A collection of tracks I used for my dance workshop this January. Old, new, various rhythms. Enjoy :).
Tim Lyre “Present”
This was a Bandcamp Weekly find a while ago. Had to share here for the samba rhythm in the bass line 💃🏽
Check out Nigerian artist Tim Lyre if you haven’t already. Debut album “Worry <“ (Worry Less) has been out since late March, a variety of tempos and rhythms that range from introspective to celebratory, and a lot of samba references/influences.
Colors x Studios
Colors is one of my go tos for finding out about up and coming Brazilian artists. They’re doing a great job of consistently featuring a variety of new and well established talent, from the hugely popular MC Dricka and rapper Emicida, to up and comers like Tasha & Tracie. And not just rappers, either. Colors’ recent web editorial highlights a wide range of genres, perspectives, musicians, photographers, DJs, aspiring professional creatives and more from South America’s largest country, allowing them to hold the camera, take center stage and speak their minds in an unadulterated way. Feels especially poignant and necessary given the socio political climate in Brazil at this time. Definitely subscribe to Colors on YouTube if you haven’t already.
This mellow, soothing vibe on “Temporal” by producer, singer, songwriter Bruna Mendez and Lucs Romero is one of many artists & performances I’ve enjoyed on the channel:
Batucada Especial Futebol
Every fan of Brazilian music should have this.
Alaíde Costa: the real matriarch of Bossa Nova
I was unaware of the black history of Bossa Nova until coming across a post from @tinhaqueserpretooficial about singer Alaíde Costa, whom they call the real matriarch of the genre. She and singer, composer, and pianist Johnny Alf were instrumental in the movement before it really took off and was called “bossa nova”. Alaíde is still singing and you can find her on Instagram and Facebook.
Music Video: Noturno 150 by Heavy Baile
HEAVY BAILE: Noturno 150 from Mah Ferraz on Vimeo.
I just found out about Brazilian funk music collective Heavy Baile thanks to this video (I know I’m late…). More importantly, this video is fun and original, showcasing one of the collective’s members, Ronald Sheick, jumping into the Metropolitan Museum’s classical art collection and at one point battling himself. #Decolonization always makes me smile :).
Vintage Brazilian Funk Favorite: Copa 7 “De Repente” (1979)
One of my favorite samba rock/funk cuts ever. I love putting people onto this, especially other DJ’s ;). Oh, and I love it for dancing, too, of course. The swing, the horn arrangement, the organ. It’s everything. I often miss hearing this in Brazilian funk and soul sets, but apparently it is a rare record. Fun fact: one of Copa 7’s band members, guitarist and composer Dionisio Santos (RIP), was based in NYC for some time. Enjoy!
Mayra Andrade “Tan Kalakatan”
“Tan Kalakatan” is one of my favorite tracks from Mayra Andrade’s latest album, Manga. I really like this live version filmed in Accra, Ghana last month. If you have 20 minutes I recommend watching the entire show. Also check out the first one she did for COLORS; fire.
The Busy Twist: London Luanda Remix Series
Spring is coming eventually, may as well get warmed up! London duo The Busy Twist’s dancefloor remixes of 1960’s and 70’s folk music from Luanda, culled from the Analog Africa catalog. I don’t know how this spring and summer are going to pan out, but this would definitely be a vibe at a post-pandemic outdoor party somewhere in Brooklyn, no? 😉
Carla Prata “Owner”
Afrobeats track “Owner” is my favorite from Angolan/British singer and lyricist Carla Prata. The 21 year old is making big moves with an easy confidence. Already well-known in Angola, Portugal, and the UK, her recent COLORS performance of provocative new single, “Certified Freak” brings her to a wider audience. She got her start at 15 and just released her first EP, Roots, mid 2020. She talks about getting into music and international ambitions in this brief after COLORS interview.
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