75. A new song that feels like an old home
Comfort music to complement the comfort food of Canadian Thanksgiving.
suggested reading method
To best savour this artwork, please take a moment to eliminate distractions. Consider minimizing all other windows on your computer; putting other devices (phone, tv etc) aside; taking a deep breath, to the full extent of your lung capacity; and focusing solely on the “artwork” section.
Once you’ve processed that to your satisfaction, the rest of the post is optional reading, provided only to share my own impressions and reasons for choosing this piece.
artwork
“Daiana” by Fabiano de Nascimento and Sam Gendel, from their 2024 album The Room.
interpretation
Have you ever had a new song bring you back to an old memory?
This happened for me when I was immediately drawn to this piece. I love the whole album The Room, and of all the tracks, “Daiana” sounds the most warm and friendly. Listening is like coming home to a house brimming with family, the fireplace on, a blanket on the couch, and dinner ready on the table.
It’s been a while since I’ve studied music theory, but I might attribute the comforting feeling to the lilt of the melody. The main theme (from 0:43 onwards) swoops and dives, leaving us hanging from a series of short notes, and each time resolves into a repeated note in a synchronized rhythm with the other instruments. The whole sequence ends with a happy feeling. Through repetition, we can count on the moments of harmonic uncertainty becoming neatly resolved, making the cyclical melody endlessly satisfying. Halfway through, the woodwinds mirror the guitar’s theme and grant an innocently wistful touch.
I soon realized a deeper layer of familial comfort: these rhythms, and the tone of the acoustic guitar, remind me of the Gipsy Kings. My dad would play their CDs in the car on the way to elementary school. We would sing along to “Bamboléo” and while I was a little sheepish about singing at the time, those rituals became woven into the formative memories of my youth that I treasure today.
As we enter another autumn, I’m already picturing the trees barren and cold. It’s nice to have traditions like Thanksgiving (celebrated in Canada this past weekend) and songs like “Daiana” to soothe us through the winter ahead. I want to cherish my family and friends, for them to feel comforted and warm like I do thanks to this song.
context
Fabiano de Nascimento is a Rio de Janeiro-born guitarist, composer, arranger, and producer who works in Los Angeles and Tokyo. He has released several albums since 2015, and was featured in an NPR Tiny Desk Concert in 2020.
Sam Gendel is a California-born saxophonist and music producer. He has collaborated with artists such as Vampire Weekend and Sam Wilkes, and released solo albums like the three-hour long Fresh Bread.
What’s your comfort music? Feel free to share your own thoughts in the comments!