Jesse Witney’s debut album Animal Cities was recorded between Estúdio Carolina in Rio de Janeiro, incorporating the skills of some of Brazil’s finest musicians and Bighouse Sound Studio in Melbourne, Australia. With world rhythms, Brazilian influences, jazzy chords, quality song writing, catchy melodies and a magnetic charisma, Jesse Witney sets off to carve his own niche into the musical landscape as a Brazilian infused world-roots artist, inspired by ‘Música Popular Brasiliera’ with its eclectic rhythms and romantic vocals, made famous in the 1970's with artists such as the revered Jorge Ben Jor and Vinicus de Moraes. 

Animal Cities presents original compositions, including the album focus track the eminently catchy, ‘Teresa Teresinha’, which sounds like a retro Brazilian samba folk song. Sun drenched, beachy and laid back, the listener is transported to a beach in Rio, sipping a chilled Caipirinha. It’s gloriously nostalgic and seductive. Witney’s sweet voice lays right back off the vocal with relaxed authenticity and the earworm chorus is sure to hook you. 

Teresa Teresinha, was originally penned walking the pilgrimage of Camino de Santiago, through northern Spain in 2016. A chance encounter with a musical and enthusiastic Italian girl, sparked an immediate friendship, and not long after walking together, they started jamming on Brazilian influenced melodies. Teresa sang ‘la la ya la la ya la la ya la la ya’, to which Jesse immediately recorded lyrics into his ipod, and later that day, on the rustic acoustic guitar he had bought in Toulouse, he wrote the harmony and remaining melodies for the song. He also twisted the arm of Teresa to write a verse in Spanish, and by the end of the day, the song had been written. 

Previous singles lifted from this long-player are ‘The Darkness’ & ‘Mumma’. The latter dropped just prior to the album release. 

Musically, the song is in the style of Samba, however there are other Latin elements, like congas and percussive guitar rhythm, which lend themselves to other genres such as Rumba and Son. Instrumentally, the song has Nylon string guitar, Clarinet, Bandolim (Brazilian Mandolin), Lead and Backing vocals in Portuguese and Spanish, and a range of percussion, including Pandeiro, Cowbell, Congas, Repique, Surdo and Tamborim. The lead vocals were recorded in the same take as the Bandolim, and were sung into an Sm57 as a guide track. It was virtually impossible to capture the same energy and magic as that take, so they were chosen as the final vocal. 

Witney also sings in English, entering the realm of DanceHall Roots Reggae with a heart-felt ode to Mother Earth, Mumma. The Darkness and The System show Witney pushing into 1970’s Prog-Rock territory, with driving rhythms, and the rarest of commodities in today's pop market – guitar solos – drenched in 1970’s treatments that conjure early Pink Floyd. There’ll be Days, and The Captain reveals Witney’s talent for simple acoustic songs, lyrically disarming, here he resembles Cat Stevens or Ben Harper, but with an undeniable ache in his vocal that draws in the listener and at times feels powerfully intimate. Witney has a dynamic vocal range and a powerful singing style that brings to mind the melodic soul of Jeff Buckley. He can hold the space between frailty and power, breaking your heart one moment and mending it the next. 

“Recording in Brazil was a huge bucket list moment for me. It was an empowering experience; something that I’d wanted to do for a long time. I’m grateful for my supporters and backers, and also for my Brazilian producer, Marcelo Müller, who made the whole thing seamless, and most importantly, sound amazing”, says Witney.


Animal Cities Album Credits

Released March 10th 2023 

Executive Producer: Robyn Hicks 

Tracks 
1. Mumma 
3. Teresa Teresinha 
5. Mama Maya 
6. Ao Seu Redor 
12. O Milagre 

Were produced by Marcelo Müller, Thomas Mitchell & Jesse Witney. Recorded in Rio De Janeiro, at Estúdio Carolina in October 2018. 

Tracks 
2. The Darkness 
4. There’ll be days 
8. The System 
9. Apple of my eye 
10. You’re the only one 

Were produced by Thomas Mitchell and Jesse Witney. Recorded at Bighouse Sound Studio in Coburg North, Melbourne in 2018, 2019 and 2020. There’ll be days Piano accordion recorded in Brazil and arranged by Marcelo Müller. 

