His parents were immigrants from Ecuador, but Roberto grew up in the materialistic lifestyle of southern Florida, U.S.A. Pounding bass beats from passing cars, boom boxes bouncing down the block, and late-night parties provided a foundation for Lange’s interest in sound.
Lange has collaborated with visual and sound artist David Ellis to compose a new series of kinetic sound sculptures. These include typewriters that self-type the lyrics to Grand Master Flash's "The Message" (in rhythm to the song, none-the-less), musical owls drawn out of liquor bottles, owl costumes made out of straws, flying musical birds, motion paintings, and trashcans (full of trash) that are actually living drum machines. Lange has also worked with Paul Duncan and Bear in Heaven as well as famed music producer Guillermo Scott Herren to produce Prefuse 73 and Savath and Savalas as an active member and contributor.
Lange's other projects include ROM, Epstein, as well as Helado Negro. Epstein is Lange's “beats and loops” project, a friendly beast born of the MPC sampler. Epstein's wildly prolific output, including a series of digital releases, full-lengths, and a remix album, is a gauzy, sunny kind of dance music that references DJ mixing, summertime block parties, and mellow compositional noise.
Helado Negro began when Lange moved to New York in 2006. The early group concept grew through projects and experiments Roberto would conduct while recording himself and others in his home studio. Loops, computer synthesis, record samples, and live instruments provided the foundation for the first full-length, Awe Owe, a vibrant, shimmering, full-band Latin psyche-funk-folk epic.
After taking time to create a new series of sound sculptures, release a Helado Negro EP, score one film and begin work on another (based around his animation), Lange recently holed up in a cabin in the Connecticut woods to record the follow-up to Awe Owe. Canta Lechuza is the latest incarnation of Helado Negro and its sound may come as a surprise. Gone is the big collaborative group jam of previous work and in its place is Helado-Negro-as-intimate-solo-project. Canta Lechuza feels like the place it was recorded—its vocals and beats and synth lines coming together to craft a warm, buoyant, comforting electronic dance sound, an effortless, personal thing anchored by Lange's warm, earthy, conversational voice. Based around field recordings and live instrumentation fed through computer processing, Canta Lechuza is a thoroughly modern affair.
IMAGINING WHAT TO DO
Helado Negro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When we go to sleep
Winter will be gone tomorrow
Just lay inside your dream
'Cause it's cold
And hard to remember what the sun feels like
And it's okay to cry
But we know
How melting into summer
Just to make it go
Go slow
We'll stay under the covers
Until there's no snow
Please go
The two of us draw smiles
Laughing half awake, we sing slowly we wait softly
Looking for the sun to come back tomorrow
I'll see you waiting for the glow again
The two of us draw smiles
Laughing half awake, we sing slowly we wait softly
Looking for the sun to come back tomorrow
I'll see you waiting for the glow again
In "Imagining What to Do," Helado Negro captures the essence of longing for the return of warmth and sunlight after a long, cold winter. The song begins with the singer reassuring their loved one that despite the current cold and darkness, winter will soon be over. It emphasizes the power of dreams to transport us to a place where we can imagine a world without the chill of winter. The lyrics suggest that it's natural to feel a sense of sadness or even cry when it feels like the sun may never return, but it's important to hold onto hope.
The chorus reflects the idea of longing for summer and the gradual transition from winter to warmer seasons. It highlights the process of melting into summer, as if the coldness and heaviness of winter slowly dissolve into the warmth and light of summer. The lyrics encourage a patient approach, urging the listener to go slow and stay under the covers until the snow completely disappears. It's as if the song is a gentle reminder to savor the anticipation and the journey towards sunnier days.
The repeated lines in the second verse further emphasize the shared experience of waiting for the return of sunlight. The singer and their companion draw smiles, laugh, and sing together, their shared laughter and optimism becoming a source of comfort and strength. It implies that in times of waiting and uncertainty, finding joy in the present moment and supporting each other can alleviate the longing for what is yet to come.
Overall, "Imagining What to Do" beautifully captures the bittersweet emotions and anticipation surrounding the end of winter and the longing for the return of warmth and sunlight. Through its dreamlike atmosphere and soothing melody, the song encourages listeners to hold onto hope and find solace in each other during times of darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll sing you this part
I will express my thoughts and emotions to you through this song
When we go to sleep
During the time when we rest and dream
Winter will be gone tomorrow
The cold and harsh season of winter will soon pass
Just lay inside your dream
Simply exist and find comfort within your dream
'Cause it's cold
Because the weather is chilly
And hard to remember what the sun feels like
Difficult to recall the sensation of sunshine
And it's okay to cry
It is acceptable to shed tears
When it feels like it won't ever come back
When it seems like the sun will never return
But we know
Nonetheless, we understand
How melting into summer
The process of transitioning into the warm season of summer
Just to make it go
Merely to make the winter time pass
Go slow
Proceed at a leisurely pace
We'll stay under the covers
We will remain sheltered and protected
Until there's no snow
Until the snow disappears completely
Please go
Kindly depart, winter
The two of us draw smiles
Together, we create happiness
Laughing half awake, we sing slowly we wait softly
Chuckling while partially conscious, we harmoniously anticipate with tranquility
Looking for the sun to come back tomorrow
Searching for the return of the sun on the following day
I'll see you waiting for the glow again
I will witness you patiently anticipating the warmth and brightness once more
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Roberto Carlos
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Matheus Pereira
I met Helado Negro and this album right now. And I am completely in love with this song. One of the most beautiful songs of the last year, without a doubt. Hoping that, in a near safe&happy future, you come to do a show in Brazil, Roberto 💗
A Bradley
Voy a trabajar duro para poder verte en Guadalajara en febrero 💖 será un sueño! Tu música me hace sentir como en un sueño. Abrazo a ti y a todo tu equipo!
mario del rio
A Bradley fuiste al final?
A Bradley
@Arteconerick se llama festival adverso, es el 29 :)
Arteconerick
Dónde será el concierto, soy de Guadalajara
Arteconerick
Woooow! Llevo tan solo 3 canciones y las tres me encantaron, seguiré escuchando tu música!!!
Lue C
This is one of the best pieces of art I've ever experienced
JAvier Gutierrez
Gracias por crear una cosa tan bonita y brillantemente simple
Andrea Heredia Ramirez
Encontré esta canción en el momento exacto :) ❤️✨
Andrea Heredia Ramirez
Simplemente arte