Singer-songwriter Dodh reveals his first EP, titled ‘Melaço na Pele’, in which he explores the vivacity of a pulsating romance through four original tracks. The release is accompanied by four visualizers, two of which, referring to the tracks ‘Balanço’ and ‘Facinho’, will be made available simultaneously with the release on October 27th.
The title ‘Molaço na Pele’ amalgamates both abstract and physical elements, symbolizing the intensity and pleasure of a passionate romance. At the same time, it alludes to intimate relationships that turn sweat into something similar to molasses. Sweetness, pleasure and intensity emerge as central themes in this project.
With a sound influenced by Afrobeats, trap, R&B, African and Latin rhythms, the EP guides listeners through different stages of a rapturous relationship, addressing feelings that range from euphoria to nostalgia. Opening track ‘Balanço’ paints a passionate portrait of the beginning of a relationship, evoking the feeling of sailing and swaying, whilst highlighting the familiarity of a cycle of volatile relationships.
The second track, ‘Euforia’, presents a more agitated experience, exploring desires and impasses in a relationship, describing moments of confusion and provocation, reflecting the ups and downs of an intense love.
‘Facinho’, the third track, is unquestionably the most intense and striking in the repertoire, portraying a cycle of volatile relationships and the irresistible attraction that keeps people returning, despite the difficulties. The track features the participation of Renata Fechine.
Finally, in ‘Serena’, Dodh expresses the desire for relationships to be more sincere, reflecting a feeling of tiredness and exhaustion, but also a longing for what has been experienced. The song ends the album with a note of resolution, marking the end of a cycle and the beginning of a new phase.
The title of his new EP, “Melaço na Pele”, evokes images of intensity and passion. Can you tell us more about the meaning behind this title?
We are looking for a name that can create an affectionate memory among the public in Salvador. Molasses is an element present on the city’s beaches, where people enjoy the famous ‘Queijinho’. This ingredient represents a complex sensorial experience, offering a rich and intense flavor, characteristics that resemble the sensations conveyed by the songs on our EP.
If you stop to observe, he interweaves both abstract and physical elements, thus evoking the intensity and satisfaction of a passionate love. At the same time, it suggests an analogy to intimate relationships, where sweat becomes a metaphor similar to molasses, which permeates that complexity of flavor, with its pleasant sweetness and considerable intensity.
Inspired by phrases like ‘The molasses on your lips is a symbol of sweetness and complexity’ and ‘The touch of molasses-flavored lips’, we found the final name of our EP, Molasses on the Skin.
His music combines a variety of influences, such as afrobeats, trap and Latin rhythms. How did these influences shape the sound and narrative of the EP?
The EP’s narrative is based on stories of intense and sensitive relationships. The musical proposal is warm, offering a sound that encourages movement, perfectly aligned with Salvador’s festive atmosphere. Tracks can have a more moderate BPM, providing a more rhythmic dance experience that invites smooth movements and a deeper sensory connection.
The EP appears to explore different stages of a relationship. Could you explain how the four tracks capture these different phases?
Balance, I had the idea of composing it when I was on a “date” in Carmo, a neighborhood here in Salvador, besides feeling the need to talk about my city, my experiences are here, why am I not going to mention it? At this meeting in Carmo and Pelourinho, we drank Cravinho, which is a symbol and tradition of Salvador, a mixture of cachaça, cloves, lemon and honey, the flavor is incredible! The neighborhood has a very pleasant feeling, being there in the historic center of Salvador, enjoying it, dengo or with friends, is priceless! So Balanço starts from that, a couple getting to know each other, with their eyes shining because of the news, in a historic neighborhood in Salvador, drinking and enjoying themselves together.
With a more agitated atmosphere, ‘Euforia’ transports me to a more intense moment in the relationship, an intimacy already created, where the way of communicating is already different compared to the beginning of the relationship. The composition came about after my first plane trip to São Paulo, where she, living in Rio de Janeiro, spent a few days with me. It was a defining moment in my life, I discovered a city that really suits my way of seeing art, along with a very special person. The composition reflects the desire and pleasure that were trapped for a certain time, due to the distance between Salvador and Rio de Janeiro.
