Pelotas musician and producer Joaquim Mota, under the pseudonym Jokin , releases ” This is War”, an intense single that mixes folk, jazz and alternative rap. The song, which will be on the album ” Cubomedusa ” to be released in October 2024, reflects on the internal and external wars that marked the pandemic period and global conflicts. Supported by Procultura of the Municipality of Pelotas, Jokin ‘s project features several collaborations, symbolizing the need for collectivity that emerged during isolation.
You mention that ” This is War” was composed during a time of great political and social turmoil. How did these personal and global experiences influence the creation of the song?
I wanted to draw a parallel between such global problems and such intimate and personal problems. The pandemic and the wars around the world that followed affect us all in one way or another, and with them come very strong images, images of war. This somehow led me to write “this is war” as the beginning of this song and also led me to reflect on the magnitude of each person’s problems and how they affect the whole.
In your song, you use a lot of symbolism to reflect internal and external struggles. How did you choose which symbols to use and what is their importance in your message?
The symbols were born of their own accord throughout the composition. Then I refined them and made correlations with my own situations related to depression and mental health. I wanted to use these symbols to draw analogies and paint an image in the minds of whoever listens to the songs so that, in some way, I could make myself understood.
What was it like working with Marilia Piovesan and Esmute in the production of ” This is War”? How did each of them contribute to the construction of the track?
Their participation was essential for the song to grow and reach where it did. Esmute is a friend of mine for years, we had worked together many times before, but this time it was closer and more special because we were able to create and experiment more together. He is a great drummer and has an impressive ear. And I met Marilia during the album recording process and I was very impressed by her talent. I have rarely seen someone sing and record vocals in such an incredible and beautiful way. They changed the song for the better.
The album ” Cubomedusa ” is described as a collaborative work. Can you share some memorable experiences you had with the other artists involved in the project?
I will specifically mention the three contributions to “Vai dar Pé,” which will be the next single to be released. I had a basic idea in my head of how it could sound, and Gustavo Cunha helped me refine that idea and bring in the right people to make it happen. First, we called Marcelo Vaz, who recorded the piano for it. We were recording in Pelotas, but he was going to record at the Pedra Redonda studio in Porto Alegre, and they have a piano there and an incredible structure. We gave him complete freedom and were amazed at what he sent us back. He changed the song for the better. Then, we invited Raphael Evangelista to record the cello. We sent him the song and, from France, where he lives, he recorded not only a cello , but a complete beautiful arrangement. Once again, he changed the song for the better. Lastly, we invited Sara, from the Oliva project, to record the vocals with me. He also recorded the vocals in Porto Alegre, with complete freedom to create and play with the melody, and the result was beautiful and extremely sensitive. And, once again, he changed the song for the better. I think that sums up the collaborative aspect of the album for me. Everyone had freedom, everyone, in this case, recorded remotely, and everyone contributed a lot to the song.
You talk about the importance of the collective during the pandemic period. How did this need for collaboration influence the way you created the album ” Cubomedusa “?
It had a big influence on the outcome of the album’s creative process. I had an idea, worked on it with Gustavo Cunha, sent it to people, they sent us their parts or recorded it here in the studio, and then Gustavo and I worked on what each of us brought to give the album its sonic identity. The solo part of the project, me, served much more as a spark for the project and the concept, the collaborative part is what brought color to the project.
The album title, ” Cubomedusa ,” references a jellyfish. How does this concept relate to the songs and message of the album?
“ Cubomedusa ” is the scientific name for the jellyfish, which is the most deadly animal on the planet. However, at the same time, it is an animal of unparalleled beauty. The idea is to draw a comparison between this dualism and the dualism of the human condition, so beautiful, yet so fragile.
What was the album production process like with Gustavo Cunha? What did he bring to the production that helped shape the outcome of the project?
I’ve known Gustavo for a few years and we’ve worked together before, but remotely, during the pandemic. Because I really liked the way we worked, I invited him to produce this album together. Gustavo is a great musician and producer and has a very creative mind and is open to sound experiments in the studio. At the same time, he knew when to say “that’s it, we have the take” because otherwise I would keep wanting to record and experiment more and more. So I think he knew how to balance that well, the focus and the experimentation. In addition to the harmony we created, which existed from the beginning to the end of the process, and was essential to bringing the album to life.
You decided to sing in both Portuguese and English on the album. What were the reasons for this choice and how does it contribute to the message you want to convey?
I had a band that only composed in English and then I had one that only composed in Portuguese. I wanted the freedom to express myself in the way I thought would best fit each song. Both languages are beautiful, but they bring completely different bridges and barriers when it comes to composing. This also takes me out of my comfort zone and gives me more possibilities to express myself.
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