We were lucky to catch up with Eddie Pimentel recently and have shared our conversation below.
Eddie , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Brazilian guitarist Eddie Pimentel releases firsts tracks from his debut album produced by Tim Carmon.
With songs “When the Rain Sustains” and “Don’t Stop, Go Ahead” and ‘’Too Far Gone”, Eddie brings out his blues and soul!
Guitarist and singer Eddie Pimentel from Rio de Janeiro Brazil, has recently debuted with the singles “When The Rain Sustains”, ‘’Don’t Stop Go Ahead’’ and ‘’Too Far Gone” from his upcoming album entitled “One Way Home”.
Which features Tim Carmon (E. Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan etc. keyboardist) as producer. Recorded in Los Angeles with A list studio musicians, mixing blues, rock and pop in his own way, the album will be released early next year. “Don’t Stop Go Ahead” will hit streaming websites on August 21st, with more singles scheduled to be released until December 2023.
With a particular way of singing and playing, Eddie brings to his music a unique style developed throughout his career.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
With a particular way of singing and playing, Eddie brings to his music a unique style developed throughout his career.
During Eric Clapton’s tour in Brazil in 2011, Eddie met producer Tim Carmon and the mutual musical admiration started an instant friendship. Encouraged by his new friend, Eddie moved to Los Angeles in 2014 where he studied at Musicians Institute (Guitar Institute of Technology) and played with a few famed artists around town.
During that time Tim and Eddie went in the studio and started recording songs, and gathered other renowned musicians to join them. Names like Gorden Campbell (Whitney Houston) on drums, Courtney Leonard (Beyoncé) on bass, Charlean Carmon (Stevie Wonder) and Sydne Rose-Myett (Squad Harmonix) on backing vocals with Wesley Chaney bringing more guitar flare to the situation. Wesley also shares songwriting credits with Eddie.
“In 2001 at the age of 13 at a Clapton concert, Nathan East (bassist) gave me a pair of picks and told me to continue to practice. I will never forget that moment! It was the first time I attended a Clapton concert. Years later, Tim was responsible for me visualizing these instructions that Nathan gave me and taking me out of the fan position and making me feel like one of the band members. I remember it like it was today although more than 10 years ago. Talking to Clapton backstage at one of his shows, next to my then-future producer. Unbelievable how things happen” Eddie recalls.
Eddie won a scholarship to study music at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood and an ESP-branded new Guitar, which came with admission to College.
For almost two years in Los Angeles Pimentel took classes and played with guitarists such as: Stuart Ziff (War), Vadim Zilberstein (Earth, Wind and Fire), Dean Brown (Marcus Miller), Adam Hawley (Jennifer Lopez) among others. In 2015 he was awarded the “Outstanding Player Award” as best guitarist of the year at his graduation.
“This award symbolizes in a very intense way the completion of a highly probationary journey for me, which is graduating from the most prestigious music school in the world. It was like closing the best door of my life with a golden key, giving a more than special meaning for that intense journey of dedication to studying music and perfecting my art with the guitar”.
Inspired by the Los Angeles climate where it rarely rains, and by nostalgia mixed with homesickness, Eddie and Wesley came up with the lyrics and melody for ”When the Rain Sustains”.
“When living away from home it’s common to miss not only our family and friends, but also our hometown climate. So this track was created out of the rare moments of rain in LA as said in the chorus (“when the rain sustains, wash away the feeling that’s trying to take me away”) the rain reminded us of our hometowns Rio de Janeiro and Maryland. In fact the chords in the chorus evoke the feeling of suspension of rainy clouds for me. After the rain, everything was greener there (LA), and that was really cool to feel” says Pimentel.
Despite many adverse situations experienced during his stay in Los Angeles, Eddie brings a message of hope on the song “Don’t Stop Go Ahead” to those who may think of giving up.
“This track was written after I lost my grandmother in 2016, while I was working with my former band. It became difficult to continue that project as my return to Brazil seemed inevitable and was sped up because of her passing. As I say in the verse ”My time is running too short, and the hour is getting too long’’. During this situation, Tim asked me if I would give up or continue and finish what was started. I am happy that we found a way to continue working together when I returned home. So, despite the unpleasant things that life can throw at you along the way, it is important not to give up but to continue moving forward. Don’t stop, go ahead!” Pimentel encourages.
According to Eddie, all of the tracks from this first album are his greatest professional achievement that he could ever imagine as a musician and an artist. Playing and recording with his idols is an old dream that he is fulfilling. With influences from BB King, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy and Robert Cray, 5 songs from “One Way Home” will be released until January by the international distributor CD Baby, the largest online distributor of independent music in the world.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I would say the guitar was the beginning of all for me, it gave me the foundation to go ahead. I think it is really important to have a strong music foundation in parallel with your instrument. Second is about compositions, having your own songs and bringing them to life (recording it properly) will give you something that shows your personality and what you are all about. And third is to be serious about your art and dealing with it as a business, like any other type/area of work.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
My producer Tim Carmon! My brother from another mother. He gave me encouragement to keep goin ahead. Hard to find these days producers like him, old school style. And I would say to my students what he always told me: write your songs, write your songs and write your songs, and sing!!!
Contact Info:
- Website: eddiepimentel.com
- Instagram: @eddiepimentelofficial
- Youtube: @eddiepimentel
Image Credits
Pedro Yasbek
