Amps & Lina

Amps & Lina formed in Recife (a state of northeast Brazil), in the middle of June 1995 by a group of friends in order to perform unpretentiously. Luciana (vocals) and Alcides (guitars) met while studying Architecture at University (UFPE) . Henrique (bass) is Alcides´ brother, the other members were friends and neighbors invited for the adventure. In that time, Luciana was 17, Alcides, 20, and Henrique was 18 years old. The brothers used to play together since the middle 80’s but the idea of a project influenced by Mutantes runned only in University time – their links and likes helped. Luciana wasn´t a Rita Lee wannabe, but assumed the vocals for fun. Amps & Lina soon made its live debut in a local independent rock festival and circuited the underground of Recife.

The first demo was recorded in 1997, released in cassette and had the dreadful but tropicalist title of “DEMO ROLL + Chegou”. In 1998, they produced a promocional CD entitled “Só pra dançar” with the same songs above plus a bonus track called “Amanhã é Sábado”.

In March 1999, Amps & Lina performed last show after joining “Recife Rock Mangue”, a cd compilation produced by DJ Elcy Oliveira. Wanna know the reason they split? The moto in the band was getting together and having fun, taking it easy. But their priorities changed: they were supposed to get a job and start living an adult life when getting to their 20’s.

In spite of personal reasons, Luciana also added that those times weren´t artistically favourable for authoral bands in Recife, except those which could be filed under the label ‘mangue’, such as Chico Science and Nação Zumbi and Mundo Livre. “Recife was like a closing shell, except for cover bands that used to fill up pubs and night clubs. Each day more things were getting difficult such as media and places to perform.”

Later in 2004, part of the members joined to play other bands’ versions at a friend’s party. Surprisingly, some friends asked them to play their own songs. After that, they decided to return with the band. Amps & Lina reborn with new purpose and formation.

In 2005, Diego Araújo (current Sweet Fanny Addams’ bass player) joined the 3 original members to play drums and so did Lorena in violin and vocals later in 2006. The present formation was completed when Ricardo entered to replace Diego and most recently Rogério assumed programming and guitars after “Curva e Linha” EP recording.

This new Amps & Lina are still dense, with harmonic confluence between violin and guitar, sweet voices, strong rhythms and electronic effects. After the gap, they feel themselves more mature and musically sensitive, this could be naturally perceived through lyrics and melodies of their new songs.
Besides friendship, technological facilities and interfaces such as internet and recording softwares, new members with different influences and tones stimulated A&L to perform and write songs. Luciana says, “After releasing ‘Curva e Linha’ we didn´t know what or how would be the audience feedback but in fact we trusted the songs. We knew that we had in our hands the result of our differences and not simply a product of any external formula adopted for us.”

Actually, there are many differences. Alcides and Henrique´s father is a popular songwriter in Frevo (a tradicional rhythmn from the northeast Brazil). Despite that, both brothers enjoy blues and classical rock. Rogério likes samba-rock and such as Luciana and Lorena also likes alternative rock. But both girls also enjoy fusions, electronic music, jazz, and so on.

Kinda Mangue Beat, ain´t that? Could be… but not repeating formulas, like Luciana said: “If Recife has a sound considered multicultural, so we fit where music is completly free to float, where we can mix tones, sound effetcs, to experiment our passions and feelings. But regional rhythms and aspects are not our references, it wouldn´t sound true. We were raised by the concrete but we could not deny our popular culture. It is just a matter of life experience. Amps runned out of the Mangue beat Movement and nowadays makes alternative music free from formulas and open to experiments and new sounds.”

“Curva e Linha” ’s recording started in March 2007 at Pierre´s studio with a little help from Guilherme Gadelha on keyboards, samplers and effects. It was finished in June 2007 at Proclo´s studio with the help from another friend, Enio Damasceno (from local band Mellotrons) playing synths and eletronic effects. Diego (from Sweet Fanny Addams) helped with mixdown and mastering in a home studio.

In September 2007, A&L became part of midsummer madness’ cast. The “Curva e Linha” EP was released in the site in November 2007. You can download all 5 tracks and the cover.

In 2008, Amps & Lina recorded a version of Beatles‘ “Good Night”, taken from the White Album. A brazilian journalist is compiling fan versions from brazilian bands. You can find more about this project at this group at orkut

Amps & Lina MySpace - www.myspace.com/ampsilina

Amps & Lina at Best 2007 Downloads of INDIE MP3.