Arquivo de Tags: brazilian music

The professionalization of Brazilian hip-hop

10 April, 2013 | Artists, English, Exchange, Music Market

“I guess I started to produce kinda out of a necessity”, says Evandro Fióti, one of Brazil’s upcoming names in the rap/hip-hop (behind-the) scene, known for bringing a strong business sense to a market proud of its struggles and DIY solutions.

Still in his late teen years at the time, Evandro began to produce older brother Emicida’s shows and albums in 2009, when he found himself in the middle the “new” family business. Today he is considered by many, one of the key elements linked to his sibling’s success. “A few years ago the rap scene didn’t have this organization, there was no method, nobody behind most of the artists. As most of the rappers come from the suburbs, or poorer areas of the city, many of them produced themselves. And as everyone knows it is impossible to do everything by yourself. I started of to fill in this space, the need of someone executing these management and more administrative functions”, he explains.

And only a few years after embarking on this journey, Evandro and brother Emicida have been touring all over Brazil and around the world. If that wasn’t enough, they also created a successful label called Laboratorio Fantasma , where they share their experience and knowledge acquired up until now with other artists.

In this interview, the producer talked about the Brazilian hip-hop and rap scene, his difficulties as a producer working internationally and, of course, shared some thoughts on those he considers highlights of this new – but powerful – rhythm that has been gaining strength in our country, still so embedded in the samba and bossa nova culture reminiscent from past decades.

How is the Brazilian rap and hip-hop market today?

I believe that rap, hip-hop, a movement that has been in Brazil for around 30 years now, is something relatively new here, if compared to other genres. A lot of things are still being discovered, and what is happening now will, no doubt, serve as reference for what is yet to come, for the new generations. I guess that there’s been a significant change in the Brazilian rap culture, in the way of writing it and approaching it musically. Today I can say that our rap has a good dialogue with many kinds of audiences, and is not related only to the suburbs of Sao Paulo (even though it still has a strong presence in almost all of these communities). It’s a genre that is extremely necessary for communication with the younger generations, and I can afirm that our main target is still teens and young adults with ages between 16 and 25 years old. I guess that this turning point, this renewal of the market started of with Sabotage , in the 90’s and early 2000’s. With his death, I guess that Emicida picked it up from that point and continued the process together with other names.

We talk a lot about the music exchange between artists from different countries. Is there space for this exchange in the Brazilian rap and hip-hop scene?

Yes, I guess that it’s even easier for international rap groups to play and gather audiences here in Brazil than it is the other way around. Because for us, to play in the US, for example, is a very strong experience, it is to play where the movement began, it’s like coming to Brazil and playing samba. International rappers have a strong possibility of creating audiences here, English is a universal language today, everybody speaks it.

And as a producer, what is the main difficulty when working abroad?

To make sure my artists have an expressive presence outside Brazil I have to ensure they are linked to a good international label and, when playing abroad, have a competent PR firm behind them. Nobody buys records anymore, so this is a way of making sure people listen to our music. Our biggest barrier is still, in a first level, the language, but I do recognize that in the past couple of years people have started to make a bigger effort in understanding what we say.

In terms of more direct production, I guess that the logistics of an international tour is still something hard to plan. It is difficult for someone who doesn’t know you well to invest on your music. The last times we played out of our country, we basically payed for everything, out of our pockets. And this financial matter is really difficult; to play abroad you have to pay for your own trip most of the times, or if you apply maybe you can get some help from specific governmental programs, but it’s not easy. And it seems that for the rap and hip-hop business it is even harder, as it doesn’t exactly qualify as Brazilian music, like samba and bossa nova.

Could you highlight a few names of this new Brazilian rap and hip-hop scene?

There is Rael, that we’re producing and has just released a new album.