Track s
7. The Captain 
11. Trees 

Were produced by Jesse Witney. String arrangement on The Captain by Marcelo Müller. 

All songs written by Jesse Witney, apart from; 

Teresa Teresinha – Jesse Witney & Teresa Bertoni 
Mama Maya – Jesse Witney, Jaspar Gubbay, Hal Strewe & Thomas Mitchell 
O Milagre – Jesse Witney & Marcelo Garcia 

Recording Credits: 

Mumma – 

Guitar & Vocals – Jesse Witney 
Drums – Thomas Mitchell 
Bass – Marcelo Müller 
Wurlitzer – Pedro Guinu 
Baritone Saxophone – Henrique Band 
Trombone – Antonio Moraes Neves 
Trumpet – Aquiles Moraes 
Horn Arrangement – Marcelo Müller 
Mix – Nick Herrera 
Master - King Willy 

The Darkness - 

Tenor Ukelele, Slide Guitar & Vocals – Jesse Witney 
Drums – Nick Martyn 
Bass – Jules Pascoe 
Synth – Thomas Mitchell 
Mix – Scott French 
Master – King Willy 

Teresa Teresinha – 

Nylon String Guitar & Lead Vocals – Jesse Witney 
Percussion – Bernardo Aguiar 
Bandolim – Pedro Franco 
Clarinet – Lucas Brito 
Cavaquinho – Gabriel Menezes 
Spanish Vocals – Paulina Viroga 
Backing Vocals – Ellen Burbidge 
Arrangement – Marcelo Müller 
Mix – Tércio Marques 
Master – King Willy 

There’ll be days – 

Nylon String Guitar & Lead Vocals – Jesse Witney 
Piano Accordion – Marcelo Caldi 
Double Bass – Jordan Tarento 
Percussion – Bernardo Aguiar 
Trumpet – Nic Ryan-Glenie 
Tenor Saxophone – Sam Boon 
Trombone – Conor McIndoe 
Mix – Tércio Marques 
Master – King Willy 

Mama Maya – 

Nylon/Electric Guitar & Lead Vocals – Jesse Witney 
Backing Vocals – Juman 
Bass Guitar – Marcelo Müller 
Rhodes & Wurlitzer – Pedro Guinu 
Drums – Thomas Mitchell 
Percussion – Bernardo Aguiar 
Mix – Tércio Marques 
Master – King Willy 

Ao Seu Redor – 

Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion, Lead & Backing Vocals – Jesse Witney 
Electronic Samples – Thomas Mitchell 
Bass Guitar – Marcelo Müller 
Drums – Thomas Mitchell 
Synth & Rhodes – Pedro Guinu 
Mix – Tércio Marques 
Master – King Willy 

The Captain – 

Acoustic Guitar & Vocals – Jesse Witney 
1st & 2nd Violin – Ayran Nicodemo 
Viola – Daniel Albuquerque 
Cello - Maria Clara Valle 
Mix – Nick Herrera 
Master – King Willy 

The System – 

Electric Guitar & Lead Vocals – Jesse Witney 
Drums – Nick Martyn 
Percussion – Thomas Mitchell 
Bass – Jules Pascoe 
BV’s – Hannah Macklin 
Trumpet – Nic Ryan-Glenie 
Tenor Saxophone – Sam Boon 
Trombone – Conor McIndoe 
Mix – James Chandler 
Master – King Willy 

Apple of my eye – 

Electric Guitar/Synth/Percussion & Lead Vocals – Jesse Witney 
Drums – Nick Martyn 
Bass – Jules Pascoe 
Mix – Tércio Marques & Thomas Mitchell 
Master – King Willy 

You’re the only one – 

Electric Guitar & Lead Vocals – Jesse Witney 
Drums – Nick Martyn 
Percussion – Thomas Mitchell 
Mix – Tércio Marques 
Master – King Willy 

Trees – 

Nature Sounds – Upper Main Arm 
Words – Jesse Witney 
Mix – Jesse Witney 
Master – King Willy 

O Milagre – 

Nylon Guitar & Lead Vocals – Jesse Witney 
Cavaquinho – Gabriel Menezes 
Percussion – Bernardo Aguiar 
Backing Vocals – Juman 
Synth Bass – Pedro Guinu 
Flute – Lucas Brito 
Mix – Tércio Marques 
Master – King Willy