Olb is a project by Brazilian musician and producer Lucas Pimentel. His first release, Ave-Bala, precedes an EP being produced this year and seeks to explore new spaces and aesthetics for MPB.
With a cover by renowned artist and tattoo artist Rodrigo Tas (@rodrigotas), the single was composed and produced by Lucas and mixed and mastered by Paulo Anhaia, known for his collaboration on several Brazilian rock classics.
Can you tell us a bit more about the inspiration behind Ave-Bala?
Ave-Bala was inspired by João Cabral de Melo Neto's play Morte e Vida Severina, which, despite portraying the migrant's trajectory in search of a more dignified life in the 50s, unfortunately still resembles in many aspects the life of many Brazilians.
Initially composed only with voice and guitar, my objective was to create an atmosphere that would convey the feeling of constant struggle and walking, enhanced by an arrangement and sound that would escape the obvious.
Illustration by Francisca Poch (@franpoch)
What was the process for creating the track?
For this work, everything started on the guitar. It is there where I create and understand the environments where I want to be, where I feel free to experiment with my voice and find melodies and lyrics.
Ave-Bala was one of those cases where we get lucky and the music happens naturally, without much effort. In the first session, I did the main melodic, harmonic and rhythmic elements of the song, and then I could focus on developing the arrangements and other aspects of the production.
Obviously things are not always that simple, but as a rule, the quest is always to find those songs that need little fight to be made. Those that from the beginning already know what they came for and only need you to bring them into the world.