still hoping and strengthening this idea, at this moment, to make people dance, now that we can already be present at events, congregating, dancing.
In addition to the voice, you were also responsible for the composition of “Lua Nova”. Would you like to ask a little more about how the composition process went and what are the main elements that usually inspire you when starting a new song?
The composition is by Felipe El, a dear partner who makes beautiful songs. This one came to me and I loved it, because it really has what I vibrate with, what I like. I still take very little risk in compositions and I love being an interpreter capable of giving voice to lyrics by other artists.
If there is something that has been present in her life for years, it is precisely music, which came mainly under the influence of her mother, who, in addition to being a dancer and choreographer, is also a Brazilian dance researcher. Do you remember how her first contacts with music were and especially, how was the family support for her professionalization in her life?
I say I’m a “daughter of the dressing room”. My mother always put me in this place of art. In addition to having a career and a lifetime dedicated to art, she got me into it. The “do dance” remix of this track has a lot of that place. Music has been in me since I was in my mother’s belly and, as a child, I took classes in musicalization, singing, dancing, as well as artistic presentations with her, my great partner and encourager. I am an economist by training and, at one time, I even tried some more institutional/bureaucratic jobs, but art called me and spoke louder.
Despite contact since childhood, you started professionally with the “Caetane-se” project, releasing two singles between 2020 and 2022. How did you join this project and how did it help boost your career in the music industry?
It was really cool and that’s when I really started experimenting with my voice, finding my style. There was a whole artistic thought behind it, forming a team, bringing in cool names to add to my work. The visual identity, for example, belongs to Gal Opido, in addition to several incredible musicians and professionals.
Talking about the initial release of “Lua Nova”, the single grew a lot, being heard on radio stations all over the country, in addition to having the clip awarded in several countries, such as Latin America and Europe. Do you believe that this second version will be able to overcome the success of the first one?
Oh! I hope a lot! I hope it reaches more hearts and on the slopes, surpassing the original version. The idea is to arrive in Bahia, for example, on a very lively track and, suddenly, play the track and make people dance, which is the purpose.
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