Interview with Musician Joseh Garcia: A Journey through Time with Brazilian Music

Street Smart Brazil is proud to sponsor "TEMPO: A Brazilian Musical Journey" on June 18th in San Francisco.

I recently had the pleasure to meet Joseh Garcia, a talented Brazilian musician who lives -- and sings -- here in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. Joseh told me about his creative projects that range from publishing an album through an Italian label to recording in France to creating a show that puts together Brazilian and Middle Eastern music. Joseh has a fascinating relationship with music: He uses words such as  enchantment, healing, and transformation to define his work.

I had a delicious afternoon with Joseh and wanted to share it with you. In this interview, Joseh also tells us more about his upcoming show, TEMPO, that will explore our relationship with time. The show program includes songs by Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Zeca Baleiro, Jorge Ben Jor, and Lenine among other big Brazilian names.

I hope to see you at the concert on June 18th! Street Smart Brazil students enjoy a student discount.

• What: TEMPO: A Brazilian Musical Journey with Joseh Garcia
• When: Friday June 18, 7:30 pm
• Where: Icthus Gallery, 1769 15th Street (@ Guerrero St.), San Francisco, CA 94103

The concert on June 18th is called Tempo, which means “time” in Portuguese. Why Tempo?

Joseh: When I turned 30 I started to become aware of time, its passage... and how much I possess it and how much it escapes from my hands. The awareness of time made me see what is really important in my life. This show was born from this awareness. It is a homage to time. In this concert I invite everybody to become conscious of it and to enjoy it!

There are several guest musicians in the show. What Brazilian rhythms are we going to enjoy there? What instruments will be played?

Some talented people I have met since I arrived in San Francisco will be part of this concert. Some of them are connected to Sound Healing and Expressive Arts-Therapy. Others are connected to the Brazilian Musical scene and are regular performers in the Bay area. Besides myself representing Brazil, several cultures are represented by musicians from different backgrounds (Philippines, France, Israel, and US). The basic formation of the band is voice, guitar, cello, and drums. Besides these instruments we will have harp, and poetry and movement. Varied rhythms will be played: MPB, bossa, pop, and samba. TEMPO is gonna be unforgetable, atemporal, and fun!

How did you choose the songs for the concert?

I have always listened to music since I was a kid. I have lots of songs stored in me. The choice of the repertoire was intuitive. I searched in me for the songs that move me and that touch on the theme of ‘time’. Also, I took in consideration having a variety of rhythms that can represent the beauty of Brazilian Music.

What do you think of the Brazilian music scene here in the San Francisco Bay Area? Do you feel that the Brazilian culture has become more popular over the years?

Over the years I have been here (2003) I have seen Brazilian music in the Bay area expanding. I have noticed that there is more space for music of good quality and that is not only based on rhythm. Brazilian culture is our greatest treasure and our music is the most precious element of this treasure.

How does the experience of singing MPB and Bossa Nova here in the US compare with doing so in Brazil?

Singing here is different than in Brazil. I believe that we, Brazilians, have the privilege of growing up listening to great composers from different musical styles. Somehow, we get used to this. Here in the Bay Area when people who were not raised in Brazil listen to Brazilian music, they listen to it with fresh ears as if they were listening for the first time. In general, there is more appreciation of the songs here.

I know many folks who have a very special relationship with Brazilian music. What is special in our music that attracts people from all different backgrounds?

I believe Brazilian music enchants people for the beauty of the Portuguese language, for its harmonic richness, and for the variety of rhythms.

Could you tell us about your history with music? Your personal relationship with it?

My story with music started very early in life: listening to my mother singing beautifully, there in Natal. When I was 6, I began to go to concerts of wonderful artists, such as Rita Lee and Gilberto Gil. At 18, I joined a choir and began to play guitar. Then, I began to perform solo in local venues. In 2003, I moved to San Francisco and here I have had the pleasure to sing with extremely gifted artists such as Silvia Nakkach and Jennifer Berezan. I like to explore encounters. In 2008, I explored the meeting of bossa with electronic music which resulted in the original composition ‘Amor Bossa Nova’, released by an Italian record label. In 2009, I went to France to record with producer Daniel Masson and work on a project that mixes original Brazilian songs with minimal electronic music. In 2010, I explored with the talented musician Lior Tsarfaty the meeting of Middle Eastern and Brazilian music. And now, TEMPO in San Francisco (June 18th) and in Canada in July. My deep interest in music led me to study and get a Certificate in Sound Healing and to do a Ph.D. in self-transformation through music, which I am about to conclude.

In three words, what does music mean to you?

Therapy, pleasure, and mystery.