“Be yourself, be yourself, and be yourself. It is really important to have references as we grow and study our craft, but at some point, we need to throw all that in the blender and let our soul come out of it.”

Eddie Pimentel: One (Blues) Way Home

Encouraged to move to Los Angeles by Tim Carmon, Brazilian guitarist Eddie Pimentel won a scholarship from "The Musicians Foundation in Los Angeles" to study music at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood and received an ESP brand guitar, which came with his admission to the college. Over nearly two years in L.A., he took classes and played with guitarists such as Stuart Ziff (War), Vadim Zilberstein (Earth, Wind & Fire), Dean Brown (Marcus Miller), Adam Hawley (Jennifer Lopez), Scott Henderson, and Carl Verheyen (Supertramp), among others. In 2015, he was awarded the "Outstanding Player Award," the best guitarist of the year award at the Musicians Institute's graduation ceremony. From dream to reality, the Brazilian Eddie Pimentel has just made a grand debut with his first album, One Way Home (2024), produced by Tim Carmon. Featuring ten original tracks and several musical bonuses, Eddie enters the international blues and soul music scene with intimate compositions reflecting his experiences in the United States, a period marked by successes and personal losses.

(Photo: Eddie Pimentel)

Recorded in Los Angeles with top-notch musicians, the album features Tim Carmon on piano, Rhodes, and Hammond, Gorden Campbell (Whitney Houston) on drums, Courtney Leonard (Beyoncé) on bass, Charlean Carmon (Stevie Wonder) and Sydne Rose-Myett on backing vocals, with mixing by Tim Carmon, David Bryce, Arthur Damásio, and Lucas Sagaz. According to Eddie, all of the tracks are his greatest professional achievement that he could ever imagine as a musician and an artist, with influences from BB King, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy and Robert Cray. Eddie’s latest recording was a Christmas EP titled, ''0:00am Merry Christmas'' (2024).

Interview by Michael Limnios                            Special Thanks: Luciana Debom

How has the Blues and Rock music influenced your views of the world? What is the driving force behind your continuous support for your music?

I really believe that music has the power to change people's minds. In my case, I come from a small neighborhood in the northern part of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where it's all about samba and soccer. For some reason, I was drawn to the Blues and Rock, and watching my heroes travel the world gave me the energy to step out of my comfort zone, while most people around me stayed in theirs. Through music, I was able to see so many more possibilities and opportunities to grow and experience life as a human being. This is the driving force behind my continuous support for my music. This journey has been amazing so far!

How do you describe your sound, music philosophy and songbook? What's the balance in music between technique (skills) and soul/emotions? 

I would start by saying that it all comes from the heart! My music philosophy is based on expressing what I’ve learned through my life experiences and emotions. I believe that now, more than ever, you should write and record your true, authentic self, without worrying about whether it’s acceptable to others or not.

As for my sound, I’ve always had in mind a specific set of elements that create sonic unity. I enjoy using my lower-register voice along with my American band, featuring a lot of acoustic guitar in the mixes, complemented by analog tube distorted Stratocaster tones. This sonic blend is incorporated into my original songs, which often include Brazilian chords and arrangements. I also love throwing in guitar solos and heavy amp breakup tones.

Last but not least, I would say that my band and I use the necessary technique to bring out the emotions my songs require during the recording process. The most important thing is being prepared for any situation that arises.

”Through music, I was able to see so many more possibilities and opportunities to grow and experience life as a human being. This is the driving force behind my continuous support for my music. This journey has been amazing so far!” (Photo: Eddie Pimentel with his band and Tim Carmon)

What moment changed your music life the most? What´s been the highlights in your life and career so far?

Well, a few moments really stand out. The one that changed my musical life the most was when I released my first solo single, When The Rain Sustains. Everything made sense to me from that point on, especially after I started working with my producer, Tim Carmon. For someone who hadn’t sung before and only wanted to be a sideman back in the day, that was a huge turning point.

The highlights of my life and career so far include being recognized by my heroes and being invited to move to Los Angeles to pursue my career, then receiving a scholarship to study at the Musicians Institute. By the end of the course, I was honored to receive the Outstanding Player Award at the school.

Another huge moment for me was doing my first international tour as a solo artist at the end of 2024, when Eric Clapton came to Argentina and Brazil last September. Tim and I played shows in Argentina, as well as two shows in Brazil—one at Hard Rock Cafe in Curitiba and another at Blue Note in Rio de Janeiro. Also, the workshop I did in Buenos Aires at EMBA was amazing, where I had the support of Tim and Eric’s drummer, Sonny Emory. Right now, I'm fulfilling another dream of mine: working on a project with the amazing gospel singer Michelle John from the UK. She's collaborated with legends like Annie Lennox, George Michael, Mariah Carey, and Celine Dion, among many others. She's been a big influence on me, and now we finally get to work together! Some great surprises on the way about this!

Why do you think that the Blues music continues to generate such a devoted following in Brazil? 

Blues is all around the world, and the genre will never really die. In Brazil, the devoted following keeps growing as time passes, and festivals are becoming more and more successful. I think that’s the key. The genuine concept of blues is changing a bit, with so many festivals carrying the name ‘blues’ but not necessarily playing the style. However, at least the name is being spread more and more, and I think people are still realizing that blues is the root of many genres.

”Feeling, soul, emotion, chords, bridges, musical sections, expression, lyrics... all of it, really. And last but not least, the ability to actually play with other musicians — not just in the same room, but truly together. I believe that music today is missing a lot of those elements, and blues will ALWAYS have the power to preserve them.” (Photo: Eddie Pimentel)

What do you miss most nowadays from the Blues of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

Well, as I mentioned before, many festivals nowadays are using the name ‘Blues,’ but the bands that perform at these events sometimes don’t even play the blues. So, my concern is that the true essence of the blues could be lost, and we can’t afford to lose the authenticity and tradition of the genre. At the same time, I hope that this movement will keep the genre alive in the future, so people can look back and realize what started everything we hear today—just like when we study a history book or visit a museum. The good thing is, we can play this live and instantly transport ourselves back to that time.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

Be yourself, be yourself, and be yourself. It is really important to have references as we grow and study our craft, but at some point, we need to throw all that in the blender and let our soul come out of it.

What are you doing to keep your music relevant today, to develop it and present it to the new generation?

A lot (laughs). That’s the biggest challenge nowadays, as for a long time it was just me and my producer. But I’m really fortunate to say that today we have a small crew working together. We just recorded 27 songs at once in the studio, and we released my first solo album, One Way Home, last September, celebrating it with our first international tour. Last December, we did release our Christmas EP, called 0:00am Merry Christmas. This is top secret and really first-hand news! All I can say for now is that Michelle and I have plans not only for studio work, but also for some exciting things outside the studio. So stay tuned — we might have some amazing news coming soon about hybrid shows: Eddie & Michelle!

”Blues is all around the world, and the genre will never really die. In Brazil, the devoted following keeps growing as time passes, and festivals are becoming more and more successful. I think that’s the key. The genuine concept of blues is changing a bit, with so many festivals carrying the name ‘blues’ but not necessarily playing the style. However, at least the name is being spread more and more, and I think people are still realizing that blues is the root of many genres.”

(Photo: Eddie Pimentel enters the international blues and soul music scene with intimate compositions reflecting his experiences in the United States)

Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues? What is the role of music in today’s society?

Feeling, soul, emotion, chords, bridges, musical sections, expression, lyrics... all of it, really. And last but not least, the ability to actually play with other musicians — not just in the same room, but truly together. I believe that music today is missing a lot of those elements, and blues will ALWAYS have the power to preserve them.

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