The desire to sing emerged in childhood. The first attempts at composition came a little later, but it wasn’t until 2023 that singer-songwriter Ronná had the chance to share his talent, lyrics and harmonies with the public. This realisation is a significant milestone in his journey. The artist is releasing “Meio Eu”, his first album, which includes songs previously released throughout this year, as well as four unreleased tracks: “Uma Gaiola,” “Insone,” “Depois e Depois,” and “Todo Eu.”
The project’s title reflects the very process of creating and composing the album’s tracks. Along with songs already familiar to the public, such as “Saudade Boa,” “Flor de Fogo,” “O Sol Vai Explodir,” “Minh’alm’amar,” and “Freima,” the album also brings together other songs by the artist, some with curious stories, including a composition from when he was 17 and still part of a school band. The first track on the album, entitled “Uma Gaiola,” invites us to release all the fears that prevent us from moving forward.
“Half Me” is an interesting expression for an album. Can you tell us more about the meaning behind this name and how it relates to your artistic journey?
“Meio Eu” was a name that emerged well after the songs had been produced (except for the last one). I started the recording journey with an idea that was shown to me by the team and I thought it would be appropriate to follow that line. However, once everything was ready, I discovered myself, rediscovered myself and realised that I could have done some things differently to make them sound more like me. That’s why the album got this name, which plays on the fact that I’m not completely me, and the last song on the disc is called “Todo Eu”, which is exactly the sound I wanted to put on the whole album and which I’m going to follow from now on.
The album includes songs that have already been released this year, as well as unreleased tracks. How did you select these songs and what can listeners expect from the unreleased tracks?
To decide which songs to release as singles, I evaluated my own moments and events during the year. Of course, I also had important advice from people who knew the market to select the songs.
Songs and the orders, but I followed my intuition a lot too, because I wanted everything to be consistent with me in the first place. The unreleased songs went down well as “non-singles” in my opinion. I think they really feel more like a link between the songs. Except for the last one, of course, which I wanted to be a work song after the album’s release.
Among the tracks, “Uma Gaiola” and “Insone” have unique origin stories. Can you share more about how these songs came about and what makes them special to you?
“A Cage” was written looking at my pet mice’s cage. We set up a cage with seals to keep it upright, but they discovered they could chew through it and it started to fall apart. Every day it fell further down. I started writing while watching all this happen and realised how we can make a beautiful connection with the fears (plastic seals) that stop us from moving forward and keep us in our comfort zone (cage). Insomniac” came literally at a time of insomnia. I had great difficulty sleeping, and when I woke up in the early hours of the morning, I couldn’t fall asleep again. One night, I woke up at dawn and, unable to sleep, wrote the song straight away. The chorus came a long time later, to fit in and make sense.
What is your creative process like when composing music? Are there specific moments or places that inspire you?
Sometimes I hear a word or a phrase that catches me and makes me want to write using it. At times when I’m not very inspired, I like to compose with my surroundings. I look at the colours on the walls, the objects, the trees and the wind. Usually the compositions are more literal than they seem. I really enjoy “poeticising” what I see naked and raw.
As well as being a musician, do you consider yourself a storyteller? What story do you hope to tell with the album “Meio Eu”?
Possibly a writer or composer is directly or indirectly a storyteller. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a song with explicit characters, with a beginning, middle and end. They’re stories anyway. The disc features songs that may not have any connection or meaning with each other, but they are songs that needed courage to come into the world, they needed their own encouragement. Believing in myself meant that they could be available today, and that’s why “Uma Gaiola” opens this disc, to show that yes, I’m ready to express my points of view.
What is the central message or feeling you want to convey to listeners through the songs on this album?
They are very human songs, with passages that many people can relate to. On this album I talk about longing, I talk about an anxiety crisis, I talk about self-acceptance, passion, love disappointment. These are messages that break down feelings of perfection, that the world is fair and everything is at peace. It won’t be at peace, it never will be, because it’s part of living in chaos. But it’s important to see beauty and make the most of what makes us stumble through life.
Many artists evolve throughout their careers. How would you describe your artistic evolution since the beginning of your musical journey?
I started singing for money at the age of 18, stopped soon after, made videos for the internet in the meantime and at the age of 25 I resumed paid work in music until today, at the age of 34. For those of you who work singing in bars and restaurants, you know exactly how difficult it is to support yourself. There’s no real appreciation for what you do. People watch and think you’re just having fun and it’s the easiest job in the world. But it’s in the midst of the problems that we grow, so I thank the universe for having gone through everything I’ve been through. I feel that musical evolution has come a long way from having to stand out in the midst of a lot of people talking, drinking and shouting. You have to study non-stop to increase your repertoire, you have to exercise, you have to stay healthy. It was difficult, but it helped me to become what I am today, much more disciplined, centred and knowing what I want and what I don’t want.
We know that music can be a powerful way of expressing emotions. Is there a track on this album that is particularly meaningful to you on an emotional level?
I could easily say that “Minh’alm’amar” speaks to me directly because of all the self-esteem issues I face every day and how important it is to accept and embrace yourself. But “Todo Eu” has a very warm space in my heart because of all the context it brings about me finding my musical path.
What was the biggest lesson you learnt from creating this album, either about yourself as an artist or about the music production process?
There were several lessons learnt. Independent artists without a label have to deal with all the bureaucracy of a release, from registration to uploading the song to the platforms. This was of great value to me. In the end, I think every artist starting out should start out on this path, alone. On the artistic side, realising that putting your heart into your music is what will matter in the end. Don’t just be guided by the music market. Singing the style that’s in the charts may save you a lot of time, but in the end, will it have been worth it? I prefer to deal with the initial frustration and sing what I love.
Apart from the “Meio Eu” album, what are your future plans and ongoing projects in your musical career?
I’m already in the process of writing other songs for my next album. I want to follow this very Brazilian line, with a band, which is totally my thing. I also intend to raise funds to make music videos for the songs, which certainly deserve audiovisual records.
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