Brazilian multi-instrumentalist MOMO. reflects on ancestry, childhood, and creative endurance in an intimate track-by-track conversation around his latest album, ‘Tum Tum Tum.’

Stream: “Canto de Aldeia” – MOMO. ft. Nina Miranda

MOMO.’s Tum Tum Tum is an album shaped by movement in more ways than one.

Across eight songs, the London-based Brazilian multi-instrumentalist draws together memories, places, relationships, and traditions into a collection that feels deeply connected. Recorded live with a close-knit group of collaborators, the record thrives on the natural chemistry between musicians, allowing each performance the space to unfold with warmth, rhythm, and spontaneity.

Tum Tum Tum explores the moments that shape a life. Childhood memories sit alongside reflections on love, ancestry, faith, and the passage of time, with each song offering a different perspective on what it means to grow, remember, and remain connected. Brazilian musical traditions form the foundations of the album whilst also reflecting the breadth of MOMO.’s own journey.

The album includes guest artists Marcos Valle and Nina Miranda who each add their own voices to an already rich musical conversation. Together, the songs move between celebration and contemplation, balancing vibrant rhythmic energy with quieter moments of reflection. The result is an album that invites listeners to discover how seemingly small moments can reveal something much larger.

With Tum Tum Tum, MOMO. walks Atwood Magazine through the stories and sparks behind each track, offering a glimpse into the moments that shaped the record.

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:: stream/purchase Tum Tum Tum here ::

:: connect with MOMO. here ::

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Stream: ‘Tum Tum Tum’ – MOMO.

:: Inside Tum Tum Tum ::

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Egum Eô

An Afro-Brazilian invocation that sets the rhythmic tone for the entire album, focusing on a spirit passing into another dimension. The lyrics emerged naturally during a jam session around the Yoruba word “Egum” – referring to the collective spirits of departed ancestors – emphasizing the deep, interconnected bond between the living and our ancestral roots.

Vermelho e Rosa

I wanted to use colors – black, yellow, red, and pink – to paint a picture of a vibrant, rain-cleansed day of play and celebration. It’s a very optimistic track, focusing on the simple beauty of kids playing and stars descending as a new day is born.

Dream of Samba

A nostalgic reflection on childhood ambitions, and how we shift from wanting to be a “superman” or a big star with a band. As adults, we eventually realize those childhood expectations might not actually bring the contentment we thought they would.

“dream with me of samba
sing me little lullabies
dream with me of bossa
whisper little lullabies”

Morena (feat. Marcos Valle)

This was a total joy to record and produce. Marcos Valle set the whole groove and color of the song with his charming piano playing. Lyrically, it explores how we have to embrace both joy and suffering to truly understand the rhythm of living.

Dente D’ouro

This song uses the imagery of fencing and “eyes like knives” to talk about taking risks, facing life, and tossing your luck to the world. It dives into força, luta, and the deep ambiguity of needing to be strong versus actually being strong – balancing a hardened resilience (couro curtido) with absolute, delicate vulnerability (sou teu passarinho, riacho mansinho). The rhythm section drives that tension using a traditional Northeastern Brazilian baião beat.

Tudo que Se Tem

A love song that captures the physical, sensual intimacy of a couple, likening it to the “dance of spring.” The lyrics anchor a dream-like state where everything you have is shared in the warmth of a single moment.

Canto de Aldeia (feat. Nina Miranda)

A bilingual “song of the village” I co-written with Nina Miranda. It celebrates a bright childhood grounded in nature, drawing directly from her own memories of growing up in Brazil – family gatherings, bonfires, and the simple desire to play, love, and be loved.

“she comes alive in the sun
she brings to life everyone
chuva fauna e flora
the sun brings a daughter
filho e filha leonora na brisa”

Tranquilo

The album’s most reflective and existential moment. I actually pulled this track from an old hard drive; it was originally recorded ten years ago when I was living in Portugal. It focuses on the beauty of the “void” and the idea that everything serves its purpose – a lesson in staying present and finding God in the “coffee of the day” and the stillness of a home.

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:: stream/purchase Tum Tum Tum here ::

:: connect with MOMO. here ::

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 © Sophia Poole

Tum Tum Tum

an album by MOMO.