Ataque Beliz is another group that is making their name now in Brazil, they’re from Distrito Federal

Don L has a really interesting approach

And there is Flow MC, that in my opinion, released the best mixtape of 2012


Bass Culture Clash: Salvador vs London

08 April, 2013 | BM&A Actions, Exchange, Music Market

The project Encounters, held at Bahia last year and promoted by Brazil Music Exchange in partnership with APEX-Brazil, yielded another fruit: the “Bass Culture Clash: VS Salvador London”, which is a unique opportunity to see some of the best artists of the bass’ scene in London face to face with correspondents of Salvador, capital of the Brazilian style. Between May 10 and 12, there will be presentations of the festival at the iconic neighborhood of Pelourinho, in Salvador and in the United Kingdom, the presentations will take place between May 16 and 18.

Brazil is preparing to host the World Cup (2014) and the Olympic and Paralympic Games (2016) and this project encourages international cultural exchange through the dance floor, and a gateway to the heart of Bahia. The Bass Culture Clash: Salvador VS is held by London Underground British agency, Crispin Parry, who participated in Encounters in Bahia in 2012, and the Secretariat of Culture of Bahia.

London’s formidable dancehall soundsystem The Heatwave will be bringing their “bashment raving scandal” featuring the UK’s number one dancehall queen – MC Lady Chann.

Another artist that will be performing is a graduate of Bass Culture at SXSW 2012, Londoner Natty. He will be twisting roots and recruiting hearts with his deep spirit melodies.

The Brazilian bands at the festival are from the interior of Bahia and stood out in Europe for participation in the compilation “Brazilian Bass Culture & Beyond“, which was launched at the both of Brazil Music Exchange, in partnership with Bahia  Music Export in Womex of Greece in 2012.

OQuadro, one of the hottest acts in the country right now, step up with old-school hip hop, Salvador style.

The other Brazilian band is Os Nelsons, which unleash the connect between Bahia beats and global ghettotech. With influences ranging from Vybz Kartel, Marley and Devlin to Jackson do Pandeiro, Racionais MCs and Buraka Som Sistema, fancy on the beats of dub and reggae.

Check the schedule:

Brasil:

Fri 10 May Teatro Municipal, Ilheus, Bahia

Sat 11 May Bass Culture Clash Festival, Pelourinho, Salvador, Bahia

Sun 12 May Bass Culture Clash Festival, Pelourinho, Salvador, Bahia

UK:

Thu 16 May             19:00-23:00 Roundhouse, London

Fri 17 May             12:30-16:00 Komedia, The Great Escape, Brighton

Sat 18 May             19:00-21:00 Muévete, Notting Hill Arts Club, London (OQuadro + Os Nelsons)

For more information, images and audio downloads: www.basscultureclash.com


Finding Brazilian Music Around the World: Agencies

03 April, 2013 | BM&A Actions, Music Market

There are many ways to find some quality Brazilian music around the world. If you’re seeking for a professional approach on artists and bands, to look for a compromised agency is one of the best options.

Many are the names of companies that have recently (others not that recently) focused their attention on our national cultural production, and have since been specializing on marketing our art to targeted audiences outside our home country.

An example of this strategy is the work presented by french-based agency Helico. Founded in 2004, Hélico is a record label, a booking agency, and a music publishing company. It also handles the promotion of other record labels in projects aimed on the European market. Mainly dedicated to Brazilian music, it is also open to other rhythms classified under the World Music label.

Like many other agencies, Helico has just released their 2013 plan of work with Brazilian artists, which includes the release and promotion of the work of names such as Márcio Faraco, Casuarina, Roda do Cavaco and BaianaSystem. All these names should be on international tour throughout the year.

Another booking agency and label dedicated to Brazilian music – also European based, is Outro Brasil. With a range of services that go from booking to promotion, and a catalogue of artists, mostly from the Northeastern state of Pernambuco, and Rio de Janeiro, Outro Brasil is also an option for those looking to hire Brazilian talents.

