Photo: Angela Muñoz

For over 25 years, Rodrigo Leão has drawn high praise as one of the most influential contemporary composers in his native Portugal. He has also cemented a reputation internationaly as an acclaimed composer, having collaborated with artists like Ryuichi Sakamoto, Ludovico Einaudi, Jóhann Jóhansson, Beth Gibbons, Neil Hannon of Divine Comedy, Scott Matthew, and Joan as Police Woman, amongst many more.

Rodrigo has announced the release of a new album, A Estranha Beleza, arriving on October 15th through BMG / Modern Recordings. Throughout his incredibly rich and singular career, Rodrigo told stories through his albums, composing them as if they were films. As the press release explains, Rodrigo “casts guest musicians who are right for each character, who then takes on a role in the narrative, which is complemented by locations, sets and moods created by music and sound design.” As with his previous records, A Estranha Beleza bears the same cinematic sentiment.

‘Friend of a Friend’ is first sublime single to be lifted from the album with voice and lyrics by Canadian singer-songwriter Michelle Gurevich. “It was a theme that initially started from the search for a happy rhythm, with some influence from the music of the 50s, and that gave me the enthusiasm I was looking for to find new ideas”, explained Rodrigo. “It takes us to a time very different from the one we live in today”.

’Friend Of A Friend’ comes paired with a video starring both Rodrigo in Lisbon and Michelle in Copenhagen. Watch it below.