[2] Veloso spent the first year of his exile feeling depressed and homesick, although he and Gil actively participated in the local musical scene, watching The Rolling Stones shows, jamming with fellow musicians and having their first contact with reggae.

Soon, Lou Reizner, Mace's American colleague, joined the project, but left it near its completion due to some disagreements.

[5] Veloso was not confident about his abilities with the guitar, but Mace and Reizner convinced him that his frailties were part of the "charm of the song".

[5] As for the instrumental part, Veloso made some improvisations accompanied by the same string quartet that recorded "Eleanor Rigby" with the Beatles.

[1] In 2010, Veloso would describe the album as "a document of depression" and would say that only then did he start to appreciate the music he had made in exile, which, according to him, helped him become a more creative musician and a stronger person.