Alhocca seeks healing through artistic expression in his poetic work entitled “No Time to Play”. This composition is a powerful way to question social standards, gaining even more impact through its video, an urgent and grandiose record that portrays a dystopian and oppressive society. In this context, solidarity and sisterhood emerge as essential means to overcome adversity and pain.
Born in Brasilia, but with northeastern roots, Alhocca is a multifaceted artist, working as a singer, songwriter, dancer and model. Recently, she started a new phase in her career with releases like “Ela Humilha”, “Baile” and “Dancei na Lua”, which promote freedom and empowerment. With musical production by RoggerMX and direction by Alhocca himself in collaboration with Lennon Rabi, the single “Sem Tempo Para Brincar” is available on all streaming platforms, in addition to the artist’s YouTube channel.
Can you share with us what is the main objective behind the song “Sem Tempo Para Brincar”? What do you hope to convey to listeners with this track?
It was necessary to seek my inner strength, dive deep into my problems and understand myself as someone capable of overcoming everything I faced. From that journey, I decided that I want to live in a society with strong, determined and authentic people. I am totally against exclusion, prejudice and violence. In this song, violence is portrayed as a consequence of a society that strengthens the weak in spirit and mind, who have no choice but to get involved and fight. Being a black woman in Brazil means having to be twice as strong and resistant. What we face daily is unacceptable and subject to criminal conviction, but it is covered by a veil of structural racism present in society. That’s why “No Time to Play” is essentially about the strength needed to overcome and move forward, not only for me, but also for those who have not yet arrived in this world. My ancestors gave me a mission and I am determined to fulfill it. I know that together we can walk a journey of transformation, strengthen each other and build a fairer and more equal future. The motto is to unite to fortify.
In the music video, you portray a dystopian and oppressive society, highlighting the importance of solidarity and sisterhood to overcome pain. How did the idea for this plot come about and what message do you intend to convey to viewers?
When I conceived the plot, my intention was to convey a clear and powerful message that diversity must be respected. I wanted people to understand that treating life like a game is dangerous, as it would constantly put us in the crosshairs of the greatest oppressors, and our lives are short in relation to the universe. After all, the sun has been shining for how many billions of years? Our time is scarce and valuable. I focus on women because my intention was to show them that we can stand up for ourselves, choose our own path and that we are endowed with incredible power. What changes is the power we have in standing up for what really matters. When I imagined the clip, I remembered that I was always uncomfortable with the reality that most men know how or have been able to handle firearms, while I had no idea where to start. This awakened in me a burning desire to learn how to handle a gun. I believe this desire stemmed from an inner need to achieve skill parity and feel truly empowered.
The duality between sadness and joy is a theme present in Brazilian music, and you address it in “Sem Tempo Para Brincar”. How do you incorporate this duality into your music, with a pop and lo-fi look, and how does it reflect the reality of the peripheries?
I truly feel lucky to have been born in Brazil when it comes to art. Being immersed in the talents of the best composers, the most danceable rhythms and the most beautiful melodies on the planet is a gift for which I am immensely grateful. In this song, my goal was to convey the idea of reporting something that shouldn’t be happening, just like Realidade Cruel does in their track “O Resgate”, and bring the melancholy present in the chorus, as Baden Powel and Vinícius de Moraes express in ” O Canto de Ossanhá”. I love pop music and transforming it is my passion. I feel like I’m part of something bigger than myself. Lo-fi is part of my generation, integrated with technology, I’m constantly exposed to streamings, and lo-fi radio became my refuge to study, to let it play on TV or even to train and meditate. However, this is just my personal experience. Bringing the periphery to the music is like giving a suffocated scream, that’s when we realize the rules of the game, the values of money and a marginalized life, and this disturbs our peace. Those who live on the periphery are obliged to serve their oppressors and are conditioned to passivity so as not to lose their wages in exhausting workdays. They are forced to participate in agreements with which they do not agree. They are labeled as “dangerous”, when in fact we are being poisoned with products that make us addicted and keep us hostage to an economy that kills. At the same time, we find time to smile, be with our loved ones and friends, despite constant tension,
As a versatile artist, dabbling in music, songwriting, dancing and modeling, how do you balance these different artistic expressions and how do they each contribute to your message and artistic identity?
