Elephant Run – “Fernanda (Mato Sessions)”

Elephant Run is a Swedish-Brazilian band signed to +um HITS. They took “Fernanda”, a track originally on their 2017 debut album, and built a completely new live acoustic version for the Mato Sessions at Mato Records in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Taking a song that used to have a rock edge and stripping it down takes real courage. The setup relies on acoustic guitars, mandolin, upright bass, and drums played soft with brushes, giving the track a distinct indie-folk style with jazz and tarantella influences. Band members Amanda W. Plantin, Ladislau Kardos, Fernando Coelho, and Renato Cortez brought in guest artist Karin Älverbrandt on guitar and backing vocals, and her contribution really ties the acoustic arrangement together.

The visual side tells a neat story too. Filmed by Rafael Russano with black-and-white color grading by Tiago Feliciano, the session was supposed to happen outside in front of the mountains. Heavy rain forced everyone inside to the living room windows, and that cozy indoor mood fits the music even better.

It feels like a genuine, spontaneous moment captured between musicians playing together in a room. Make sure to follow Elephant Run on social media to stay updated on their new releases this year.