![[obsidian-publish-alltiago-connect-profile-image-sir-giant.png]] After many years as a drummer in different bands, I decided I wanted to try singing my own songs instead. I set up my drum kit, a bass, a guitar, hopped on the microphone, and recorded a very rough demo with 7 songs, including an acoustic version of “[Smoke Two Joints](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQnzeKKg7Yc).” I always carried 3 or 4 of those demo CDs with me wherever I went. Then, one day in mid-2005, while playing as a guest drummer with the Portuguese band [Starvan](https://www.rastilhorecords.com/en/artists/-/starvan-9/) at a festival, I met the well-known Portuguese radio host [Henrique Amaro](https://www.instagram.com/henrique.amaro70/) and asked him, “_Can I give you my CD and see what you think?_” The rest is history, but I’ll tell you what happened anyway! A few weeks later, he called me and asked if he could play the songs on his radio show at [Antena 3](https://media.rtp.pt/antena3/), to which I, of course, said **YES**! At the time, I was already working on my official first release, “EP 05,” which featured 5 of the 7 songs from the demo. ![[obsidian-publish-alltiago-about-me-sir-giant-ep05-cover-artwork.jpg]] Listen to "EP 05" on all platforms: [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/2AyO84BqPGt4TOe4EJa78T) | [Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/album/ep05-ep/1723933840) | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqXN6JLUvmY&list=PLqxgws0zJHVVGcpebev3o5Nx4BblsWkzP) | [Deezer](https://www.deezer.com/en/album/530372072) | [Amazon Music](https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0CRD1HJK7) | [Tidal](https://tidal.com/browse/album/337990254) | [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_noFIZ3uTGGMaH-EwWcLrMZ_4mVGF9ynUk&si=O6JbtbrpFnd0tvBX) | [Soundcloud](https://soundcloud.com/iamsirgiant/sets/ep-05) | [Bandcamp](https://iamsirgiant.bandcamp.com/album/ep-05) By the end of 2005, my song “I’m 25” was the 23rd most played song on the radio’s yearly top 50, even though it only started playing around June, surpassing famous artists like Madonna, Robbie Williams, and many others. This was a significant achievement for me, as it proved that my work had quality and meaning. Following this **_super important_** support from Henrique, other opportunities emerged, including interviews for MTV Portugal, more radio and TV stations, newspapers, and magazines, and even having my song “I’m 25” featured on the popular TV show [Morangos com Açúcar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morangos_com_A%C3%A7%C3%BAcar). After a very promising year, 2006 began with great news: one day, while relaxing at home, I received a phone call from an international number. Assuming it was my then-German girlfriend Anne, I answered to hear someone telling me I had won something. It took a moment to realize that I had won the “Stay True” European contest, promoted by the famous clothing brand [Levi’s](https://levi.com/). I was in total shock at the prize: nearly $5,000 in cash, a professional photo shoot, and, most importantly, a week at [Abbey Road Studios](https://www.abbeyroad.com/) in London to record whatever I wanted. I chose to record my song “[Life is Going Down](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0Vy6HrBq1E)”. ![[obsidian-publish-alltiago-about-me-sir-giant-abbey-road-studios-london-england.jpg]] *John, Mirek, Anne, and I in the lobby.* ![[obsidian-publish-alltiago-about-me-sir-giant-life-is-going-down-cover-artwork.jpg]] Listen to "Life is Going Down" on all platforms: [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/track/2TMz6z2n3Gm0AL13j0d0a2?si=0d3f91acbf394d28) | [Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/album/life-is-going-down-single/1723809450) | [YouTube](https://youtu.be/i0Vy6HrBq1E?si=KcouivsLiyA8e03m) | [Deezer](https://www.deezer.com/en/album/530072902) | [Amazon Music](https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0CRB24LQT) | [Tidal](https://tidal.com/browse/album/337872520) | [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kaBpuYwFrInCWBPmNuYmqOj_2gDQDeRhA&si=MhcWZycBAWdchFcp) | [Soundcloud](https://soundcloud.com/iamsirgiant/life-is-going-down) | [Bandcamp](https://iamsirgiant.bandcamp.com/track/life-is-going-down) **Initial lineup (for live shows only)** - Tiago - Lead vocals, drums - Nuno Lucas - Bass - Henrique - Guitar **Second lineup (for live shows only)** - Tiago - Lead vocals - Nuno Lucas - Bass - Henrique - Guitar - Joca - Drums **Final lineup (for live shows only)** - Tiago - Lead vocals - Miguel Neves - Bass Guest musicians on different shows: - Kae - Drums - Isaac - Drums - Mark Cain - Saxophone - Gaspar - Guitar - Henrique Cristo - Guitar - Tó - Guitar - Joana Leal - Backing vocals A while after releasing “Life is Going Down,” I started listening to a lot of [dancehall music](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dancehall). This sparked my passion for music created with synths, drum machines, and similar equipment, leading me to release my full-length album [Expectations & Illusions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH-HN53KgKM&list=PLqxgws0zJHVWdF1vvdEttOLmkIy0aIhEe). The album was primarily a dancehall record with some reggae songs interspersed. For the live shows, I would sing over backing tracks while having a dancer on stage, Inês Silva. ![[obsidian-publish-alltiago-about-me-sir-giant-expectations-illusions-full-length-album-2010.jpg]] Listen to "Expectations & Illusions" on all platforms: [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/5yn8Bjr8hZm2s0X5D57kIY?si=da_OwOPLSJ23lOwJvKGAgA) | [Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/album/expectations-illusions/1723830645) | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH-HN53KgKM&list=PLqxgws0zJHVWdF1vvdEttOLmkIy0aIhEe&pp=iAQB) | [Deezer](https://www.deezer.com/en/album/530083552) | [Amazon Music](https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0CRB2LS2F) | [Tidal](https://tidal.com/browse/album/337875180) | [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l9sxC9oAtgOMR_z16VlvRmxNAgnxAuWDw&si=Z2eeZCvXRD8wdzxr) | [Soundcloud](https://soundcloud.com/iamsirgiant/sets/expectations-and-illusions) | [Bandcamp](https://iamsirgiant.bandcamp.com/album/expectations-illusions) Since I was already passionate about music with synths, drum machines, and similar equipment, it was easy for me to start exploring a genre I used to dislike as a teenager: electronic music. This time, I found it incredibly interesting due to its liberating production style. Unlike other genres where unconventional sounds are often criticized, electronic music celebrates new and "weird" out-of-the-box sounds. Needless to say, my love for electronic music grew exponentially. I was now able to create and perform music entirely on my own, free from creativity limitations!