About
Photography by João Pamplona Mendes
Bio
André Aires Augusto (also known as André Aires or André Augusto) is a Portuguese composer, musician, producer and sound designer.
Portuguese composer, musician, and producer whose connection to music began in childhood first exploring his voice in a children’s choir and later dedicating himself to the drums in bands such as Outbreak and doismileoito. These early experiences helped him understand the dynamics of group sound and explore the traditional song format.
For over a decade, he worked as a clinical psychologist, an experience that gave him a deep insight into human nature, a perspective reflected in his musical approach. At the same time, he joined AIM Creative Studios, where he founded the music and sound department and grew as a composer by developing soundtracks for animations and independent films.
Later, André pursued academic studies in composition and musical notation, exploring contemporary composition techniques that would shape his work.
In 2018, he founded Claraboia Studio in Porto, a space dedicated to hosting and nurturing a community of musicians and organising music workshops that invite creators from various fields to explore composition freely.
A message to my future self
In 1997, I recorded a cassette tape to my future self. As a child, because I noticed that adults stopped watching cartoons or playing with toys, I guess somehow I was a bit afraid I could also forget myself in the process. I wanted me to remember of my daily life. This recording includes my thoughts, and simple experiences of what life was like back then. Here is a small fragment:
Friends and Mentors
Friends and Mentors played a key role in my development, providing unique influences and support that helped me grow as a composer and advance my career.
João Pamplona Mendes, opens in a new tab
João is family. Someone who brought a new meaning to the word resilience. I met him when he was a child, but over the years he has continuously surprised and inspired me with bursts of artistic maturity in all his facets. He has a wonderful cultural background and without him, I would never have finished my album. João is also Geração.
Fernando Lapa, opens in a new tab
A calm and generous mind, Fernando Lapa handed me the key to music history and opened the door to exploring contemporary sounds in their purest form. He has been my mentor over the past decade, teaching me everything I know about music theory, subtly and effortlessly. A humble master and a good friend.
Jonas César & Tiago Ribeiro, opens in a new tab
The friends leading AIM Creative Studios gave me the opportunity to explore and develop my art professionally. They taught me about the dynamics of the industry, how to be patient, strategic, and generous qualities for which I am grateful to this day.
Guilherme Morais, opens in a new tab
Guilherme humbly taught me advanced music theory and invited me to his projects and composition. I gave several concerts with him with an improvised repertoire, and perhaps because of his optimism I never felt insecure. A head with a quality library inside it. My chess partner.
João Santos, opens in a new tab
Obsessed with the purity of nature's sounds and their effects on others, João taught me to be meticulous in the analysis of frequencies. As a psychiatrist and researcher, he emphasizes how the brain is an unpredictable agent that doesn't always let us hear what is truly happening. He thrives on knowledge, and I am fortunate that he generously shares it with me. João is also the artist behind the project TheGoldenAura.
Pedro Pode; Nicolau Fernandes & Bruno Almeida ("doismileoito"), opens in a new tab
Without a doubt, the friends from whom I learned the most about performing live; rehearsals and what makes a concert valuable; music production, about speaking through music, about what goes beyond music but still remains art. Companions in knowledge, they spoiled and mistreated me musically. We competed with music but also conquered our fans with it.
Ana and Diogo - the pack "Lobo Faquir"
Diogo, hardworking and musically intelligent, blends his unique sense of humor with a relaxed and genuine approach to projects a skill I admire but still struggle to implement. Ana has one of the most beautiful and pure voices I've ever sung with. Playing with these two has always made me feel truly at ease.
Lobo Faquir
André; Ana e Diogo
"Sharing knowledge and experiences is what Loboteca is about, so that’s why we want to be surrounded by the best. Our artistic paths crossed when we were fortunate enough to sign up for the same edition of a course for Music Leadership, promoted by the educational service of Casa da Música, at Porto. The empathy we felt for one another and the way that our musical experiences mingled together were so strong and so natural that we felt we had to continue to make music together. In 2016 we created a collective, a band for us to explore different musical aesthetics and composition techniques: Lobo Faquir."
This band started its formation in a very dynamic way with five members and naturally found its balance with three. Here are also some photos of the wonderful moments from their initial musical explorations together also with the talented Carlos Baptista and Catarina Valadas
Carlos Baptista, opens in a new tabCatarina Valadas, opens in a new tab
Quarantine office
During quarantine, we all experienced unusual times and adapted in our own ways. Between a mattress and two windows, far from my instruments, it was here that I brought many of my ideas to life.
