Lusitanian Ghosts Release New Single 'All You Wanted'
Streaming Link: https://s.disco.ac/jmimtygqvtnc
Canadian Portuguese Swedish collective bring new life to medieval instruments through socio-political songs included on Canada / US digital compilation, "Chordophone Rock n Roll"
Toronto, Canada – Friday, December 6, 2024 -- Lusitanian Ghosts, a trans-Atlantic neo-folk collective dedicated to presenting ancient sounds in the 21st Century, today unveil their new single, All You Wanted. The single, precedes the band’s new Canada / US digital compilation, "Chordophone Rock n Roll" which is slated for February 2025.
Founded by Canadian Neil Leyton (The Conscience Pilate) and Micke Ghost (a.k.a. Mikael Lundin), Lusitanian Ghosts were formed as a vehicle for reviving lost instruments like the Beiroa, Campaniça, Braguesa, Terceirense and Amarantina, which the Portuguese distinguish as violas. These instruments, each offering their own string arrangements and tunings, were once on the verge of extinction and are in fact the real "Lusitanian Ghosts" -- Lusitania being an ancient Celtic tribe in what would become the central territory of Portugal.
This an innovative musical project marries thought-provoking socio-political lyrics with historic instrumentation to create a unique musical fusion that resonates with fans on both an emotional and intellectual level. By skillfully recasting these heritage folk violas into rock n roll songs Lusitanian Ghosts have created moving melodic settings for examining tough topics such as dealing with dark pasts while striving to build a better world.
Pictured left to right: Johnny Sousa, Janne Olsson, Neil Leyton, Micke Lundin, Abel Beja, ToZé Bexiga
Photo Credit: Katja Ruge @ Clouds Hill Studio Hamburg
The brand new single, All You Wanted is a powerful example with its juxtaposition of traditional sounds and contemporary pop-rock influences and lyrics that tackle the challenges we all may encounter when seeking peace, love and companionship and simply trying to realize a dream. The provocative song delves into the forces at play in today’s world, which seem to, now more than ever, twist our dreams and human desires for peace and harmony, into a world of hate and war.
“When writing this song, we thought about what John Lennon wrote about a world without countries, without heaven, without religion to fall back on,” says singer/songwriter Neil Leyton. “Our message here is simply that life isn’t a dress rehearsal, this is all we get so you better know what you want or be prepared to ask yourself, is this All you Wanted?”
Lusitanian Ghosts are led by Portuguese Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Leyton on vocals and Swedish musician Mikael Lundin (Micke Ghost) on vocals and the viola Amarantina, featuring João Sousa on drums and the Adufe, Abel Beja on the viola Terceirense, ToZé Bexiga on the viola Campaniça and piano and Janne Olson on bass and the viola Beirão. Other Ghosts include O Gajo and OMIRI.
The collective’s debut project included a documentary that explores the historical significance of these chordophones, revealing how they nearly became extinct. The instruments themselves serve as the true “Lusitanian Ghosts,” representing a lost cultural heritage.
All You Wanted - Track Information:
Recorded by Nelson Canoa and Adrian Lussi in Portugal and Sweden
Mixed by Adrian Lussi in Stockholm
Mastered by John Webber at Air Studios London
Produced by Neil Leyton and Mikael Lundin
Words and music by Mikael Lundin
Additional Lyrics by Neil Leyton
Published by Lusitanian Music Publishing
Streaming Link: https://s.disco.ac/jmimtygqvtnc
Apple Music subscribers can access all Lusitanian Ghosts releases as well as exclusive video content originally made available on Apple Connect: www.applemusic.com/lusitanianghosts
Website: https://lusitanianghosts.net
Insta: @lusitanianghosts
About Lusitanian Ghosts
Lusitanian Ghosts was a creative collaboration between Neil Leyton, who is also a founding member of Toronto’s indie art rockers The Conscience Pilate, and Micke Ghost. The pair formed Lusitanian Ghosts when Leyton took a viola Amarantina from Lisbon to Stockholm; Leyton then decided to make an experimental album mixing the various regional Lusitanian (Portuguese) chordophones with their usual brand of singer-songwriter rock n roll.
The collective gathered at Canoa Studios in Portugal, with producer Ricardo Ferreira, and recorded ten songs, featuring Leyton on bass as well as the viola Beiroa; Micke Ghost on the Amarantina; Vasco Ribeiro Casais aka OMIRI on the Braguesa and Nyckelharpa; O Gajo on the viola Campaniça; and Primitive Reason’s Abel Beja on the viola Terceira. In the absence of Lil’ Ghost, who would join later, Ricardo also played the viola Toeira: making it 6 regional chordophones on this unique record.
Their second album, Exotic Quixotic, was recorded on analog tape at Clouds Hill Studios in Hamburg and released digitally in late 2021. The album was produced with contributions from a diverse group of musicians, including Vasco Ribeiro Casais (OMIRI) and Primitive Reason’s Abel Beja, expanding the sound palette with instruments like the nyckelharpa and the viola toeira.
The third album, released in September 2023, was recorded on 2” 24-track tape at Clouds Hill Studio by engineer Sebastian Muxfeldt. The final mixes, completed in both stereo and mono formats, were mastered at Soundgarden Tonstudio by Chris von Rautenkranz, ensuring the recordings retained their raw, analog essence.
