“Cobra Sofia” is the opening track of the album “Cobra Sofia e Outros Lendas Amazônicas,” the third album of the Alfa Serenar project, released on January 9, 2022 via Progshine Records. The track was performed and composed by Rafael Senra, multi-instrumentalist who leads Alfa Serenar, and has drums recorded by Forlan Gomes. The mixing and mastering of the song were in charge of producer Alan Flexa (Estúdio Zarolho). Watch the video through the YouTube player below:
The song’s lyrics were based on a recurring myth from various regions of the Amazon, which goes by various names, such as Cobra Grande, Boitatá or Cobra Norato (the latter inspired a remarkable book on Brazilian modernism, written by poet Raul Bopp).
The details of the lyrics (such as the names of Icorã and Tucuxi) were extracted from the version of the legend of “Cobra Sofia” narrated in the work “Mitos e Lendas do Amapá,” written by journalist Joseli Dias, and which was republished in 2020 by Editora do Senado Federal. This specific version is typical of the city of Santana, in Amapá, and Rafael Senra got to know it through his students at the Federal University of Amapá. It is said that she lives beneath the city, and in moments of fury, she moves underground and shakes the surface. Even the residents there believe that a landslide that occurred in Porto de Santana, in 2013, was caused by the action of this snake.
Purchase the album on bandcamp: https://progshinerecords.bandcamp.com/album/cobra-sofia-e-outras-lendas-amaz-nicas
Stream the album here: https://onerpm.link/252826905243
Tracklist:
1. Cobra Sofia 20:35
2. Uirapuru 04:55
3. Mapinguari 05:37
4. Cerimônia 08:18
Lineup:
Rafael Senra / Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Bass, Keyboards
With:
Forlan Gomes / Drums (1, 4)