Not dedicated only to our music, but with a considerable amount of Brazilian titles in their catalogue, California based Eye For Talent can be a good option for those looking for agencies in the US. Booking and promoting quality names of our contemporary scene, their list of artists includes names such as samba sensation Diogo Nogueira, virtuosic and innovative player of the bandolim Hamilton de Holanda, and noted Brazilian composer and multi-instrumentalist Hermeto Pascoal.

For those interested on effective business deals involving Brazilian music, to seek for regional representatives aware of both the local and our national music trends is, no doubt, one of the best ways to follow.


APAP 2013

23 January, 2013 | Coluna do Robert Singerman

Still relatively fresh in my mind, before we’re off to Midem, I’ll tell some of the stories, results, reviews, highlights and talk about some of the friends; old and new, we met along the way.

Initial great new friend to BMA/BME was Pleimo, who sponsored the booth at APAP, so that Eric Taller & Geysa Castro, (Ginga P.) Flavio de Abreu, (Scubidu) Sergio Krakowski, Dauton Janota (Pleimo), David McLoughlin and I could take advantage of the BMA APAP membership renewal and register for APAP 2013. Obrigado!, Dauton and Pleimo, from all who benefitted and will benefit in the months and years to come. (Planting seeds! “Imagine” was the theme of this APAP, thanks John and Yoko!)

Each of the Brazilians attending, including the others, like Jair Oliveira, Nelson Veras and Pedro Moraes, who came here via other avenues, benefitted from the events in completely different ways and will need to tell their own stories, but this is what I gathered and apologies if I’m omitting the most important details, or, hopefully not, embarrassing some friends.

The conference and Jazz and World Music pre-conferences were held at the New York Hilton, facing The Avenue of The Americas (6th Avenue), and some of the sessions were at the NY Sheraton Hilton on 7th Avenue, very conveniently both less than a block away from Brasil Music Exchange NYC home; my office.

My office is also an office for Isabel Soffer, her promotion company Live Sounds and she, along with her associate Meera Dugal, have been very busy co-organizing the 10th Anniversary of globalFEST, (the world’s best and most influential world music one night showcase), with Bill Bragin, of Lincoln Center and Shanta Thake of Joe’s Pub, all long time Brazilian music supporters and patrons, among the top music presenters in the world.

One of the first international colleagues I ran into, at the World Music pre-conference, brilliantly conceived and executed by Dmitri Vietze, of Rock, Paper, Scissors and STORYAMP, was Frédéric Gluzman, a French agent/manager colleague of mine, who explained why he unfortunately had to postpone the only Brazilian group booked this year at globalFEST; SpokFrevo Orquestra, due to their inability to raise sufficient funds for the trip. I hope next year when they are also Kings of the Carnival in Recife, they can find the financing to come perform at globalFEST 2014! My “old country”, France, (The French Embassy Cultural Services has sponsored all of the globalFEST’s since inception), enabling globalFEST to exist and four Francophone bands each year to perform, with additional funding coming from various French government and private sources for transportation. Something for Brazil and it’s supportive states to aspire to and lobby for! Fantastic ROI for France, let’s build towards this for Brasil.

globalFEST was, once again, a fantastic event, (loved Mucca Pazza, Christine Salem and Lo’Jo, among others) and was sold out in advance. Please google to read phenomenal reviews and listen to some of these amazing groups. Another big supporter of Brazilian music, Brian Keigher, mixed the sounds as DJ, at the globalFEST after-party, at Joe’s Pub. Pedro Moraes was there with me schmoozing up a storm, (Jacob Edgar, Scott Aiges, Meera, Derek Andrews, Bill Bragin), with some Kentucky Cachaca fueling; good old American JD.

Pedro and I walked to nublu, the professional home of one of the presenters, Petrit Pula, of the Brasil Summerfest, (which Pedro performed at last July @ Joe’s Pub), but although there were still some friends there, that scene had waned by the time we arrived. Speaking of Brazil’s finest export, besides Music + Football players, (Go Santos!), we had LEBLON generously sponsor the 2nd annual Brazilian Explorative Sessions event at (le) Poisson Rouge, (thanks Eric!), more on that to come. Dauton Janota, CEO Pleimo brought 4 Pleimo branded aged Salinas bottles, 2 confiscated by US Customs or Homeland Security at JFK, alas. With one of the two remaining, we poured for friends and clients at our APAP booth, which was so out of the way, (last one available), even the hotel and conference security didn’t bother us.

