ArtistInfo

Kameleon

voc, g, dr, b,
Singer / Musician of Rock
A.k.a. Kameleon

Band Members: Hugo Torrado: Vocals Jorge Canela: Guitar Gil Rosa: Guitar Fernando Santos: Bass Ricardo Reis: Drums Classic Metal band looking for lead guitar player" and "Band looking for guitar soloist" were the lines that brought together Jorge Canela, Fernando Santos and Hugo Torrado (guitar, bass and vocal respectively), the inner core of Kameleon. Jorge, looking for a new project, quickly realized that both Alvaro and Fernando had a huge potential, untapped by their current bands and presented to them the idea of creating something from the ground up. Both were enthusiastic about the idea, and agreed to try it out. The outcome couldn't have been better: the songwriting chemistry was immediately visible, with "Am I" (track #7 of their self-produced, self-titled debut album) being completed in a couple of hours, with a demo recording finished within the week. Harmonic, melodic, rhythmic ideas were bouncing back and forth with ease and even stylistic and technical viewpoints seemed to find a prompt confluence. With things going terribly fast, this left them with the issue of finding a drummer that could cope with this pace. Good technical ability, strong live performance, music theory knowledge, studio experience and the ability to learn stuff fast were difficult to come across, and the audition process proved just that. Extensive auditions, with 17 drummers being heard over a period of 6 months were set-up, during which the album was composed and recorded, and Ricardo Reis (drums) were added to the band's lineup. Ricardo is a monster session drummer, whose technical ability and creative drumming will blow minds away. Getting away with a Latin paradiddle beat on top of a half-time, pure metal section, and having it sound right, isn't easy! Hugo is the bearer of a beautiful voice, melodic and clear. He brings classic pop/rock influences to the table, giving Kameleon an unusual diversity. Fernando is an accomplished touring musician, having spent 14 years on the road with different projects and musicians, playing several instruments, a proof of his well rounded musical training. Jorge is a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and audio engineer with heavy Prog Metal and Neo-classical influences that takes up loads of band jobs (composer, arranger, recording, editor, pre-mixer, producer). A musical workhorse! Kameleon's music and lyrics make it easy to relate to just about everybody who listens to rock music, being simple and complex simultaneously. The accessibility of pop/rock song structures, harmonic and melodic construction, tied together with virtuosity, top-notch instrumental performances and the unpredictable use of slight structure changes make it difficult to stop listening to. Kameleon is also varied. Classic, Thrash, Nu, Prog, Neo-classical: all things Rock and Metal appear in balanced doses, to prevent the listener from being bored. You can find Maiden, Metallica, Linkin Park, Evanescence, Nickelback, Whitesnake, Dream Theater, Symphony X and Hoobastank in there, all tied together by Hugo's both introspective and critical lyrics. This first album is but a sample of the great things this band can do. 9 tracks running just over 47 minutes. Doesn't seem much, does it? But what if we told you they have another 20 tracks (written and recorded) in store for release this year? We're guessing you'll just have to wait and see... Portuguese: Banda de metal clássico procura guitarrista solo" e "Banda à procura de solista de guitarra", foram as linhas que reuniram Jorge Canela, Fernando Santos e Hugo Torrado (guitarra, baixo e vocal, respectivamente), o núcleo interno dos Kameleon. Jorge, à procura de um novo projecto, rapidamente percebeu que tanto Hugo e Fernando tinham um enorme potencial, não explorado pelas suas actuais bandas e apresentou-lhes a idéia de criar algo a partir do zero. Ambos ficaram entusiasmados com a idéia, e decidiram experimentá-lo. O resultado não poderia ter sido melhor: a química de composição foi imediatamente visível, com "Am I" (faixa n º 7 do homónimo álbum de estréia), a ser concluída em duas horas, com uma gravação demo terminada dentro de uma semana. Harmonia, melodia e ritmo foram sendo trocados com facilidade, assim como os diversos pontos de vista. Mesmo as questões estilísticas e técnicas pareciam encontrar uma confluência natural. Com tudo a progredir muito rápido, levantou-se a questão de encontrar um baterista com a capacidade de lidar com esse ritmo. Boa capacidade técnica, forte performance ao vivo, o conhecimento de teoria musical, a experiência de estúdio e da capacidade de aprender depressa eram difíceis de encontrar, e o processo de audição provou exactamente isso. Audições extensas, com 17 percussionistas a serem ouvidos por um período de 6 meses, durante o qual o álbum foi composto e gravado, e Ricardo Reis (bateria) foi adicionado ao line-up da banda. Ricardo é um baterista de sessão monstruoso, cuja habilidade técnica e criatividade na bateria vai espantar todos. Tocar uma batida paradiddle Latina em cima de uma secção half-time de metal puro, e fazê-la soar bem, não é nada fácil. Hugo é dono de uma bela voz, melódica e clara. Traz à banda influências de pop/rock clássico dando assim aos Kameleon uma diversidade pouco comum. Fernando é um músico de turnê realizado, tendo passado 14 anos na estrada com projectos diferentes e músicos, tocando vários instrumentos, uma prova de sua formação musical bem arredondada. Jorge é compositor, engenheiro e multi-instrumentista com influências de Prog Metal pesado e Neo-clássico que se ocupa de diversos cargos na banda (compositor, arranjador, editor de gravação, pré-mixer, produtor). Um autêntico homem dos setes ofícios!

Instruments

• Vocals
• Guitar
• Drums
• Bass