In fact, that’s the easy part! It all boils down to communication, body expression, facial expression and good public speaking. You know, I love to read. I’ve already devoured so many books that made me daydream about worlds that only existed in the authors’ heads and, shortly thereafter, in mine. From there, writing becomes more fluid, because I unconsciously connected with the words and stories that other people told me. Writing music is magical. It’s feeling a melody coming from beyond and allowing the words to fall into place little by little. Dancing, oh, dancing brought me rhythm, breathing, concentration and the courage to deal with mistakes. Those who dance know that it’s more likely that we’re making mistakes than getting it right, but that doesn’t stop us from continuing. And as a model, I understood that I am a reference. I understood that there are times when we shine and times when we expose other people’s ideas for them to shine. After all, parading with clothes that are true works of art is an immense emotion. So to balance it all out, I allowed myself to be guided by all these skills and understand what the right moment and expression is. At the end of the day, it’s a mix of fun, creativity and confidence. And I’m ready to rock!
Your northeastern roots influence your music and the way you express yourself artistically. Could you share how these roots manifest themselves in your creations and how they contribute to your identity as an artist?
My first contact with dance was at home, on Sunday barbecues, to the sound of forró and with a lot of mocotó and buchada. My mother is a born communicator, someone who could easily become president of anything she wanted. She has this unique ability to connect with diverse people. I am very inspired by her, both in the way she speaks and in her behavior. My mother is from the Northeast, with blood in her eyes, and I learned a lot by watching her. At the core of my family, we are women, mothers and sisters, and we are a source of inspiration for each other. Expressing that in my songs is a way of showing my gratitude for having them in my life. Therefore, I always refer to women as beautiful, powerful and unique in their ways of being and being in the world. When I use “wrong” words in lyrics, I do it on purpose. There are so many dialects and I have mine, which comes from Piauí. I have songs that haven’t been recorded yet, but that are forrós pé-de-serra and sudden. I love my origins, because they are what shape me into who I am. I’m someone who doesn’t put his head down and fights for what he believes in. I see a glorious future for those willing to make history. I am determined to make my mark and spread inspiration wherever I go.
You mentioned that the song “No Time To Play” was inspired by the loss of your best friend. How did music and artistic expression help you deal with this emotionally challenging experience?
Thinking about Walisson, my friend, still brings me mixed emotions, it’s hard to deal with the longing. He was so young and bright, a real creamy soul lol. It connected me to the LGBTQIA+ world and, more importantly, myself. He was always sincere, even when he threw it in my face that I needed to stop being a bitch and mind my own business or get a job. And on one of those difficult days, when the mood was a little higher, I decided it was time to express everything that was inside me. I isolated myself and started writing about everything I felt. When I sing that “you thought of my name, a sound will play”, I am bringing the idea that even today I can hear your voice in my mind, as well as in our interactions with the world, where there will always be sounds around us that can suddenly awaken memories and remind us of everything. In fact, this song brought me peace. On the day I recorded the initial version, I felt my body being taken over by overwhelming energy. This song is my biggest outburst, my sincere way of expressing everything I was feeling. It’s not a light song, it’s real. But somehow, it brought me peace, as it is the expression of everything I needed to release. I’m sure Walisson would be proud of me, after all, even when I was singing like a cat on the roof, he encouraged me to chase my dreams. my sincere way of expressing everything I was feeling. It’s not a light song, it’s real. But somehow, it brought me peace, as it is the expression of everything I needed to release. I’m sure Walisson would be proud of me, after all, even when I was singing like a cat on the roof, he encouraged me to chase my dreams. my sincere way of expressing everything I was feeling. It’s not a light song, it’s real. But somehow, it brought me peace, as it is the expression of everything I needed to release. I’m sure Walisson would be proud of me, after all, even when I was singing like a cat on the roof, he encouraged me to chase my dreams.
The music video for “Sem Tempo Para Brincar” was directed by you and Lennon Rabi. How was the process of creating this video and what was the vision you had in mind when portraying the dystopian and oppressive society in it?
When it comes to work, I am demanding and extremely creative. I’m looking for responsible, mature people who know what they’re doing. From the beginning of the project, I have in mind what I want to achieve. I am the one who puts together the teams, hires the professionals, schedules the locations, provides food, takes care of the costumes and thinks about all the logistics. I take all this very seriously, after all, it is my dream and it involves significant financial costs. Also, I know that there are people who look up to me, and I want to offer them my best. Lennon has been with me since my first music video. He taught me methods and introduced the practical part of cinema, as he is a Cinema student at UnB and has valuable technical knowledge in this area. However, when it comes to work, I am a lioness. I prepare meticulously and start organizing all the steps with the team. I always share my ideas with the team in search of the best they can offer. To be by my side, you need to enjoy working and have an appreciation for excellence. I understand that this is not an easy task for anyone, but I am committed to doing what I can to make the experience a positive and rewarding one for everyone.
