Cristóvam releases Desert of Fools
Desert of Fools was recorded in Brisbane, Australia, at Tim Hart’s Terrace Tone Studios.
"Tim and I first met when I supported him and Stu Larsen on a few gigs during their European tour. I remember hanging out in Lisbon, having a few beers, and discussing records and producers we loved. We quickly realized we had very similar tastes, which sparked a friendship and the idea of making a record together.
Our first collaboration, Songs on a Wire, was recorded remotely due to COVID. But this time, we were determined to be in the same room, creating music side by side. So, I got on a plane, crossed the world to the furthest possible place from my island, and headed to New South Wales in Australia. The whole experience was incredible—not just the chance to spend time in Australia, but to actually make a record there with Tim. On top of that, having a song with Boy & Bear—one of my all-time favorite bands—was beyond anything I could have hoped for. I ended up spending a whole month there with my wife, and after the record was done, we had an absolute blast. I feel like Tim and I really understand each other musically, and we’re both incredibly proud of what we created.
The title Desert of Fools comes from one of the songs on the record, which reflects a fragile emotional state I often find myself in when trying to balance family life in the Azores with a music career that takes me far away. I think the chorus captures that feeling well:
"Out in the waves / It’s a desert of fools / Where my heart is tangled and I can’t move / But here in the city / I’m longing for you / Wish there was a place where no one would lose."
This duality—being home but missing the road, or being on the road and missing home—is something I still wrestle with. I think all touring musicians experience it to some degree, but living so far from the cultural centers of the world only intensifies the disconnection. When I’m not touring, I often feel like I’m in limbo, never fully in one place.
That feeling of never truly being present is something I think a lot of people can relate to—when your body is physically in one place, going through the motions on autopilot, but your mind is somewhere else entirely. I often find myself thinking, what a foolish place to be. It’s a feeling that lingers even now—one that you have to learn to live with if you want a career in the performing arts but don’t want to move to a big city."
