Interview: Cristóvam Balances Between Life and Music in New Single “Fever”

Portuguese singer/songwriter Cristóvam discusses his new single “Fever,” working with Boy & Bear, and finding balance between life and music.

Stream: “Fever” – Cristóvam

Portuguese singer/songwriter Cristóvam is no stranger to walking the line between worlds.

Based in the stunning, remote archipelago of the Azores, his music often takes him far from home, resulting in a life that is in a constant state of transit. That sense of displacement forms the theme of his new single “Fever”, a hypnotic and atmospheric track that wrestles between chaos and hope.

“Fever” is a collaboration with Australian indie folk band Boy & Bear, adding rich textures to Cristóvam’s already immersive sound. Its accompanying video, directed by Diogo Rola, visually blends the rugged beauty of the Azores with the wildness of Australia, further reinforcing the idea of being in two places at once.

Atwood Magazine spoke with Cristóvam about the new single, his upcoming album Desert of Fools and collaborating with Boy & Bear.

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:: stream/purchase Fever here ::

:: connect with Cristóvam here ::

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Stream: “Fever” – Cristóvam

A CONVERSATION WITH CRISTÓVAM

Atwood Magazine: Congratulations on the release of “Fever.” It is such a hypnotic and atmospheric track. What was the inspiration behind the song, and how did the theme of “chaos and hope” shape its creation?

Cristóvam: Thank you so much! “Fever” actually started as a small musical idea for a short film by my friend Diogo Rola, who later ended up directing the music video too. The songwriting itself wasn’t fully finished until I was in Australia working on the record with Tim Hart. The lyrics shifted a lot during that time, and Tim ended up co-writing it with me.

Lyrically, the song lives in that blurry space between what’s real and what’s imagined—like a half-remembered dream that feels important, though you’re not quite sure why. I think the chaos comes through in the emotional intensity I was trying to capture, and the hope shows up in the way the character keeps moving forward, still searching for meaning despite the confusion.

You collaborated with Boy & Bear on “Fever.” How did that collaboration come about, and what was it like working with them?

Cristóvam: Working with Boy & Bear was honestly a dream come true. I’d been a fan of theirs for years, so the chance to collaborate felt like stepping into a world I’d long admired. The collaboration came about naturally through my relationship with Tim Hart, who produced my last two records. While we were working on Desert of Fools, Tim suggested bringing the band in on that track, and the timing was perfect.

Recording in Australia with Tim, who’s not only a fantastic producer but also a close friend, was already a magical experience. Adding a track with one of my favorite Aussie bands made it even more special. It felt like the perfect way to immortalize the moment.

Boy & Bear are a remarkable band. Their attention to detail, storytelling instincts, and distinctive sound are on another level. They brought so much to the song.

“Fever” is from your upcoming album Desert of Fools. Can you tell us a little about the journey behind creating this record and how it differs from your previous albums, Hopes & Dreams and Songs on a Wire?

Cristóvam: Desert of Fools feels like the most sonically adventurous record I’ve made so far. Looking back, I think Hopes & Dreams was about finding my footing – it was written with a kind of wide-eyed optimism. Songs on a Wire came from a place of isolation; it was intimate and

raw, shaped heavily by the stillness of lockdown. This new album pushes everything further. It’s more layered, textured, and expansive in sound – but still rooted in the honesty and storytelling that matter most to me.

Working with Tim Hart had a huge influence on both the songwriting and production. We were in sync from the start, and that made the whole process feel natural – like we instinctively knew where the songs needed to go.

The journey behind it was both physical and emotional. It took me from the Azores to Australia, and that movement shaped the music. There’s a sense of distance and discovery running through the songs – a mix of longing, searching, losing, and ultimately, finding.

You also worked closely with Tim Hart (Boy & Bear) as a producer for Desert of Fools. How did his influence and your time in Australia shape the sound and feel of the album?

Cristóvam: Tim’s influence was massive. We’ve built a strong creative trust over the years, and he knows how to challenge me in the best way – encouraging me to dig deeper without ever forcing it. He even co-wrote some of the tracks, which brought a fresh dynamic to the process.

