Iolanda makes her album debut with “Quebranto”: roots, fado and pop on one record

I’d been waiting a while for Iolanda’s first album, and “Quebranto” finally came out on October 8. Thirteen tracks, already on the streaming platforms, including singles like “Olha P’ra Ela”, “Responso” and “Noite Inteira”.

What interests me about the record is how it goes back to the roots of central Portugal without turning into a museum piece. The word “quebranto” — the evil eye, and the state you’re left in after someone casts it on you — comes from the village where she grew up. She says the album opens with someone lifting the quebranto from her and, after the prayer, uncovers what was underneath: traumas, fears, decisions, heartbreaks.

Musically, the viola braguesa runs through almost everything, meeting cavaquinhos, strings, accordion, synthesizers and programming. It opens with the voice of Avó Lena (Grandma Lena) over guitar and braguesa. Produced by Luar, with Iolanda co-producing; the songwriting credits include names like Carolina Deslandes, Agir, LEFT., Milhanas, Extrazen and xtinto.

The live presentation is set for December 7 at the Coliseu dos Recreios, in a 360º format with the audience all around. For me, it’s exactly the kind of Portuguese record I want to be listening to this autumn: pastoral, melancholic and contemporary all at once.

Source: Rádio Comercial