Throughout the pandemic, many have been spending more time online, keeping up with latest COVID developments but also finding forms of entertainment and ways to keep positive.
After the construction company he was working for full time went under after the pandemic, longtime Bradford resident and musician, Carlos Janeiro, thought it would be nice to use his newfound free time to help lift the spirits of others through Facebook videos, covering popular songs from various artists like The Beatles, Journey and even a few Portuguese artists.
Over the past few months, his videos have gained popularity amongst the people of Bradford and beyond, with thousands of views and shares online.
“When this whole thing (the pandemic) started, I noticed a lot of artists doing these online things (videos), so I thought, okay let me see if I can play my part, albeit as small as it is, and so I started posting and people kind of liked it and commented,” he said, noting there was demand for more.
“I do it because I enjoy it, but it’s really gratifying when people enjoy it,” he said.
What makes his videos interesting is he films them multiple times donning new outfits, then edits them together to create the illusion of a musical group performing together.
“When I first started doing the videos, it was just one person, me singing,” he explained. “So I started thinking, what if I do different personalities, and different characters?”
Janeiro changes his voice once in a while, having some fans believing there is more than one person in the videos.
“People are getting a kick out of it,” he said, especially one character he calls his ‘twin sister’ who wears pigtails, and sings like Cyndi Lauper.
“It’s just fun and entertaining, and people are getting a kick out of it, so why not?”
Janeiro was born in Portugal, but has been living in Bradford since 1978.
Coming from a family of musicians, his passion for music started at a young age. Janeiro sings in the band Sagres, with his brother, nephew, and a few Bradford friends, playing a mix of original and cover songs.
Janeiro can play guitar, bass, keyboards and drums, but in the band he is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist. Brother Armando Janiero is the bassist, and nephew Patrick Janiero, the drummer. Mike Nazario is the lead guitarist, and Nuno Maltez is the keyboardist.
He said the band members are multitalented, and often like to switch instruments during their performances.
“It keeps things really interesting and different throughout the night,” said Janeiro.
They play mostly Portuguese music, but also Latin, Spanish, Brazillian, French, dance and rock. They have been playing together for the past five years, and prior to COVID, were booked every weekend at halls all over North America.
“Music has given me the opportunity to go to places I probably would never go,” he shared. “A lot of memories have been created throughout the years.”
Sagres is the name of a town in Portugal, as well as a beer.
But most importantly, Janeiro says, it is the name of a famous tall ship in Portugal where sailors learn how to navigate the waters. And because Janeiro comes from a fishing family, he thought it would be a fitting name for the band.
The band was in the midst of recording their second album when COVID hit, and have unfortunately had to put a pause on their music project for now until their recording studio in Mississauga is allowed to reopen.
Sagres performs regularly at the Portuguese Cultural Centre in Bradford on Simcoe Road for family events.
“If you go to a Portuguese function it’s like a family event, it’s dinner and then dancing, and families just go together, it’s quite different from going to a bar and having a band play, it’s a different atmosphere,” said Janeiro.
Janeiro is also a solo artist, working on his own projects. Throughout his music career, he has played in three bands, and has produced five albums, writing most of the songs.
When the pandemic hit, he was in Cancun, Mexico doing a two week solo show at a resort.
I wish I had gotten stuck there,” he joked. “I wish they had said, no sorry you are stuck here until the pandemic is over.”
Janeiro admits despite his performing abilities, he is actually a quiet, humble guy.
“I am really shy, until I hit the stage,” he shared. “It’s like I am a whole different person.”
Janeiro has two daughters, Summer, 18 and Zoe, 14.
When Summer was six-years-old, Janeiro wrote a song ‘Hey Summer’ which they performed together at shows. And he and Zoe have filmed a few carpool Karaokes together featuring songs from Queen and Neil Diamond. Zoe can also play the ukulele.
Now with no shows to play, and no work, Janeiro has been trying to remain positive, posting his music videos almost daily on Facebook.
“I don’t have any income on my job, on my music, because we are basically at a standstill,” he said. “But it could be worse. We’re healthy so that’s all that matters.”
He says he enjoys doing the videos, and has lost track on how many he has made so far over the past few months.
“I try not to talk too much about COVID-19, I think we live that 24 hours a day, so I don’t bring it up, all I am trying to do is entertain people for three or four minutes and take their thoughts away from all this negativity and I hope it’s working,” he said.
You can find some of the videos on Facebook by searching 'Carlos Janeiro.'
