Marito Marques gets up-close and personal with his rapturously romantic new single Amor Ao Longe — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The latest single from the Grammy, Latin Grammy and Juno-nominated drummer, composer, and producer’s album A Ponte (The Bridge), Amor Ao Longe whisks you away on a spellbinding, romantic journey of longing. Joining Marques on the trip are two of Portugal’s most celebrated new voices: Maro, a solo artist who also performs with Grammy-winning U.K. artist Jacob Collier; and Salvador Sobral, the winner of the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest.
“Amor Ao Longe tells us about a love lived at a distance through a melody that immediately captivates, guided by the voices of Maro and Salvador Sobral,” says Marques. “This is the first time where these two stars sing together.”
Marques composed the music for Amor Ao Longe, while the lyrics were penned by the renowned Paulo Abreu Lima, who has worked with Sting and the Portuguese Fado star Mariza. Amid Lima’s lyrics, Maro’s dusky alto and Sobral’s soulful tenor weave back and forth beautifully in a dance of two lovers desperately longing to close the distance of time and space. Marques’ subtle yet dramatic percussion, Francisco Sales’ and Carlos Garcia’s gorgeous and complementary guitar and piano work, and the superb string trio of Nicole Marques on violin, Aleksandar Gajic on viola, and Bryan Holt on cello provide an exquisite bed to carry the achingly romantic story.
Recorded at Toronto’s GMP Studios, Amor Ao Longe is the second single from Marques’ third full-length A Ponte. “The album is based on the essence of traditional Portuguese music, reinventing it without any barriers or prejudices,” explains Marques. Recorded in both Portugal and Toronto, where Marques is now based, the album also features renowned fado singer Marco Rodrigues and Luís Trigacheiro, the winner of The Voice Portugal in 2021.
By fusing timeless music with modern style and collaborating with both Portuguese and Canadian musicians, Marques has made his latest project accessible to both international Portuguese communities and the greater public. “I want to show to the Canadian audience, and the world, this beautiful music genre presented in a modern way,” explains Marques. “I’ve always had respect and admiration for traditional Portuguese music and, since I moved to Canada in 2013, this fascination grew even more.”
Born in Arganil, Portugal, Marques is a prodigious musician who began playing live at age five. His talent quickly garnered the attention of musical legends such as Donna Grantis (guitarist, Prince), Jeff Coffin (saxophonist, Dave Matthews Band), and Fado icon Carlos do Carmo. He earned a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album with Afro Peruvian Jazz Orchestra’s Tradiciones in 2021, and a Latin Grammy nod for Best Arrangement with the orchestra’s La Flor De La Canela.
Watch the video for Amor Ao Longe above, sample A Ponte below, and find Marito Marques at his website, Twitter and Instagram.
