In 2005, an 18-year-old Raphael Gimene left the sunny shores of Brazil behind, embarking on a journey to a distant and wintry land. "Dinamarca", the Portuguese name for Denmark, became his new home, where he has lived for almost two decades.
Today, he presents his third album, a deep exploration of his life in Scandinavia. Rather than being a nationalistic tribute, “DINAMARCA” tells chapters from Gimenes’ life story as a Brazilian living in the northern corners of the world. It guides us through the enchanting Nordic woods, the vast fields stretching to the horizon, and the timeless sea resting beneath an endless sky. The melodies of blackbirds, the dances of red deer, and the whispers of ancient oaks form the backdrop for his musical stories.
Within his songs, we experience moments of deep solitude and boundless inspiration, moments where reflection and creative passion intertwine. Gimenes skillfully turns the power of love into harmonies, dedicating songs to both his companion and his closest friends. Beyond these experiences, he leads us on journeys to Denmark's neighbouring lands, Norway and Sweden, where revelations and encounters with the mystical found their way into the lyrical fabric of his songs.
The album's orchestration includes Gimenes' vocals and the resonant chords of his classical guitar. Accompanying him throughout the album are Jan Kadereit's multi-layered percussion, and Lucas Delacroix's bass synth, who also plays the electric guitar at times. Gimenes has garnered acclaim and accolades across continents. His debut release, "Raphael Gimenes & As Montanhas de Som," delved deep into the rhythms and traditions of Brazil. It rose to prominence as the top Brazilian release in2016 in Holland and was hailed as a "conceptual masterpiece" in Japan. Denmark Unveiled through Brazilian Eyes The music within “DINAMARCA” delves deep into the soul of a man who embraced a new land with open arms, while staying true to his roots. It unites elements from both of Gimenes' prior works, embarking on a journey across new musical horizons. The result is music that transcends borders, weaving itself into an intricately beautiful tapestry - a soul that has learned to harmonize with two worlds.
His second album, "A Tongue Full of Suns," co-produced with Faroese multi artist Teitur, ventured into the English language, blending Gimenes' inspirations from theworld of prog rock. Danish rock legend Tim Christensen praised it as "top-shelf neo-folk", while Brazilian website 80minutos described it as "hypnotizing." All songs & arrangements by Raphael Gimenes.
Produced by Lucas Delacroix and Raphael Gimenes Mix: Lucas Delacroix Master: Brian Hansen Photos by Raphael Gimenes Cover design: Sara Steege The music further unfolds with the nuances of a string quartet, and a brass quintet, both recorded in the tropical highlands of Minas Gerais. Other guest musicians feature on individual songs, such as pianist Sebastian Macchi, flautist Flavia Huarachi, cellist Lucas Almeida, and singers Gaby Echevarria, Cecilia Pahl, and Cris Ferro. @raphagimenes
LlanuraInfinita (3:16)
Caçador de Horizontes (4:49)
Uma Canção para Daniel (4:38)
Amigo (6:01)
Callisensvej 33 (5:05)
Fim-de-mundo (4:30)
Irene (6:06)
Dyrehaven (6:18)
Adeus, Vovô (2:02)
Augur (5:16)
O Pintor (4:17)
O Segredo das Águas (1:05)
O Fim (4:50)
