A year after he had grappled with the works of the legendary Brazilian musician Chico Buarque on the album „Samba de Chico“, Latin Grammy and Echo Jazz award winner Hamilton de Holand a has reported back with a new album that is once again dedicated to a maestro of Musica Popular Brasileira: “Casa Bituca”. Bituca, the nickname that everyone in Brazil knows him by, is none other than Milton Nascimento, the universally praised singer and songwriter who marks his 75th birthday in October, 2017. Hamilton de Holand a was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1976. His instrument is the Band olim, a 10-string Mand olin that is prominently featured in Brazilian Choro music. Since 2000, he has been a sideman on the records of such Brazilian stars as Maria Bethania, Djavan, and Yamand u Costa and has also recorded with the likes of international artists Cesaria Evora, Stefano Bollani, and Richard Galliano. Hamilton’s first album under his own name was released in 2002. A number of records followed in which Holand a incorporated a variety of lineups, performing solo, in duet, and with larger groups.
FACTS:
1: I love my family and my friends.
2: Music feeds the soul.
3: The child is the hope of the world.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
I play music since I was 5 years old with my family. We had a group at home, my father, my brother and I. So, in the beginning my inspiration was the joy of the life, I used to play mand olin as a child’s play, it was fun rehearse with my father and my brother. Today, after more than 30 years, I continue with the same enthusiasm and the inspiration for my music is the life and all its happenings : birth, death, love, friendship, sadness, joy, everything I live can be a inspiration for composing a new song.
2. How and when did you get into making music?
My family was my entrance door to the music universe. My father plays guitar, my brother plas 7 strings guitar. My uncle and my grand father were musicians too.
3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
Vibrações – Jacob do Band olim, Cinema Paradiso – Ennio Morricone, Luzia – Paco de Lucia, Passarim – Tom Jobim, Angelus – Milton Nascimento.
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
I associate Berlin with a modern, art-minded, cosmopolitan city that has a lot of history and a welcoming population. The contemporary Jazz scene has a lot of representation in the city. And one of the greatest orchestras in the world, the famous Berliner Philarmoniker.
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
The beach and the montains.
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
I don’t know, I can’t imagine the world without music.
7. What was the last record/music you bought?
Quebranto – Yamand u Costa e Alessand ro Penezzi.
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
I would love to collaborate with The Berliner Philarmoniker.
9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
As a spectator was ‘Hermeto Pascoal’. As a performer, the next one.
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
The technology is not all, but is very important to the creative process. For example, since I was kid I use recorder to help me to find a beautiful sound. Technology multiplies creativity.
11. Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career/art?
have a brother who has also an artistic career, so he loves music like me.
