Any musician who asks the audience at a show to write down some words about how the tunes made them feel and then gathers up this feedback has some nerve but that’s exactly what Inês Loubet did last year. The Portuguese, London-based singer-songwriter makes Tropicalia toned music of openness and honesty, that aims to reach out to people and to do that needs to understand itself. So why not ask the crowd to help? Beats the usual self- congratulatory ‘Are you having a good time’ routine.
It’s a story which tells you a couple of things about this emerging, vibrant artist. Inês Loubet thinks outside the box and has the drive to keep her music fresh. She was vocalist and co-writer in the latin-jazz, fusion-facing ensemble Caravela whose intoxicating album ‘Orla’ sent the UK scene slightly giddy in 2021 (see Backseat’s review Here). That document was shaped during the band’s sabbatical in Bahia, Brazil, a time when Loubet also started writing solo material which is now, through careful twists, turns and considerations, ready to emerge as her solo debut album ‘Senga’, due 17th May via Albert’s Favourites.
Featuring amongst others, Caravela buddy, percussionist Jansen Santana and guitarist producer Greg Sanders (Teotima/Juanita Euka and more), ‘Senga’ sets out to draw Loubet’s many pathways together, from Portugal, through Brazil and now in London town. The album’s flowing fanfare track ‘Sab Sabim’ covers all these pointers in a silky four-minute trip. Set to a rolling coladera shuffle with guest Peu Meurray adding to the rhythmic weave, it’s a song of subtle surprises. There’s gliding guitar trills, gentle accordion waves plus a husky sax break, all topped by Loubet’s fluent vocal that can lift joyously while pleading intently for social change .
On this showing, the incoming ‘Senga’ looks set to make quite an impression – make sure you’re in the crowd this time around when Inês Loubet asks what you think…
Pre -order a copy of the album ‘Senga‘ by Inês Loubet via Albert’s Favourites HERE
