The duo Oceana, formed by Ced and Ana Rafaela, officially presented their musical project to the public with the release of the single “Vem Cá” and a show of the same name held on November 22nd at the Centro Cultural São Paulo (CCSP). The debut marked the birth of a light, affectionate, and contemporary sound identity that unites MPB, pop, folk, and bossa nova in an artistic encounter guided by spontaneous connections and shared sensitivity.
Available on all digital platforms, “Vem Cá” synthesizes the essence of Oceana: a song of affection and closeness, with accessible lyrics and a welcoming atmosphere. Produced by Tomás Tróia, the track combines synthesizers and 808 bass with nylon-string guitar, a central element of the duo’s sound, and features mixing and mastering by Pedro Garcia, with distribution by ONErpm and support from BMGV MUSIC. “We wanted the first song to have this light and catchy energy,” explains Ana Rafaela.
On the CCSP stage, Ced and Ana explored this concept further in an intimate show, inviting the audience to delve into the stories, coincidences, and inspirations that gave rise to the project. With an original repertoire and covers of artists who resonate with their aesthetic—from Djavan and ANAVITORIA to Dua Lipa and Harry Styles—Oceana presented a debut marked by a direct connection with the audience. “It’s a dream come true to showcase our universe in one of the largest cultural centers in Latin America,” summarizes Ana Rafaela.
At what point did you realize that your distinct trajectories actually formed a unique musical identity?
From the simple pleasure of singing together to the moment when we start composing a sequence of songs with great ease and realize that they wouldn’t have emerged individually.
“Vem Cá” has this light, catchy, affectionate atmosphere, designed to stick in your memory. When you composed the track, what was the first feeling you wanted to convey—intimacy, invitation, acceptance?
Yes, all these ideas are intertwined in the composition of “Vem Cá.” But mainly, the art of encounter, of getting to know each other, of conversing, of giving things their own time. And of welcoming this feeling of experiencing new things with someone completely new in your life. Just like what happened with us, with our friendship.
The combination of nylon-string guitar, synthesizers, and 808 creates a contemporary Brazilian Popular Music (MPB) sound unique to Oceana. How did you find this balance between the organic and the modern, without losing the Brazilian essence?
We were very fortunate to have the collaboration and creativity of music producer Tomás Tróia on this song, which brought exactly the freshness we needed. Before we started producing, we knew we wanted to bring a different sound from what we had done in our individual works, but without losing the essence of our references. So there’s no one better than Tomás, who is used to combining Brazilian essence with sounds in his work with Duda Beat. We are very happy with the result; it was exactly what we wanted.
The show at CCSP marked a kind of “artistic debut” for the duo. What was it like sharing such intimate songs—some practically unreleased—with the audience for the first time? Was there a moment that moved you in an unexpected way?
It was very special, very unique because the sincerity of the lyrics and songs reveals a lot about what we think about ourselves and also as a duo. The songs speak of a hopeful, optimistic perspective on life and a desire to connect with people. And we felt that we were very well received by the audience. We had fun, we were moved, and we gave our best. We have a song called “Here and Now,” and it was very special to have played it for the audience. We felt something very strong, something bigger in that moment.
The Oceana project seems to be made of encounters, chance encounters, and coincidences. Is there any curious or symbolic episode from the beginning of this partnership that you feel “stamped” the soul of the project?
Yes. The way we met. At a musical event where we were both tired, a stumble sparked this encounter. And from then on, CHANCE has guided OCEANA until now. And many of the situations we’ve experienced so far have stemmed from that energy.
Between Djavan, ANAVITORIA, 5 a Seco, Dua Lipa, and Harry Styles, you have a very diverse mosaic of references. How do these influences interact within the duo without becoming excessive, while maintaining Oceana’s originality?
Despite so many influences, our essence remains that of a young, romantic, and elegant duo. What’s important to us is to have captivating music, with well-crafted harmonies and a balance between the beauty of our two voices, the masculine and feminine complementing each other.
The show “Vem Cá” features intimate versions and moments with a full band. For you, what is the secret to maintaining the same emotional authenticity in such different formats?
The dynamics of the show. Silence is necessary to appreciate the moments with more sound. We believe that the gradual construction of this sound atmosphere involves the audience in an efficient and assertive way, bringing them closer to our artistic universe.
This debut at CCSP was described as a dream come true. Now that Oceana has officially arrived in the world, what is the next dream you hope to “call into action” with this first step?
We would definitely like to tour Brazil, record our songs, and reach a large audience that will feel the excitement, dream, and sing along with us.
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