Recording in Australia gave the whole experience a new kind of energy. Being so far from home, surrounded by a completely different landscape, offered space to reflect. That physical distance gave me emotional clarity – it helped me process things I’d been holding onto and translate them into songs.

Tim has this rare ability to balance precision with instinct. He brings structure, but always leaves room for spontaneity. That push and pull between control and freedom became a defining element of the album’s sound.

The video for “Fever” beautifully blurs the line between reality and illusion, blending the landscapes of the Azores and Australia. What was your vision for the video, and how did you and director Diogo Rola bring it to life?

Cristóvam: With this video, we wanted to blur not just the lines between reality and dream, but also between two places that deeply shaped the record: the Azores and Australia. The landscape we chose – with its vivid red volcanic rock – felt like a meeting point between those worlds. It became a symbolic space, reflecting both the emotional and physical distance that runs through the album.

That sense of disconnection is also in how the band appears – only through vintage TVs that somehow interact with me. It adds a surreal layer, like something familiar that’s been distorted or dreamt. Diogo Rola really understood that feeling and helped bring it to life visually. He has a great instinct for tone and atmosphere, and I think we created something that feels disorienting in a good way – where you’re never quite sure what’s real.

You spent time between the Azores and Australia while making this album – what’s one thing you miss most from each place when you’re away?

Cristóvam: From the Azores, I miss my family the most – and that deep, grounding connection to nature and the ocean. Those two things keep me calm and centered, and when I’m away, I feel their absence in a very real way.

Australia was completely new to me, and I absolutely loved it. It had everything an islander like me is naturally drawn to: wild landscapes, a closeness to the sea, but also the vibrancy of big cultural centers. I’d never been somewhere that balanced those two worlds so perfectly. It felt expansive and alive, yet strangely familiar.

You mention feeling like you're “never fully in one place,” even when you’re home. Do you think that sense of disconnection is something many people can relate to in today’s world?

Cristóvam: Absolutely. I think more and more people are living in between spaces – physically, emotionally, digitally. We’re more connected than ever, yet somehow lonelier and more fragmented. That feeling of being halfway in, halfway out—it’s something I’ve carried for a long time.

Growing up on a small island but working in a global industry, I’ve often felt suspended between worlds. That quiet restlessness – always moving, never fully arriving – feels like a common undercurrent today. It’s something I tried to explore honestly on this record. But it’s also something I’m learning to move through, to release. Music helps with that. It brings me back into the present.

You’ve also mentioned that Desert of Fools spans themes of longing, restlessness, and hope. Was there a particular song on the album that was the hardest, or the most cathartic to write?

Cristóvam: “Desert of Fools,” the title track, was definitely the most cathartic to write. It feels like the emotional center of the album. Everything else seems to orbit around it, even though it could easily be mistaken for a B-side.

There’s a quiet intensity to it that doesn’t demand attention, but if you sit with it, it reveals a lot. For me, it captures that feeling of constant motion without arrival – of being caught between places, unable to settle.

The chorus distills that sense of restlessness and vulnerability: 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.

Writing it with Tim helped me make sense of things I’d been carrying. It’s raw, but there’s hope buried in there too.

What do you hope listeners will take away from Desert of Fools?

Cristóvam: In a way, I hope people find themselves in it. That they feel a little less alone in whatever they’re going through. This album is about navigating uncertainty, about holding onto hope even when the ground is shifting.

If it can give someone comfort, or remind them that beauty can still grow in strange places, then it’s done its job. At the end of the day, I just want the songs to feel honest – and for that honesty to connect.

Lastly, what’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given about balancing life and music?

Cristóvam: That it’s okay to step away sometimes. I once had someone tell me that silence is part of the music – and that stuck with me. For a long time, I felt like I had to constantly be creating or performing to stay relevant, but I’ve learned that space is just as important.

Being present in my life – spending time with family, being near the ocean, just living – feeds the music in a way that burnout never could. The balance isn’t perfect, and I still struggle with it, but I’ve come to accept that life and music don’t have to be at odds. When I take care of one, the other usually follows.

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