Rodriguez de Lima, Davi – “Fantasma” [Sulatron Records]

carsonstreet   7/11/2022   12-inch, A Library

In 2012 Davi Rodriguez de Lima left Brazil to live in Germany. Former drummer from relatively well known Brazilian indie band Ecos Falsos and from experimental punk band Orange Disaster left Brazil to join his girlfriend. The time adapting to a new country, studying in a foreign language and isolation brought not only into two kids into the world, but also his solo debut Fantasma. Davi composed, played, recorded, mixed and mastered the album by himself. “Working alone has its ups and downs. Self-criticism, loneliness and pressure together with freedom, independence and self-awareness. Time becomes a mix between neurosis and patience.“ Those sensations translate to the album concept. Ghosts (fantasmas) are normally lonely beings, lost between worlds and bubbles, expatriated from life, family and friends. “This is exactly what I have been through in the last years – a Brazilian immigrant building a new life in Germany – though with strong ties to Brazil“. Fantasma has eight songs about this ego trip and all the trips between those sensations. It is also trippy in a more psychedelic sense: lots of delays, weird industrial noises, soundscapes and blues-punk. The album was a part of Davi’s Master thesis in sound design and is therefore very experimental in its production concept. Davi says: “The drums, for example, are not real drums, they are actually a self-produced sample-based drumkit that uses foley techniques noises and recordings. Davi says: “I recorded a wide range of sounds, from construction sites to milk cans; when nothing worked, punching a window did the trick“. Instead of a bass, he used a Moog synthesizer and built a tube guitar amp himself to achieve different timbres. “All part of taking risks. A matter of trial and error, of experimenting, failing, trying again and failing better.”