London-based Brazilian singer-songwriter MOMO. (Marcelo Frota) releases his eighth studio album, ‘Tum Tum Tum’, today via Agogo Records. The album follows his 2024 release ‘Gira’, which was named one of the top 10 world music albums of the year.
A Spontaneous Recording Process
In a recent interview, MOMO. detailed the instinct-driven sessions behind the new record. “For so many years, I’ve been, like, in my room with a guitar, starting composing a song, such an introspective way of doing things,” he said. “But with ‘Gira’, instead of the more intimate singer-songwriter, being at the Total Refreshment Centre with so many nice people, I invited them to join me. We usually started with the rhythm section: percussion, drums, bass, which gives me the pulse.”
He applied the same approach to ‘Tum Tum Tum’, inviting Thomas Broda (drums) and Jim Le Mesurier (percussion, of Orchestra Mambo International) into the studio with only rough ideas and no lyrics. “No bass; that came after,” he explained. “If you listen in headphones, you can hear me sometimes guiding the band, calling the parts. For the musicians, it’s not ideal because they don’t get to do a rehearsal, so sometimes you lose a bit of the tightness. But on the other hand, you get more of the spontaneous feel.”
The album’s creation also included sessions during a recent family trip to Fortaleza in Brazil’s Northeast, his first visit in two years. There, he recorded with longtime collaborator Régis Damasceno, who plays bass on both ‘Gira’ and ‘Tum Tum Tum’, and a local drummer.
Key Collaborations
‘Tum Tum Tum’ features several guest contributions. Brazilian music icon Marcos Valle added electric piano to the track ‘Morena’. MOMO. explained: “When I was recording ‘Morena’, I thought we needed some electric piano for the arrangement, to give a little bit more groovy, jazzy feel. It was because of the sound; I heard his sound on the track. We started chatting on Instagram… I said, ‘Hey, would you like to contribute on this song?’ and he said yes. And he gave a little twist to the melody of the chorus. Man, he was very committed to my music, so responsive. He even made a video talking about the track. Such a very nice guy; a big inspiration.”
Fellow London-based Brazilian singer Nina Miranda co-wrote and performed on ‘Canto de Aldeia’. MOMO. sent her the arrangement, and she returned with a melody and lyrics that reference her own childhood in Brazil, as well as MOMO.’s young daughter Leonora and his role as a father. “Nina came up with the part that almost goes to folk, like Fairport Convention,” he said, adding that the song carries “a nice rural, bucolic vibe.” Miranda recorded her part in her home studio before departing for Brazil.
An Album as a Single Work
Among the eight tracks, the English-language ‘Dream of Samba’ ventures into psychedelic territory. MOMO. cited a broad palette of influences: “This is the music I love as well. I listened so much to folk and music from the ’60s and ’70s: Captain Beefheart, Strawberry Alarm Clock.”
He resists picking a favourite track. “For me, they all make sense together. I see the album almost as one track. You have your ups and downs in terms of rhythm. I’m passionate about albums. It’s like a book: you don’t fall in love with a single chapter… I need to give people everything; the whole album. Solo tracks, they don’t make much sense.”
