Cristiana Menichelli; Interview with Flavia Virginia

With the release of her new CD, Livro-Mãe, Flavia Virginia introduces a reinvigorated Brazilian music and says she is ready to present it here in Canada.

She is a singer, composer and poet. Her new CD, Livro-Mãe, released in March of this year, is an elaborate compilation of the innumerable compositions Flavia Virginia has written during the last fifteen years of her career. In an impressive demonstration of her artistic talent and versatility, Flavia Virginia did all the musical arrangements and wrote all the lyrics on the CD. On the stage, either accompanied by her band or alone on the piano, the artist from the state of Alagoas performs a mixture of her own music and that of famous Brazilian musicians like Chico Buarque, Gilberto Gil and Djavan (her father). A diversity of musical elements- everything from jazz to Brazilian popular music - is a constant on every cut on Livro-Mãe CD and shows that the artist explores the world around her with an open mind. Flavia Virginia has sung with the bands of Marisa Monte and Elba Ramalho and recorded with Gal Costa and Maria Bethânia. She has also shared the stage with Miles Davis, Marcus Miller and Al Jarreau.

At 30, Flavia is a vibrant woman who is passionate about what she does. She is ready to explore the roads less traveled, sure that this is where she will encounter the greatest emotional challenges while making the greatest discoveries.

In an Internet interview, Flavia spoke with The Brazilianist from her home in São Paulo about her desire to infiltrate the Canadian music market that has, to date, remained largely unaware of Brazilian music.

BRAZILIANIST: How did you become interested in Canada?

FV: I have a childhood friend who lives in Canada and we got back in touch on the Internet. After that I received a sample copy of The Brazilianist Magazine. I had no idea there was such a large Brazilian community in Canada, organized to the point of having a (online) magazine and support group of Brazilians from around the world. This awakened my interest in the country.

BRAZILIANIST: You released your first CD, Livro-Mãe at the beginning of the year. How has it been received internationally?

FV: My CD is being very well received in Europe. Our publicity has been more effective there because Europeans are more accustomed than Americans to listening to a variety of music. Though I don’t know much about the country, Canada also seems to be more open-minded, maybe because of its dual cultural identity. On the other hand, Canada has not been well explored by Brazilian artists. It would be great to showcase my work there as well. In general, we are attached to the idea that Europe is the right place for Brazilian artists. International exposure, in Brazil, means Europe and maybe Japan.

BRAZILIANIST: What about the American market?

FV: People get used to thinking a certain way and then don’t change their thoughts or, consequently, their attitudes. The United States has phenomenal world distribution and therefore we think of it as a gold mine. Few people try to do business in less traditional places like: Asia, Latin America, Africa, Canada or Mexico. Today we know that the United States is only a gold mine for the Americans themselves. The truth is that the United States is a closed market that does not consider even Latin America worthy of exploration. I intend to open other markets that are interesting, in part, because they are unknown. It is difficult to find partners, however. I don’t know any Brazilian producers, for example, that work in Canada.

BRAZILIANIST: Do you think that Canada is the shining star of the North American popular culture so obvious in places like Brazil?

FV:Canada is not well known here. I hardly know of anyone from there except, of course, Céline Dion and Oscar Peterson. In reality I am probably familiar with other Canadian artists without realizing that is where they are from. I think the Canadians also know little about us because no one knows anything about anyone. We only hear about the United States. The Canadians probably think of Brazil as the land of Carnaval and soccer. They may even think that Buenos Aires is the capital of our country! Canada must be a very interesting country. I would like to become familiar with the country’s popular music, the sounds that please the Canadian public. Is there an authentic Canadian musical style?

BRAZILIANIST: How did you become so open-minded about the unknown? Is it the way you were raised?

FV: The desire to pursue the good things in life came from my upbringing, of course, but I think my open-mindedness is a personal thing, something that is part of me. I try to understand how people think and to be as dynamic as life itself rather than hold on to ideas and concepts until my dying day.

BRAZILIANIST: You spent five years creating Livro-Mãe. Do you have plans for your next CD?

FV: My next CD will be released next year. I am thinking about exactly what I want to do because I have so many options – I have written hundreds of songs. When a person has so many options, one needs to give a lot of good thought to what she wants to do. Because the first CD took so long, I want to be very sure of what is right for this next one so I don’t spend quite so much time on it.

BRAZILIANIST What would you like to present to the Canadian public?

FV: I have a number of show formats I could present. I firmly believe in the ability to communicate from the stage even though the audience speaks another language. The various musical influences, the rhythms and the beautiful sound of the words themselves are an invitation to a new and interactive experience. A well-turned Portuguese phrase is beautiful and pleasant to hear even if you don’t understand the meaning. I don’t see my music being in Portuguese as an obstacle. In fact, I think it lends my music a special and mysterious quality for Canadian audiences, one of sweetness and enchantment. I’m ready to go!

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(*) Cristiana Menichelli is a Brazilian-born journalist and a traveller of the heart and mind. Through her writings she explores food, nature and other cultural aspects inviting readers to discover and share the world's diversity. She lives in Vancouver and her e-mail is cris@internationaljournalist.com

(**) Janis Carter began her love affair with Brazil as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student in Presidente Prudente, Sao Paulo in 1976. After returning to the USA, she studied Portuguese at the Ohio State University. A Telecommunications Professional, she worked in Brazil during the Privatization of that industry. She now lives in Columbus, Ohio, but visits Brazil as often as she can to 'matar as saudades' (satisfy a longing for the place). You can reach her via e-mail at bridgetobrasil@netscape.net.