Lafalian records presents
Hananu Lian dadolin
hananu Lian Dadolin started when for the first time I heard Timorese people singing their music. There was something so honest and true. They were singing directly from their hearts. it was instant magic.
Originally the following recorded songs have no instruments backing them, only singers. We had to arrange the instruments style, so it won’t sound like folk or pop music. One of the only obligations was not the use any chords with the guitar and no drums. Instead, we used local percussions Babadok for the trebles and tambor for the lows. The guitarist Flady Nexis made some guitar riffs based on the traditional tebe tebe rhythm. As a producer I didn’t really knew what to expect. But at the end of the day it’s their songs, they knew directly what to do. I just added my discreet touch of saxophone, and everything went very smoothly. They took part of this project and created this very typical Timorese sound.
Listen to hananu Lian Dadolin
Who are we
Jovi Baptista and Dadolin
Jovi comes from Viqueque in the southeast of Timor-Leste. He moved to Dili after the independence war in 1999 to continue his studies.
He is a Lia Nain, which is an important social role in Timorese society. Lia Nain can resolve conflicts between individuals, and they can also be guardians of traditions and organizers of sacred ceremonies. Ancient songs that have been passed down for generations are being forgotten by young people as foreign influences in music spread across the world. For Jovi, preserving these songs is vital, and it reflects his commitment to the project.
Not only songs but also languages
In a poetry style called dadolin, it is possible to use as many different languages as desired. Dadolin can be very abstract, and some concepts might not exist in certain languages due to the musicality of some words. In some of his songs, Jovi uses very rare languages that are still spoken in remote parts of Timor-Leste. These songs are usually sung with women responding to men or vice versa. Jovi refuses to sing without a woman singing with him, as he believes the soul of the music won't be present if he sings alone.
Jovi Baptista
Lead singer
Jivalicia Viana
singer
Flady Nexis
Electric guitar
Edson Lobato
Electric Bass
Nicolau Guterres
Percussions
Alistair Brown
Saxophone/general producer
Kay Limak
assistant producer
Natalino Ximenes fernandez
assistant producer
Almédio M. Costa
Studio assistant
