After the success of the internationally award-winning documentary, “A Calçada portuguesa conhece-te“, which came out last year, accompanied by the single “Pedras da Calçada”, Mariana Arroja now launched her first EP, Alma Perfumada, in Los Angeles, in “2220 Arts”.
The EP is the result of an artistic partnership with the poet Maria de Fátima Martins and continues the theme of preservation and tribute to endangered arts and crafts, but also to women.
The collaboration with Maria de Fátima Martins began in 2019 when Mariana Arroja’s mother unexpectedly dedicated a friend’s poem to her. This friend, Maria de Fátima, had discovered her vocation for writing after retirement, in her 70s, but Mariana, still without knowing the author of the poem, immediately heard the music in her head. Nowadays, their collaboration in writing songs is like a meeting of generations through music. This was the poem that gave rise to the EP’s first song, Alma Perfumada.
“The poem Alma Perfumada is an enigma, in my view it is a free spirit that moves with nature while always being true to itself. The video features the brilliant interpretation of Vânia Canhango and focuses on feminine beauty and its power. The element of water is present due to its similarity with women: life comes from water, just as life comes from women. I did it thinking about women, especially my mother, to whom I dedicate it” explains the author, Mariana Arroja.
“Reencontro”, the theme of this EP, is perhaps the simplest of the three songs. A love story. The typical fruit of the authors’ writing relationship, as Mariana says: “It’s a love story. But in my view, it can also be a reunion with ourselves. Even so, I dedicate it to the writer Maria de Fátima Martins, because without She this project would not have been started.”
In the path of the work that has been developed by the artist, of activism in the preservation and memory of almost forgotten and ostracized crafts, and which has made her popular, the theme of a noble profession, typically Portuguese: “O Amolador” also appears in this EP. Mariana Arroja justifies her inspiration with a childhood fascination: “When I was a child there was always a whistle that went by every Sunday. I remember standing at the window listening to the whistle and imagining a whole world of fantasy and magic. I never worried to ask what it was.” The song portrays a first encounter with the Grinder, and facing an unexpected reality, while also describing the life of a Grinder.
Mariana Arroja is known not only as an author and performer but also for the visual component of her projects. Award-winning producer and screenwriter (for the documentary “A Calçada Portuguesa conhece-te” in 2022), she didn’t want to miss out on marking this new work of hers with a video recording.
“I was very interested in this profession, also on the verge of extinction, and I wanted to film the day-to-day life of Mr José António da Silva. And also talks about the symbolism of this profession within a society that has become consumerist and discards everything at the slightest harm. This video is dedicated to all Grinders in Portugal.”
In this EP, the video clips were filmed by António Barbot. All production and concepts for the videos are by Mariana Arroja.
The EP was performed live on the stage of “2220 Arts”, in Los Angeles, where Mariana currently lives, studies and works in music. The concert entitled “A Night in Portugal”, had the participation of the Belgian harpist Pia Salvia, with whom Mariana has continued her project “Fado Harpa” in Los Angeles, as well as Mika Mutti and Richard Miller. Before the concert there was a screening of the documentary “A Calçada Portuguesa conhece-te” by Mariana, which in 2022, won the Bronze award for “best documentary” at the “Independent short awards”, also in Los Angeles.
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