Sergio Mendes may very well be one of Brazil’s biggest musical legends with a career spanning more than 50 years, a Grammy award, and an Oscar nomination. But Mendes is wasting no time reminiscing about past, and is instead thinking of new records, collaborations, songs, and performances.
The musician, known for his bossa nova music, performed on Friday at the Emirates Palace as part of the Abu Dhabi Festival.
He sat down with tabloid! before he took the stage to discuss his career, upcoming projects, and even his views on heavy metal.
Q. You’ve worked with many musicians including will.i.am on your album Timeless. Tell us about your experience working together.
A. It was wonderful. We met in 2005 — he came to my house and he told me that he grew up listening to my music in LA, and I invited him to coproduce the album with me. We’re very good friends. He travels the world, and he’s super-intelligent, and he’s got great intuition not only for music; he’s kind of a visionary.
Q. Having collaborated with so many musicians, do you think you might work with someone from this part of the world, then?
A. Why not? I’m very curious and I’m very open to ideas. I did an album about four years ago in Japan just with Japanese singers, and it was a great experience. If I meet somebody and I have something in common [with them], then that would be great.
Q. You’ve also worked on music for the movie Rio, which got you an Oscar nomination. Tell us about your experience working on it.
A. The story about the birds is just beautiful, and I fell in love with it. It’s totally different than writing music for a record; on a movie, you need to follow the story, and it’s a big collaboration process.
Q. Your career spanned different genres of music, but what do you like to listen to personally?
A. It depends. I like any kind of music. Sometimes when I hear Middle Eastern music, I like it, and I like Japanese, Indian, African, and any music really. I don’t like heavy metal, though. I have a 22-year-old son and he likes some very weird music. He calls it… what’s the word? There’s a word. Alternative! But some of the hip hop, I find very rhythmical and urban.
Q. You’ve released over 40 albums. How do you feel looking back on your career?
A. I’ve been very fortunate and blessed. I love what I do. I still do, and I love travelling, playing, and making records, so the passion is very important.
Q. So you don’t see any signs of slowing down?
A. No, that scares me. I don’t wanna slow down, and I don’t want to retire. I love taking time out, and going to Brazil for two months every year.
Q. Tell us about your new projects. What can fans expect from you?
A. I’m travelling a lot this year. Next year is going to be 50 years of Brasil ’66, my trademark from the sixties, so maybe I’ll make a new record, but I’m still thinking.