Ever tasted a relationship that ends, but you want more? That was the initial idea when composing ‘Facinho’. The song addresses the situation in which, even though you try to demonstrate that you no longer want it, the signs say otherwise. I highlight the importance of making desires and intentions clear, reinforcing the idea that adopting transparency makes the connection simpler and more authentic. Regardless of attempts to move away, there is always a return. ‘Your signals are strong and never lie’. I end the EP with the track ‘Serena’, I consider it the most sincere and personal on the album. I didn’t worry about flows or metrics, I simply turned on the microphone and vented. It’s tiring to live in intense relationships that end without emotional responsibility. I tried to maintain as much sincerity as possible in this composition, no matter how exhausted I may seem, verses of longing are gifts.
“Balanço” is the first track on the EP and describes the beginning of a relationship. What message do you hope to convey to listeners with this song?
Convey a feeling of intensity, inviting the listener to transport themselves to the beginning of a relationship, that ‘nice’ moment, free from problems. It’s as if it were just you, the person and the sea.
“Euforia” is a more upbeat track that deals with desires and impasses in a relationship. How would you describe the experience listeners will have when listening to this song?
“Euphoria”, as the name suggests, is a state of heightened excitement, an unusual and natural excitement. In the track, it is the translation of libidinous flirtation, of a confusion created between this amalgam of complex feelings. The music has the strongest bpm that accompanies this entire structure of feelings, this skeleton is the basis of this sound experience. Listening to euphoria is participating in a hot, sweet, bitter and enigmatic narrative.
“Facinho” seems to be one of the most striking tracks on the EP. Can you tell us about the meaning and story behind this song?
“Facinho” comes from the word ‘Fácil’ in an affectionate way, we could say. The track came about when I found the track’s beat on the internet and I instantly identified with it. I felt that I needed to be more incisive in the rhymes, more ‘hot’, and it could be a good move to have a more “advanced” sound on the EP, moving away from my more ‘romantic’ and slower R&B references, calling the public to the dance. In the composition, I bring references to neighborhoods in Salvador, such as Barra and the classic Oceania building, where months before I was invited by a couple of friends to watch the City Festival from the building’s terrace. I was among friends and I imagined myself, for a large part of the show, with this girl who had been part of my life months before. How would she feel seeing this rain of fireworks from so close up? So, combining my desire to create a sound with more intense rhymes, Afrobeat influences, my experiences and the right amount of spice that Renata Fechine brought, this hit emerged!
“Serena” ends the EP on a note of resolution. Can you share more about what this track represents to you?
“Serena” is an outburst in relation to this cycle of volatile relationships where my desire was for sincerity and clarity. There is a feeling of tiredness and exhaustion present, however, there is also a nostalgia for the moments lived. Serena is a statement of resolve.
Music often has the power to evoke emotions and memories. Is there a personal experience that influenced the creation of this EP?
Each track carries a story. In the writing process, I delved into the emotional nuances of these experiences, which involve past relationships. I met wonderful people, but they were fleeting, leaving a taste of wanting more, insecurities and longing. Bringing these feelings together, I present to you ‘Molaço na Pele’! When listening from the first track ‘Balanço’ to ‘Serena’, you can hear this cycle breaking down and ending.
What was it like working with the special participation of Lee Sena and Renata Fechine on some of the EP’s tracks? What did they add to the project?
Lee Sena has been my friend for about 10 years, he knows me a lot, trusts me and is the person with the greatest artistic eye I know! It was a pleasure that his first track, his first “child” on streaming platforms, was featured in one of my songs, on my first EP. Furthermore, he was one of the minds behind the development of the project, concept and the director of the 4 audiovisuals of ‘Melaço na Pele’. Lee brought an experience in his lyrics, where I saw what happened up close, and I can transport myself to the exact moment he describes in the song, adding to my experiences.
Renata Fechine is an artist from here in Salvador too, where I followed her first releases and always imagined myself making a sound with her. A year before the release of ‘Melaço na Pele’, I met her at a show and we exchanged a very good idea, taking this first step towards making a first track together. When I listened to the first version of it, recorded on my cell phone, I was sure that ‘Facinho’, which didn’t yet have that name, would be one of the tracks that would catch the public’s attention the most. Just thanking the people who worked on the entire Melaço na Pele project!
What is the central message you would like your listeners to take away from this new EP, “Melaço na Pele”?
Molasses na Pele has stories from my life, moments I’ve lived, happy or sad. My intention is to make my listeners identify, transport themselves to my story. I want to see them dancing, smiling, crying, remembering someone special, sharing happy moments, enjoying themselves intensely, that’s Molasses na Pele!
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