‘Amanheceu’, released on July 9, follows the debut album ‘Trovador’, introduced early last year.
The new album by the Luso-Angolan musician is described by his label as “profoundly personal and mature, combining Afro sounds, family stories, and the renewal of an artist writing under his own name once again.”
Among the ten tracks on ‘Amanheceu’, three were revealed over recent weeks: ‘Beijo roubado’, ‘Olhar’, and ‘Crescer’.
“With notable presence in production and instrumental composition, the strong prevalence of Afro beats and sounds matches his unmistakable melodic style, merging influences that have shaped him into the artist he is today: even more mature than before, Ivandro opens his heart like never across ten tracks that originate from him but do not end with him,” states the label’s release.
Ivandro garners millions of views on online music and video platforms. ‘Moça’, ‘Lua’, ‘Como tu’, recorded with Bárbara Bandeira, and ‘Perfume’, a duet with Brazilian artist Lumilla, are among his most popular songs.
In February of last year, during the release of his debut album, he shared with Lusa that, as he does not fit into a single musical style, he feels like a troubadour.
“I’m not a pop singer, because I also do Afro. I’m not an Afro singer, because I also do pop. I’m not a hip-hop singer, because I do pop. Not knowing where I fit or what style I belong to at the moment, I feel like a troubadour. I just feel the need to make music to express myself, to tell others what I have to say, and I enjoy doing that,” Ivandro told Lusa in an interview at the time.
Self-taught, as a child he “cried for a guitar,” and his parents eventually bought it for him. He started playing and singing songs by other artists with it.
It was in Algueirão-Mem Martins, a parish in the Sintra municipality where he moved at the age of 3 after arriving from Angola, that he met friends who inspired and motivated him to pursue music, along with some luck that paved his path.
His first songs were shared over ten years ago on his YouTube channel, which he still operates. At the time, it was called ‘why not records’ and later changed to his artistic name, Ivandro (his full name is Joaquim Ivandro Paulo).
Witnessing artists like Anselmo Ralph and Justin Bieber perform on stage left him “dazzled” by how “their music made people feel things, both euphoria and tears. All because of a song.” In those moments, he envisioned himself in that position, questioning if it would ever be possible.
At one time, Ivandro was a Jehovah’s Witness—he continues to hold his faith in God but is not practicing—and the religious movement’s meetings included hymn singing.
Ivandro’s journey also took him through television talent shows. At 17, he competed in “Ídolos,” and two years later, he participated in ‘Got Talent Portugal’.
On his path to the debut album, Ivandro also highlights musician Firmino Pascoal, the father of one of his great friends and musician Tristany.
Around that time, he moved from playing guitar to using a computer, beginning to “record people and produce.”
The rapper Bispo, who grew up in Mem Martins like Ivandro and Tristany, invited the singer to join him in concerts, doing backup vocals.
Bispo is among several artists featured on Ivandro’s debut album, alongside Van Zee, Julinho KSD, Instinto26, M Huncho, Slow J, Pikika, Vitor Kley, Agnes Nunes, Marisa Liz, and António Zambujo.
Ivandro has also been one of the invited composers for the Festival da Canção in 2023, accumulating nominations and awards at the PLAY – Prémios da Música Portuguesa.
