Podcast Summary: Helado Negro: 'Phasor' (Live from Five)

Podcast: All Of It (WNYC)
Host: Alison Stewart
Date: February 5, 2024
Guest: Roberto Carlos Lange (Helado Negro)

Overview

This episode of All Of It spotlights Helado Negro (Roberto Carlos Lange), an inventive musician whose new album, Phasor, blurs the lines between genres, memory, and language. In an evocative session live from WNYC’s Studio 5, Helado Negro performs new songs while reflecting on musical influences, the concept of deep listening, and the impact of changing environments—from Brooklyn to Asheville. Alongside live performances, Lange offers insights into his creative process, the album’s inspirations, and the stories behind standout tracks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction and Live Performance

• [00:54] Roberto Carlos Lange opens with a live rendition of "Colores del Mar" ("Colors of the Sea").
• Band Introduction [04:34]:
  • Jason Nasri (drums)
  • Andrew Stack (bass/guitar)
  • Opal Hoy (piano, vocals)
  • Roberto Carlos Lange (himself)

2. Sharing Musical Inspirations

• Social Media & Musical Sharing [05:06]:
  • Helado Negro is transparent about his musical influences online, considering sharing them "invigorating" and comparable to trading songs with friends.
  • Notable Quote:
    “I think the thing I like doing the most is sharing music with friends... it's invigorating.”
    (Roberto Carlos Lange, 05:06)

3. Moving from Brooklyn to Asheville

• Why Relocate? [05:52]:
  • The move represented a conscious embrace of change and challenge.
  • It provided both literal and mental space, relieving the "ambient stress" of New York and allowing him to focus and realign his creative process.
  • Notable Quote:
    "It's reassuring to know that you can do this... It's change in the sense that you're, like, embracing something that you... weren’t sure you could do."
    (Roberto Carlos Lange, 05:52)

4. The Influence of the SalMar Construction Machine

• Foundational Inspiration for Phasor [07:46]:
  • Lange describes interacting with the SalMar, an early generative synthesizer (built by Salvatore Martirano), and integrating its unique sounds and textures into his music.
  • He appreciates how technical experimentation can yield playful and creative results.
  • Notable Quote:
    "It was invented by this guy, Salvatore Martirano... I got to record it. And it's like this generative synthesizer... I was able to use it in my recordings... textures and loops and use them as fodder, but also influence..."
    (Roberto Carlos Lange, 07:46)

5. Songwriting and Emotional Resonance

• On "I Just Want To Wake Up With You" [09:07]:
  • The song title is intentionally open—both a literal love song and a meditation on self-acceptance and yearning to recapture positive states of being.
  • Live Performance of "I Just Want To Wake Up With You" [09:28–12:44].

6. Cultural References and Track Stories

• Brazilian Influences [13:25]:
  • A listener draws a parallel to the Brazilian Tropicalismo movement, reflecting Helado Negro’s multicultural sonic palette.
• "LFO (Lupe Finds Oliveros)" [13:39]:
  • The track connects two inspiring women: Lupe Lopez, a craftsman who built Fender amplifiers (identified by her name written inside the amps), and composer Pauline Oliveros, known for her "deep listening" philosophy.
  • Lange weaves their individual stories—attention to craft and mindfulness—into a single conceptual narrative.
  • Notable Quote:
    "She [Lupe] wasn’t trying to, like, make the best amp in the world. She was like, I'm just gonna do the best job I can today."
    (Roberto Carlos Lange, 15:22)
  • On connecting Lupe and Pauline:
    "...putting this deep attention and creating this, she was able to harness the sound... I feel like that's, like, a great example of this idea of, like, deep listening."
    (Roberto Carlos Lange, 15:51)

7. Deep Listening and the Foley Artist Connection

• Sound Awareness from Foley [16:51]:
  • Lange’s experience as a Foley artist sharpened his appreciation for textures and the subtleties of sound, influencing his musical approach.
  • He describes the process of recreating everyday sounds and the "deconstructing life" aspect involved.
  • Notable Quote:
    “...the artistry of it was like, learning how to distribute weight... from walking on pavement to cement to rugs to carpet. And that is, like, deconstructing life in itself.”
    (Roberto Carlos Lange, 17:06)

8. Approach to Music Composition

• Vertical vs. Linear Songwriting [18:24]:
  • Lange describes building songs by layering sounds vertically rather than composing traditionally from beginning to end (verse–chorus structure).
  • Embraces “weirdness” as part of the creative process.
  • Notable Quote:
    "I don’t really make music... from left to right. In a linear sense, I'm working vertically."
    (Roberto Carlos Lange, 18:27)

Notable Quotes

• “I think the thing I like doing the most is sharing music with friends... it's invigorating.” (05:06)
• "It's reassuring to know that you can do this... It's change in the sense that you're, like, embracing something that you weren't sure you could do." (05:52)
• "It was invented by this guy, Salvatore Martirano... I got to record it. And it's like this generative synthesizer... textures and loops..." (07:46)
• "She [Lupe] wasn’t trying to, like, make the best amp in the world. She was like, I'm just gonna do the best job I can today." (15:22)
• "...the artistry of it was like, learning how to distribute weight... from walking on pavement to cement to rugs to carpet. And that is, like, deconstructing life in itself.” (17:06)
• "I don’t really make music... from left to right. In a linear sense, I'm working vertically." (18:27)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:54 — "Colores del Mar" Live Performance
• 04:34 — Band introductions
• 05:06 — Musical influences and sharing
• 05:52 — Moving from Brooklyn to Asheville
• 06:38 — Songwriting process and environmental impact
• 07:46 — The SalMar Construction Machine and its influence
• 09:07 — "I Just Want To Wake Up With You," thematic discussion
• 09:28 — Live performance of "I Just Want To Wake Up With You"
• 13:25 — Brazilian influences & album context
• 13:39 — "LFO (Lupe Finds Oliveros)" backstory
• 15:51 — On deep listening
• 16:51 — Foley artistry and sound sensitivity
• 18:27 — Non-traditional composition methods
• 19:22 — Performance: "Best For You and Me"

Closing Note

Helado Negro: ‘Phasor’ (Live from Five) is a rich exploration of intentional creativity, cultural connection, and the art of listening. The episode (and the album) suggests that music—much like life—is about layering experience, attention, and emotional resonance, both within oneself and out into the world.