We had tried to negotiate for a better spot, being nearby, or sharing a booth with our friend Leticia Montalvo, (Tempest Entertainment), manager of Daniela Mercury and agent for Gal Costa, among other artists. Leticia presented with us in Rio de Janiero at Encounters, sponsored by BMA and Sebrae in July, along with Ariel Hyatt (Cyber PR), who had also been in Rio, also had a workshop at APAP and attended the World Music pre-conference workshop, with all of us and Sergio, who had thrown a small jam session, featuring many Rio musicians at his apartment last July.

Another friend of Brazilian artists, John Hammond was sharing a panel there, whose Missing Piece Group now promotes the Six Degrees Records (more friends of Brazilian music) signed artist; Dom La Nena. One of the NY TImes writers, Jon Pareles, who has given her new album Ela an excellent review, also attended the Brazilian Explorative Music Sessions, writing feverishly (he was at my table) for the entire 6 bands performing, but eventually decided, alas, to focus an article on Pedro Moraes, when Pedro releases his next album and when Jon/Times had more space (and I imagine, time.)

Pedro’s publicist, Fiona Bloom (Bloom Effect) did a fine job and had photographers, journalists, VIP friends, label execs, etc. out for the show, and I must have invited well over 2,000 people myself, through handing out hundreds of beautiful flyers at APAP, social media, my big mouth, and the show was pretty crowded, if not sold out. Most importantly, it was a beautiful night of music and all were happy, although it went very late on a “school night”. Especially after the long days at the pre-conferences, APAP conference and nights of globalFEST, and the two nights of the NYC Winter Jazzfest, conceived, produced and promoted by the same person, Brice Rosenbloom, who booked the second annual Brazilian Explorative Music sessions, (thanks Brice!), it was an excellent turn-out. Many VIP’s were in the house, including WBGO’s Tim Wilkins, who gave Pedro his best “plug” of the year in the US, writing for National Public Radio, listing Pedro, with a full article, as one of the 10 musicians you should have known in 2012! Thanks Tim! He also assisted in having Pedro be the WBGO Artist of the Month in December, which is fantastic, as WBGO is mostly an extremely well-respected Jazz radio station. We saw Patrick Darby of Montreal, Derek Andrews of Toronto, Brian Keigher, from Chicago, Current NY’ers David Hazan, Tom Silverman (Tommy Boy), Donna D’Cruz (Rasa), Jennie Harper (WBAI), Brazilians Dauton Janota, guitarist/composer Nelson Veras, Fernando Grecco, (Boranda), Flavio, Eric and Geysa, Frenchmen Mohamed Ghastli, (Bee Jazz), Jean-Christoph Maillard (Richard Bona, Grandbaton), Laurent David (Yael Naim, Eol Trio…), quite an international great “hang”, in the parlance. Here’s the link with all info on six of the featured musicians, Sergio Krakowski, Elissa Cassini, Pedro Moraes, Ivo Senra, Gabriel Santiago, and Mozik, who performed that night, please check them all out, as they are all extremely talented, moving the adjective (and new sub-genre?) Explorative more into the vocabulary of all the audience. Sergio’s show was a record release party, with his debut cd Carrossel de Passaros arriving just a few days before the concert.

On the Saturday night, @ SOB’s, Leslie Malmed Macedo of Mamadele Productions (she’s going to be a mama soon, congrats!) and her Dende crew, with Larry Gold, longest running venue supporter of Brazilian and other great music in NYC, put together another strong night of Brazilian artists, and/or artists playing Brazilian music. Dende, who performed at the first Brazilian Explorative concert in 2012, headlined with Matuto and NY Choro and then left the next day for Bahia. Last year, he left soon after his show! It was Leslie’s last show with the band before she welcomes the next generation of percussionists, Leslie told me their baby was dancing!

