Pedro Santos

He sings about beginnings and endings, about what life insists on taking and keeping. To the beat of the batuque, he sculpts the Angola that made him a man and a citizen, in a heartfelt sound that, if it had a colour, would be burnt orange, like the country’s land and sunsets. The vibrations of C4 Pedro’s music are so hot that they spread around the world, with the authenticity needed to make their presence felt in coliseums and arenas. His artistic breakthrough came in Belgium, where he lived for several years and he is now a singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and performer. Not forgetting his entrepreneurial side, which has led him to millions of YouTube views and multiple albums in his discography. Career management isn't always a bed of roses and sometimes there's an inner conflict between C4 Pedro the artist and Pedro Santos the person. Fame is rewarding, but it's not worth everything. Time to meet, Pedro Santos. 

Do more people know C4 than Pedro Santos? 
Without a doubt. One thing is who I am, another is who I appear to be. C4 is a figure that the public quickly recognises, but, you see, there isn't much time to convince others of who you are. Sometimes impressions take minutes or even seconds. If someone walks past me, they'll have a different perception than if they sit down with me to talk. They are two different moments, each with different perspectives. In other words, the public is what makes C4. Pedro is behind the camera, at home, with people who live with him every day. Very rarely do people criticise Pedro because they don’t know him, unlike C4, who is an artistic persona that I take on. Over the years, I try to choose new artistic personas based on what I'd like to present to the public. 

The music industry is a competitive market. How have you managed your professional career since the beginning and what are the main challenges?
I try to focus on my work. Nevertheless, there are factors that I am unable to control, such as how an Anselmo Ralph or a Matias Damásio is working with music in today’s market. But, in actual fact, I concentrate on my own way of composing, fine-tuning the details with the years of experience I’ve gathered. I don’t follow trends; I think they can be very dangerous for an artist. Having a defined style and being authentic is fundamental. So, when I notice that the market is no longer listening to C4 Pedro, I don’t change the way I make music, but rather I move away from the market I’m in and explore another one. Sometimes the market is saturated and we have to give it time, being attentive and sensitive to our surroundings. At the moment I’m focused on Angola, in fact, even when I conquered the European market, it all came from Angola. My country is my greatest source of inspiration, not just for music, but also for my family.

«I'm focussed on Angola»

Are Angola and African women the epitome of your art?
Yes. Africa is the cradle of humanity, it is culture, it’s a warm embrace. The woman I’ve known most is African, so I’m most inspired when I’m on my continent. When I perform in Portugal, I’m always concerned with singing and pronouncing in a way that everyone can understand. I’m sure that the most popular song in Portugal is Bo Tem Mel. To this day, there are many people who don’t understand everything I sing, but somehow, they like the energy, the way love is portrayed... 

Is the relationship you’ve created with the Angolan public the same as the one you share with other audiences?
No. When we manage to touch someone’s heart, no matter where they come from or how they do it, it’s special, but when we sing in the land that witnessed our birth... it’s different. When I play a show in Portugal, in a Coliseum or the Altice Arena, I think: «I was just an ordinary kid from the neighbourhood, look at where I’ve got to». But the truth is that I wasn’t born there, and that’s why it’s different, it's not a question of being better or worse.
 
You sing about loves and disappointments. Tell us, do men cry too?
Men cry too, but they can’t just blurt out tears... They have to be strong. I’m not a man who cries easily, but that doesn’t mean I don’t feel it. What makes me cry is injustice rather than sadness. Sadness makes me shrink; injustice makes me grow.   

What is the price of fame?
The magic of fame is the number of people you have the power to impact. The downside is that we run the risk of becoming slaves to an image that we create for ourselves and that, in fact, in no way represents who we are. We’ll never be able to control the way others look at us. I feel that people don't always realise the right moment to interact with C4 Pedro, for example. It's as if I’ve lost the right to say no, and it’s complicated. When I leave the house, I can’t be Pedro, because C4 takes up so much space in my life. 

What place does African music currently hold in the world?
First place. At the moment, Afrobeat is at the top. African music began slowly in the market and has been making its presence felt internationally. 

What is left for C4 Pedro to achieve in his life?
When Ronaldo was asked what his best goal was, he replied that it would be the next one he scored. It's the same with me. My biggest show took place on 14 October, on the island of Luanda, with more than 50,000 people. It was important for me. Next year, I want to fill the November 11 National Stadium and continue to launch artists who will shine from the country abroad.