João Afonso Releases New Album 'Todo Tempo' Exploring Portuguese Identity and Heritage

Portuguese singer-songwriter João Afonso has released a new album titled 'Todo Tempo' on March 27th. The work represents his most sensitive and mature musical creation to date, exploring universal themes including freedom, love, longing, and unrest. Produced and arranged by António Pinto, the album features original songs with lyrics by Afonso and others, drawing inspiration from prominent poets such as António Gedeão, Jorge de Sena, José Craveirinha, and Al Berto. The music blends Portuguese musical roots with emotional connections to Afonso's Mozambican origins, evident in tracks like 'Matope,' 'Manga Verde,' and 'Sonhei-te.' Other songs like 'Folhas de Outono' and 'Chuta para Canto' offer more personal and critical perspectives on contemporary society. The album includes contributions from notable Portuguese musicians including Joaquim Telles on percussion, Tomás Pimentel on flugelhorn and arrangements, José Moz Carrapa and Miguel Ferreiro on guitars, and Paulo Ferreiro on bass. Special collaborations feature the women's choir CouraVoce, vocalist Toninho Afonso, flutist Rão Kyao, Portuguese guitarist Marta Pereira da Costa, and singer Sofia David on the central track 'Tempo de Poesia.' Born in Mozambique where he lived until 1978, Afonso's career reflects both African cultural influences and Portuguese pop music traditions. His solo career began with 'Missangas' in 1997, followed by several albums including 'Barco Voador' (1999), 'Zanzibar' (2002), 'Outra Vida' (2006), 'Um Redondo Vocábulo' (2009), 'Sangue Bom' (2014), and 'Livros' (2021). Throughout his career, he has collaborated with numerous national and international musicians including Fausto Bordalo Dias, Filipa Pais, Uxia, Pablo Milanés, and Pedro Guerra. The album is distributed by Broken Silence under the Lusitanian label.