The Deolinda Project has produced an irresistible debut album which brings to life vignettes from Lisbon life. In the short time since its release at the end of 2008, “Cancao ao lado” (The Song next Door) has shot from nowhere into the Portuguese charts and after 22 weeks there it achieved Platinum status with over 20,000 sales.

Deolinda is an intriguing concept album, delivered live in wildly flamboyant concerts which draw audiences from the 30-something age group of the musicians, to grand-parents and small children. The secret to their popularity must surely lie in their exuberant, sometimes comic performances, the sweet and catchy or softly melancholic guitar melodies, and music littered with emotive references to fado and other less prominent musical traditions.

The songs carry the stories of Deolinda - always explained by the dynamic, charismatic singer, Ana Bacalhau (meaning Salted Cod) who brings to life Deolinda’s stories.  The album’s 14 songs are built around this young Lisbon woman who lives with her cats and goldfish in an apartment and watches through her window as the world go by. Deolinda and the passing characters were invented by the Project’s songwriter and guitarist, Pedro da Silva Martins, and are performed by the conservatoire-trained Luis José Martins on guitar, ukulele, small Portuguese cavaco, guitarlele and viola, and double bass player, Zé Pedro Leitao (meaning Suckling Pig), who brings a classical and jazz background.

The Deolinda Project began in 2006, inspired by the astonishing success of Mariza which put Portugal and fado on the international map. The musicians were then involved in diverse Portuguese musical adventures, and Ana was a jazz singer. Pedro da Silva initially wrote two songs about Deolinda but when friends demanded more, he expanded them to the 14 on this album. And as they rehearsed and refined the music, Anna recalls, ‘a feminine character’ came to life: “She stands for days listening to records her grandmother left her, and watching through the lace curtains her neighbours’ lives.

The group’s desire to travel with minimal baggage led to a pared-down line-up down of two guitars, a double bass, and the voice, which they took to the road, spreading the Deolinda myth, and building a reputation by word of mouth. In 2007, they recorded the songs and were surprised at their growing success.
The album title, Cancao ao lado refers to influences from musical styles including fado, and neighbouring (Cape Verde) morna, and Brazilian music. Fado runs through the collection even though Deolinda are not a fado band per se. Their lyrics are less mellow but still adorned by gently lyrical guitar harmonies. Most lack the introspective blue moods of fado, making their contrast with Mariza and also Ana avoids the black shawls, the fado symbol of tragic women but instead she wears brightly patterned costumes influenced by the rural folk traditions of Portugal matching their colours to some of the music, and the weave of influences stretching from traditional even into pop music.

The new album by Deolinda “Dois Selos e um Carimbo“ will be released on April 26th 2010.