Songs for Film: Víctor Petrus’s Musical Journey
From Menorca to Barcelona – Roots and Inspiration
Víctor Petrus grew up in Alaior, Menorca, and left the island at 18 eager to see the world. After 27 years living in Barcelona, he says his time abroad gave him a fresh appreciation for his home.
“Living far away made me see Menorca’s culture, landscape, and people in a new light. Now I value being born here much more.”
That renewed love for his homeland shows up in his latest musical project, Xitxarel·lo de Favàritx.
Nostalgia Fuels Creativity
The name Xitxarel·lo refers to a small, curious child discovering the world, while the Favàritx lighthouse points toward the future. Together they capture Víctor’s blend of nostalgia and forward‑looking vision.
The Album “Cançons per film”
What’s Inside the Record?
- Length: About 40 minutes, dozens of tracks.
- Language: Song titles mostly reference Menorca.
- Styles: Tango, bossa nova, Latin rhythms, and even James Bond‑style spy music, all wrapped in a bright Mediterranean feel.
The record is completely instrumental—no vocals, just music meant to paint pictures in the listener’s mind.
Styles and Moods
Each piece feels like a mini‑soundtrack for an imaginary scene: a sunny street parade, a mysterious night chase, a relaxed seaside café. The variety keeps the listening experience fresh while the Mediterranean thread ties everything together.
A One‑Man Orchestra
Víctor wrote, arranged, and produced every track himself. He recorded the album at home, layering guitars, piano, and MIDI‑generated orchestral sounds to build rich, cinematic textures.
How the Project Came to Life
Rescuing Old Melodies
The idea started years ago. A rescued hard drive revealed unfinished melodies from the early 2000s. Víctor dusted them off, completed the arrangements, and added new compositions to create the full album.
Parallel Releases
Alongside Cançons per film, he shared:
- An EP called “Arquitectura i paisatge a Menorca” (Architecture and Landscape of Menorca).
- A single featuring the music he composed for his sister Anna Petrus’s 2009 short film “L’oblit a l’oli.”
Before Xitxarel·lo, Víctor worked under the name Long Showers, scoring other audiovisual pieces.
Why This Music Feels Like a Soundtrack
Víctor describes the album as “a sound universe linked to the stories that unfold on the screen.” Even without images, each track invites listeners to imagine their own scenes, making the music perfect for films, ads, video games, or personal daydreams.
Looking Ahead
Continuing the Sound Universe
He sees Cançons per film as the first volume of an ongoing series. The door is open for future installments that will keep exploring the link between music and visual storytelling.
Conclusion
Víctor Petrus’s journey from a teen eager to escape Menorca to a musician who now celebrates his roots shines through Songs for film. By blending diverse styles with a Mediterranean heart, he creates instrumental tracks that feel like ready‑made soundtracks for any story. The project is just the beginning, and fans can expect more imaginative soundscapes from Xitxarel·lo de Favàritx in the years to come.
Reference: Source
Images Credit: www.menorca.info