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Twenty years after their first album, MESA are back. Their reunion with the public will take place on the 7th of May at the Casa da Música, bringing with it the symbolism of two decades of journey and a silence that, for the band, has been anything but empty.
When asked about the reason for this comeback, after Mónica Ferraz left in 2012 and the band went on hiatus in 2016, the singer begins by saying that it was the right time. "It was the distance that made us want to get back together. Musically we've always been in sync," she explains. "This break has made us mature and realise that we work very well together. Our language complements each other," adds João Pedro Coimbra.
During this interval, they both followed different paths, which allowed them to enrich their experience as artists. "Musical reunions are always magical. It's a reunion with lots of stories and news to share," they say. At the same time, "it's as if twenty years haven't passed, which is very funny. The musical complicity remains."
Mónica Ferraz and João Pedro Coimbra © Rui Meireles
Revisiting songs like ‘Luz Vaga’ or ‘Vício de Ti’ so many years later is very emotional for both of them. ‘There's a new look at these songs,’ they say. Mónica emphasises: "Our personal growth has led us to interpret the songs differently now. It's absolutely incredible to realise that we're not the same people."
"It's almost like archaeological work. We're observing twenty years later and trying to understand the reason for those choices, the musical construction, the melodies," says João Pedro. And it's in this exercise that space opens up for the present: ‘Finding out how we can add to our current experience and vision.’
© Rui Meireles
In April, they released a new version of ‘Deixa Cair o Inverno’, a song that is part of MESA's second album, Vitamina (2005). ‘It was never a big hit, it was never a single, and we decided to reformulate the sound imagery and revisit it with the current MESA look,’ explains João Pedro. Mónica adds: "It will be very interesting to see how the public reacts to it. People, like us, have changed over the years."
The concert at Casa da Música represents this return to the stage, but also a return home. ‘This was one of the first venues where we played here in Porto,’ recalls João Pedro. And for Mónica, this is a city of memories: "This city was always there, even when I was away. In the saddest moments, thinking about Porto was what kept me happy and inspired to compose and realise my work."
As we talk, it becomes clear that this return is not just about celebrating the past. MESA want to extend their stay. "Right now the focus is on these concerts, but our goal is to get back on the road. There's a beauty in coming back, we want to enjoy all this work together and make the most of it," they reveal.
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