Portuguese artist Jüra debuts this week with her first studio album, bringing to the world 'sortaminha'.

The work, which includes collaborations with other artists such as L-Ali and Real GUNS, is made available to the general public this Thursday, to convey stories, once again, of love, as is already frequent in the works of this artist from Alcobaça, who completed her studies at Chapitô, in Lisbon.

Jüra - stage name of Joana Silva - had already released three of the songs that make up the album ('avidadá', 'tudoparachegarati' and 'coração') and is now taking a step forward in her career, after releasing several successful 'singles' and participating in various national festivals.

To Notícias ao Minuto, the artist talks about her expectations, her creative process and the messages she wants to convey with this studio work.

The 'sortaminha' is a debut album, but the career started in 2019 and has already released several 'singles'. What lessons from the last five years are printed on this album?

My music reflects what I live and this album comes with a very important teaching, personal. Love doesn't hurt. It was the most important thing I learned. And it was the beautiful love that I'm living that inspired this album, which contains my first many happy songs.

'coração', like many of your other songs, talks about love, relationships, coexistence... Why is the emphasis on these themes common in your songs?

I'm a crab. There is nothing more important to me than loving, than love. That's why it's the most recurring theme in my songs, because it's what matters most to me - the way we relate to each other and what that makes us feel.

[Producing the 'sortaminha'] was partly easier because I worked mostly with four producers that I admire a lot and that are part of my life

What differences did you feel, mainly, between editing the 'singles' that have been released so far and this studio album? Was it more difficult?

No, it was equally natural. I can say that it was partly easier because I worked mostly with four producers that I admire a lot and that are part of my life, DØR, Miguele, L-ALI and NED FLANGER, which made all of them born in a very relaxed and happy environment. The truth is that most of these songs were not even worked on in the studio, most of the album was created and recorded in a small house of a friend of mine in Lagoa de Albufeira in the five days we spent together there.

You have a very particular way of writing, whether in the lyrics of the songs or in the publications you make on social networks. What leads you to opt for this writing, in which you tend to join the words and write them as they are pronounced?

I started writing like this when I was at Chapitô, a circus school that taught me the freedom to create. I started writing as I speak just because. Because it made sense to me.

I like to make songs born when I can do them right there. I'm not one to rescue drafts

What is your approach to writing? Do you try to do it routinely, or is it as the ideas come up?

I very rarely write unless it's for recording. And if I write I never use it for anything. I like to make songs born when I can do them right there. I'm not one to rescue drafts. I like to connect with what I'm feeling at the moment. Because from one moment to the next, everything can change.

You will perform at NOS Alive, on July 12th, on the WTF Clubbing stage. What are your expectations for this concert? Do you think your music adapts well to the music festival environment?

Yes, especially in this album that has very different sounds from what I did in previous projects. They are to reflect while dancing. To shake your head and the world. I'm very happy to be able to return to NOS Alive now on a different stage and it will undoubtedly be an unforgettable concert.

Once the 'sortaminha' is released, what future plans do you have for your career?

Continue. To transform life and what I learn in it into songs. And to cross more and more the other arts that are part of me, such as dance and circus.

What messages do you hope will stay in the hearts of the audience when the album is available?

As always, inspire the audience to reflect, feel, get to know themselves, take care of themselves and others. Remind everyone that love is a place of peace, reciprocity. And that only there should we stay. That life should be a place to celebrate.

PLAY Awards? It's always good to be recognized for our work. It's another step in the many I intend to take

And what are your expectations for the nomination for revelation artist of the PLAY Awards? How did you feel when you found out about this nomination?

I was very happy, because it's always good to be recognized for our work. It's another step in the many I intend to take and I'm sure that the awards gala [which will take place this Thursday] will be a very beautiful experience to live.

Leia Também: Vencedores dos PLAY- Prémios da Música Portuguesa são conhecidos hoje (Portuguese version)