EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Carlos Nobrega

Carlos Nobrega, the 31 year old from Portugal is set to release his first single Pitiful on Monday September 19. The new album which is due for release later this year will be available with the new single from iTunes stores across the globe. Carlos has teased fans with sneak previews via his YouTube videos, giving fans a taste of what’s to come. The debut single Pitiful was written and produced by Jake from Aftershock Records, the sounds are urban, which Carlos is calling a ‘throwback to the RNB of 2000’. Carlos has been busy working with his choreographer in putting the video together and has promised theaussieword a further exclusive with the upcoming video release – so watch this space! He took timeout to catchup with me, check out the transcript from my interview with Carlos Nobrega.

So tell us, who is Carlos Nóbrega ?
Carlos is a good guy (laughs)! That’s a good question, and hard to answer. Ok, really, I’m just a regular boy from Madeira, a little island in Portugal, and I leave the island after won a music Contest and it was the Boom for me, in my life. I didn’t wanna, like, bury my life or anything. I just needed to have a fresh start, just to keep creative. Keep the story interesting, you know? Just move on. Lisbon was a great place to start, and I’ve enjoyed my time there, sometimes I haven’t enjoyed so much. But I got plenty of work done there. I follow my own rules, I’m a workaholic, I can’t stop doing things. I start as a singer many many years ago, than things just happened. When I realized I was acting on a tv show and wow, it’s 2011 and I did a lot of things, and I’m grateful. It’s a cliche but I worked with a lot of talented people in all areas and I thank them for being what I am and being where I am. I have my own agency, Creative Kano (www.creativekano.com), yes I do love photography, I work as actor too, have two movies to be released, … but honestly, music is my thing, THE thing. That’s all I can do – take a seat, observe, label and identify that I’m only as much my emotions as I let myself be.

What first got you interested in music?
It was at an early age. Probably watching MTV. (laughs) I like the way music makes people feel. I ́m very emotional. I like the fact that you can express yourself. I like the fact that you have so much at your disposal; you have so many resources when it comes to music, so many different sounds together, genres… so many different people to collab with and work with, it’s an amazing industry as far as songwriting goes. Being an artist means taking musical, liberties, and not always following the rules.    Working on new material is still among the greatest moments in my life. The only thing that possibly beats the creative process, is that special moment on stage when everything is right and the energy goes both ways. I’ve been lucky so when far, and feel blessed that I have met such a diverse and talented creative group of people in the industry.

What are some of the biggest goals that you hope to accomplish as an artist?
I want to re-define the word unique. Inspiring youth to break down walls and take over the world is something that needs to happen. We cannot simply write music and sing. As an artist, I have set the highest standards for myself, and I will always do what it takes to accomplish the world.

Your single is out on 19st September. Can you tell us about it? Are you excited?
Yeah, I’m just excited. Doing the gigs is what really gets me going. You get that immediate reaction from the fans, and that’s magic. I know it’s my first single, but I worked in the past with a lot of people, I’ve contributed to Disney soundtracks in Portugal and I was member of the successful portuguese Pop Band “Máximo “. All this years I’ve been writing, working as an actor, I think I needed time to concentrate on my carreer as a singer and not doing everything at the time. ‘PITIFUL” is my evolution, as a person too! The dichotomy of who I am as a man and as an artist. It is me verses me at the end of the day. Not in any way bipolar or an alter ego, simply the fact that we have two sides to our personalities. It’s the perception of who we are and the reality of what we have to deal with. So, I’ve spent most of my life working diligently as an entertainer and performer and I think it was time to say: “Stop Carlos, think, feel, feel the music..” and than I knew my producer, Jake from Aftershock Records and voila! I think the time has finally come and I’m ready to take my career to the next level as the promotional campaign for my upcoming album is set to launch next week when the first official single arrives. There’s no more holdup. I’ve finally married a single with my producer Jake, (from Aftershock records), he also does a rap on the track, and we picked it. As of next week, you’ll see me on full-fledged promo mode. It’s summertime, it’s incredible. “Pitiful” knocked me out from the first listen. I genuinely felt the spirit of the lyrics in my gut. And It’ll be out in 19st of September, in my birthday and I’m so glad that I can make this dream come true on my birthday.

Sounds like it’s a very personal record…
The last three years of my life have taught me a lot about myself as a person; becoming a business man, …. And there lies a responsibility, an obligation as an artist that I just can’t ignore. Finding a balance between those two places is what “Pitiful” is all about. People come into your life and people leave it.. you know! This is just the beginning.

What can fans expect from you in the coming months?
Well, right now I just want the single comes out . I think you’re gonna hear new stuff very soon, and seeing the video probably in the next month . I’ll shoot the video at the end of the month and.. I can’t say anymore right now (laugh). And be prepared because I’m finishing my album and I think it will be out later this year. I’m very, very excited and I hope people like it!

Was it difficult starting out, like getting your music out, getting noticed?
Yeah, totally, it was a long road (16 years) that finally came to; I stuck through it. I had do what I had to do, to do what I’m doing right now. Pushing boundaries, I just still do everything myself, I just want to create, I just want to express myself. I can say I have the best friends in the world that helped me and specially right now, but I wanna do it on my terms, I don’t want anybody to express themselves for me, it can’t work like that.

What currently inspires you?
Life, living, art, you know, my friends, love, success, you know…!

Success… What is the secret to success?
Hmm, the secret? Well I’ve learnt that you are who you are, and in the end, if you don’t believe it then no one will. Success is about dedication. You may not be where you want to be or do what you want to do when you’re on the journey. But you’ve got to be willing to have vision and foresight that leads you to an incredible end.Not instant gratification but recognition for the honesty in what you’re conveying in your music.

How would people who know you best describe you?
I’d say funny, smart, a good friend , crazy , an incredible entertainer (laughs).

 
And which pop stars at the moment do you rate?
Frankmusik, Darren Hayes, Robyn, Shawn Desman, Hurts, The Sound Of Arrows, Justin Timberlake, Chicane, Gaga.

Everyone’s on Twitter these days. Do you actually use it yourself or do you get someone else to do it for you?
Of course. I update it, myself, daily. I ́m a Twitaholic (laughs).
And finally, you seem to be a guy with sense of humor…
Sense of Humor Makes a Man Sexy (laughs).. Well I don’t do jokes. Sarcasm may be the lowest form of wit, but it’s my preference. Humor Has Been My Life’s Calling!

Brian, I Thank you so much! I really appreciate all of the support you’ve shown and I hope in doing another interview with you soon. Take care and I’ll hope speak to you soon.