Anima Mea, a band from Minas Gerais formed in 2017, presents fans with an exciting reinterpretation of the song “Ritual”, one of the jewels of Cazuza’s discography. The song, which is part of the album “Só se for a dois”, brings a poetic and hopeful perspective to the world, and marks the resumption of the partnership between Cazuza and Frejat. Inspired by the song’s powerful message, the band members decided to re-record it as a sincere tribute to the late composer.
Anima Mea’s history goes back to the 90s, when the founding members, Daniel Valadão and Sidney Braga, were neighbors and schoolmates in Divinópolis (MG). With common musical interests, the two shared the dream of forming a band. However, they lost contact for nearly 20 years, until a fortuitous reunion in 2017 rekindled their friendship and desire to create a musical project.
The band, which also features Ronilsinho Moreno, a talented local musician, as a member, has an artistic approach based on the concept of hopeful realism advocated by Ariano Suassuna. This style is reflected in the lyrics of their songs, including the reinterpretation of “Ritual”. Through this perspective, they explore life’s difficult moments, conveying a message of positivity and questioning adversity.
With an impressive track record, which includes the debut album “Pecado Austral” in 2018 and the release of “Versatile” in 2019, Anima Mea has gained recognition and a loyal fan base. Recently, the band went viral with the song “Happy Birthday”, which became one of the main celebratory anthems on social media, accumulating nearly 40 million plays across all streaming platforms.
Now, Anima Mea embarks on a new phase of its history with Cazuza’s version of “Ritual”, available for listening on all major streaming platforms. This emotional reinterpretation is a testament to the talent and artistic sensibility of the band, who continue to captivate listeners with their unique interpretations and powerful messages.
What inspired the choice of “Ritual” as the song to re-record and honor Cazuza?
“Ritual” was chosen because it is one of the most fascinating works by Cazuza and Frejat. Starting with the title, which refers to the Levitical rituals in which forgiveness of sins was sought through the sacrifice of animals (or “a thousand virgins”, as the lyrics say). Cazuza knew very well that this is not the “sacrifice” that God wants from us. Along these lines, the lyrics of “Ritual” are a subtle and elegant critique of reactionary thinking, based on the literality of the Holy Scriptures. For the Poet, “Paradise” should not be seen as something to be enjoyed in the afterlife.
How did you approach the re-reading of “Ritual” and what was the creative process behind it?
We approach this rereading with humility. The original version is excellent! We knew it would be difficult to maintain the same level of quality, but the objective was not to compete with the original version, but to pay homage to Cazuza. So we made it simple: a version with elements of folk rock that are present in many of our songs.
What does this song represent to you as a band and as artists?
This song represents the freedom and worldview that underlies many of Anima Mea’s lyrics. “Paradise” is well-being, it is earthly prosperity and it is also being happy acting in accordance with the moral rules that you establish for yourself.
What message or feeling do you hope to convey to listeners with this new version of “Ritual”?
We really want to convey the same feeling that the original version conveys. This lyrics are deep and strong.
How does Cazuza’s poetry and hopeful perspective connect with Anima Mea’s musical and lyrical proposal?
The connection between “Ritual” and Anima Mea’s work is very strong. We also have songs that criticize moralism, the pathology of morality. But beyond that aspect, we find in the lyrics of “Ritual” also elements of Ariano Suassuna’s “hopeful realism”, elements that are present in Anima Mea’s songs.
How has the audience received the version of “Ritual” so far?
This song has been doing well on music apps. Including, he has already entered several playlists organically. This is a good sign.
Do you have plans to release a music video or other visual material to accompany the song?
We released a lyric video with images and elements typical of the 80’s. It was cool.
How does Anima Mea approach the combination of optimism and realism in your compositions?
Suassuna has an assertion that we like a lot: “An optimist is a fool. The pessimist, a bore. It’s really good to be a hopeful realist. Basically, Anima Mea tries not to be boring or silly.
Besides “Ritual”, what other projects or releases can we expect from Anima Mea in the future?
We want to put on a show. Each member of the band lives in a different location, which makes it difficult for us to do shows with the original lineup of the band. But it’s possible that we’ll do the show with a backing band.
How do you see the role of music and art in challenging times, like the ones we are currently experiencing?
This question is philosophical and difficult to answer. Music must assume the role that its author envisioned. In the case of Anima Mea, we want to make music that awakens good emotions in people, that’s all.
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