Dom La Nena’s Cantando EP (Six Degrees Records, 2016)
Brazilian singer-songwriter, cellist and world traveler Dom La Nena has released Cantando, an EP that includes cover versions of some of her favorite songs from various international composers. Cantando features Dom La Nena’s whispered vocals in Portuguese, Spanish, French and English.
Although Dom La Nena sings her own material, from time to time she also wants to sing and record the songs composed by other artists. The songs that appear in “Cantando” are at times included in her live concert set, others she only sings at home. “All of the songs selected for this EP are long time favorites of mine, many of which I have enjoyed since I was a child,” says Dom La Nena. With these four songs, Dom offers a diversity of feelings, languages, impressions, and time periods, revisiting her musical roots.
Dom La Nena kept things simple on Cantando. She only used her cello as accompaniment. The song selection includes “Felicidade” (happiness) from Brazilian composer Lupicinio Rodrigues, a song that reminds Dom of her childhood. “It is one of the first songs I learned to play…I have a strong sense of contentment whenever I hear or perform this song. I think Lupicinio makes me feel so happy because he transports me back to my hometown of Porto Alegre (Lupicinio was also from there), back to my family roots.”
Acclaimed Chilean songwriter Violeta Parra is one Dom’s biggest musical inspirations. Dom remembers passionately singing Parra’s “Gracias a la Vida” during her teenage years while in Buenos Aires.
“Scenic World” appeared in Beirut’s first album, “The Gulag Orkestar. The song reminded Dom of samba while she was living in France.
“Les Vieux,” by Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel is Dom’s mother’s favorite song. She introduced Dom to Brel’s music during her childhood in Brazil before Dom arrived in France. It was with this song that Dom became familiar with the French language.
Cantando is a dreamy, ear friendly set of songs by much-admired songwriters performed by Dom La Nena’s soft vocals and cello.
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Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