How do you believe that music can be a powerful way to convey messages of equality, resilience and hope? What are your hopes and intentions for sharing your music with the world?
Look, let’s be honest here, now I’m looking for money, hahaha! Joke! But seriously, music is amazing because it conveys things naturally, without pushing it too hard, you know? You could spend hours watching documentaries to understand what Xênia França portrays in “Pra Que Me Chamas?”, while in just 4 minutes of music she manages to convey everything. It’s impressive! I have a sincere intention to be an example for people, especially those who are considering quitting. I’ve been through difficult times, believe me, I ate the bread that the devil kneaded. I know what it’s like to feel invisible, worthless. But do you know what I did with it? I suffered, you know, but I understood that that was not the place where I wanted to stay. I caught up on my therapy as soon as I was able and moved on. Mental health is very important, and I want my music to be a breath of fresh air for people. But really, we should all take care of ourselves and seek help when needed. We have volunteer and public service professionals who are ready to help us. And let’s face it, we’re used to complaining, but public service has done a lot for us somehow. Of course, it gives you a headache too, but where are people without problems? It’s an infallible formula: people + people = problems! Haha ha! I want my music to be a spark that ignites hearts and souls, until it becomes a real fire capable of changing our reality and transforming it at our pleasure. The world belongs to all of us and needs to be a comfortable place for everyone. Let’s set the world on fire with love, music and strong people!
Could you tell us a little about the musical production of “Sem Tempo Para Brincar” and how it was to work with RoggerMX? How did the collaboration contribute to the sound and message of the song?
RoggerMX is my eternal friend and partner, we’ve been married for two years and our story is a mix of love, lots of laughter and music. When we met, he was with his band and it was a day I will never forget. I told him that I dreamed of being a singer and, believe it or not, he asked me to sing. It was a terrible idea and the worst part is that I actually sang it. With all the kindness in the world, he couldn’t contain his laughter and, with all the love he has for me, he told me the truth: It’s bad, but it can get better. From there, we embarked on a journey to meet the best professionals in music, according to the specific skills he considered essential. That’s how I started to understand the complexities and simplicities of music production. He is my healer in everything! He revises the lyrics, chooses the timbres, he selects the people who will produce, he helps me decide on vocal textures and, above all, he tells me the truth. He is an incredibly generous person and a true genius. As a mathematician and systems analyst, he helped me think logically, consider the logistical aspects, and most importantly, keep my feet on the ground. Basically, this is how it works: I talk about my dreams and he asks what the cost of it all will be, and then we get started. But at the end of the day, we are building our dreams together, with lots of love and laughter along the way. He is my life and music partner, and I am grateful to have him by my side every step of this romantic and funny journey. As a mathematician and systems analyst, he helped me think logically, consider the logistical aspects, and most importantly, keep my feet on the ground. Basically, this is how it works: I talk about my dreams and he asks what the cost of it all will be, and then we get started. But at the end of the day, we are building our dreams together, with lots of love and laughter along the way. He is my life and music partner, and I am grateful to have him by my side every step of this romantic and funny journey. As a mathematician and systems analyst, he helped me think logically, consider the logistical aspects, and most importantly, keep my feet on the ground. Basically, this is how it works: I talk about my dreams and he asks what the cost of it all will be, and then we get started. But at the end of the day, we are building our dreams together, with lots of love and laughter along the way. He is my life and music partner, and I am grateful to have him by my side every step of this romantic and funny journey. we are building our dreams together, with lots of love and laughter along the way. He is my life and music partner, and I am grateful to have him by my side every step of this romantic and funny journey. we are building our dreams together, with lots of love and laughter along the way. He is my life and music partner, and I am grateful to have him by my side every step of this romantic and funny journey.
Where can listeners find the song “Sem Tempo Para Brincar” and the music video? Is there a specific place you’d like them to pick up your art?
So I have my own official YouTube artist channel! Just type Alhocca in the search and that’s it, you’ll find everything there. There are video clips produced with a lot of love, stylish visualizers and even exclusive behind the scenes for you to get to know me better. Oh, and I can’t forget Instagram, which is always busy! Just search foralhocca and you will come across a lot of cool content. And best of all, you can listen to me wherever you want! Just choose your favorite streaming platform and search for me. I’ll be there with all my latest music and releases ready to brighten up your day. I want to take the opportunity to thank you for this interview and for all of you who followed everything closely. It is simply wonderful to be able to share this journey with each of you. And don’t forget: spread it around that you know me! Now that you know all these details, I would love for more people to have access to these sides of my art. A super kiss for all of you and see you next time! You guys are awesome!
Follow Alhocca on Instagram