Album Notes

bossanovafied is a collection of songs about life experiences only understood and resolved through melody and lyric. The entire project is collaboration - about what happens in people's lives.

“Recorded in Rio de Janeiro with Brazilian pianist and collaborator Paulo Midosi, bossanovafied is polished and sophisticated from start to finish. Vocally, Mills goes from fragile, barely-there whispers to unleashed wails and, even among the uniformly excellent tunes, a few still manage to stand out.”
“Kristine Mills”
www.houstonpress.com
By Olivia Flores Alvarez
Published on April 28, 2009

the lyrics
For the exception of three songs, the lyrics are my own. The lyrics of those songs were created from the poetry of two insightful poets, David Schneider and Brian Spack. Their lives intersected mine just at the right time and their words succinctly expressed how I felt about things in my life, though I was incapable of addressing them for myself. Sentiments found in the lyrics address the ebb and flow of relationships, life and love, and will surely resonate with those who hear them. The accompanying melodies I wrote along with the self-penned lyrics, plus those derived from my friends' poetry, project the listener into the stories of these songs and can apply them to their own experiences.

the story
The other component in the collaboration is Brazilian pianist, Paulo Midosi, I met this classic bossa nova pianist, writer and arranger in Rio the summer of 2006 while performing with this trio at Club J. For us it was instant chemistry. I found the courage to ask to sit-in after the show. The rest, as they say, is history. After that performance we agreed to meet in Rio the following year to record my songs as bossa novas and sambas.

the arrangements
bossanovafied as you hear it today is the culmination of the beautiful arrangements created by Midosi and Harold Cazes, as well as the input of the other musicians once we were in the studio. Together we found the heart and soul of my melodies and harmonies.

the recordings
The atmosphere in the studio was dynamic and we fed off each others energy and ideas. Each song was improved upon measure by measure. This album, infused with the essence of Brazil, the rhythm of bossa nova and samba, embody those special sounds that have always fascinated, mesmerized and inspired me.

It was pure joy to work with these talented men and I hope to bring them to the US so you to can witness this breathtaking union live and in person.