Track listing: Chalk Outlines

Covering Ren X Chinchilla's UK hit "Chalk Outlines" was not a plan at the time, when Wales producer August Hall suffered a knee injury during the pandemic. That isolation and further restriction of physical movement drove Hall back to his own love of music, that hadn't been a part of his life in decades. Fast-forward to the creation of Misto Quente, a musical project of Hall's with an intentional rotating roster of musicians and creatives. And so on April 24, 2026 comes Misto Quente's first single, the aforementioned "Chalk Outlines." The primary goal of this release is to raise funds for the UK Mental Health charity MIND. As you listen to "Chalk Outlines," if you're so moved and have the means, please consider donating to MIND at justgiving.com.

For this initial iteration of Misto Quente, "Chalk Outlines" features Italian lead vocalist Jolie and guitarist Rafael Naine, whose Berklee training and Brazilian upbringing added a stylistic authenticity to the project. Another vocalist, operating under the pseudonym Caio Rhys due to publishing restrictions made a unique and personal difference in the vocal arrangement. Taylor Harris and Hall handled arranging, production, mixing, and mastering duties.

The idea behind Misto Quente is that each release brings together a different constellation of musicians—Brazilian in inspiration, but global in execution, anchored from Wales.

The song's original version is pretty straight-forward, stylistically speaking. But August Hall took things to another level. "I’d been learning about reharmonisation, and this became the first song where I stopped analysing theory and actually experimented—reshaping chords, adding passing movement, and seeing how far I could shift the emotional tone while keeping the melody intact."

Beyond chord structures, was the infusion of Bossa Nova. Says Hall of the genre, "I was struck by how [Bossa Nova] can feel warm, calm, and almost effortless on the surface, while carrying quite complex harmony underneath." And diving into history, "the political tension following Brazil’s 1964 military coup—there was this idea of a composed, 'pleasant' exterior masking something more fragile underneath. That felt like a fitting lens for 'Chalk Outlines.'"

What we end up with is a gentle rhythmic vibe, almost romantic, embodying sadness and reflection. But at the same time, there exists a pleasantness, a hope and optimism within the song's ear-catching chorus. I hear it as a cinematic backdrop to one of many possible storylines (which is the listener's to determine for themselves). "Chalk Outlines" drops to the starkness of only vocals, then coasts along fueled by the rhythmic backing track to its final destination.

This single serves as the true beginning of what is slated to become a larger existence for Misto Quente. It's the big reveal leading up to what will become a Volume 1 EP "blending moody, contemporary pop with subtle Brazilian influences—especially in the harmony and rhythmic feel." Hall aims to continue to combine a Brazilian-influenced sound, set against other tracks to be recorded by a slew of rotating musicians yet to be determined. So, singles done in one style, released along with reinterpretations of those same songs by musicians recording in whatever style and genre they end up landing upon. Hall explains, "The song stays the same—but the perspective changes."

For the moment, we mark this project's beginnings with an impressive debut with "Chalk Outlines." Follow Misto Quente on their Bandcamp profile to receive updates on new releases and to discover just what line-ups are next: mistoquente.bandcamp.com.