There was much business done, too, by all the Brazilians present, beyond the showcases and meetings. Many meetings were set up in advance and many other meetings came during the conference. The most important, perhaps for all is what occurs after the conferences, the showcases, with the follow-up of all present, both the Brazilians and all the others we met and furthered conversations with there.

Now, David and I, along with others from BMA and the BME, and Dauton Janota, from Pleimo, who joined at APAP, and many other Brazilian executives, are off to Cannes, France for the next chapter in helping create and forward opportunities for all Brazilian music artists and professionals, in the best manner we can. The opportunities at Midem are also huge for all Brazilian participants and we’re looking forward to assist.


APAP 2013

11 January, 2013 | BM&A Actions

During the following days (11-15 January) NY will be home to the first major music event of the year, APAP. The 2013 conference offers open space formats, interactive dialogue sessions, member-organized forums, and a consultation salon with experts, pre- and post-conference resources to help sustain the attendee’s work and ensure the vitality of the organization and the arts in the communities involved.

And as mentioned in previous posts, BRMusicExchange’s team represented by David Mcloughlin e Robert Singerman, together with representatives of the Brazilian music industry, will be gathered around Hilton NY to discuss the music industry and businesses actively.

For those interested in exchanging information about the Brazilian music business, here are some of BRMusicExchange’s partners, that will be attending the conference this year:

• Dauton Janota, CEO of PLEIMO is involved with the music industry since the 80s and now specializes in the long tail. The platform Pleimo.com aims 360 degree monetization of artists and discovering new talents for its users. A SaaS that monetizes the artist via streaming or sale of phonogram and videos, ticket sales, merchandising and crowdfunding. For the users (fans), Pleimo is a one-stop-shop site and a source of discovering new talent. PLEIMO is launching worldwide in 2013 and APAP is an opportunity to work with Brasil, Music & Artes and to get to meet and start to work with America and other music professionals around the globe, who will be attending and exhibiting.

• Representing Coletivo Chama, a Rio de Janeiro based artist collective acknowledged as one of the most creative powerhouses of contemporary brazilian music, these three artists will be featured on APAP 2013:

Pedro Moraes: Hailed by NPR.ORG as “one of the 10 artists you should have known in 2012″, idealizer and curator of the “Brazilian Explorative Music” series, the Rio de Janeiro born Moraes has been touring extensively to the US, Europe and Asia since 2007. With his mastery of Brazilian, Latin and self-created rhythms, and deceptively organic melodies which place him on the forefront of an intriguing “vanguard of neo traditionalists” (Tom Pryor – NatGEO), the 33 year old singer, guitarist and composer has been establishing himself as an ambassador of this generation.

Ivo Senra: The Rio based pianist, sound designer and composer will present on the stage of LPR some of the explorations which have led him to be awarded the “Premio da Música Brasileira” as a musical producer, on the category “Brazilian Electronic music”. With his unusual trio formation of Piano (Ivo), nylon string guitar (Luis Leite) and Baritone Sax (Jorge Continentino), his project “Consciente vs Inconsciente” (Conscious vs. Unconscious) is a true step into an unknown realm within brazilian instrumental music.

Sergio Krakowski: 33 year old Sergio Krakowski is widely considered one of the best Pandeiro players in the world. Crossing over national and cultural barriers, he´s developed a full range of new strikes and techniques, and applied them from fundamental Choro to full blown Jazz and Contemporary Music. In addition to his vibrant musical achievements, Krakowski, who has shared the stage with artists such as Maria Bethânia, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Lenine, David Linx, Maria João, etc, has also developed, acquiring in the process a Computer Music Phd, software for live pandeiro-computer interaction, triggering video and sound that turn his performances into unique multimedia experiences.

• Ginga P. is a multi-faceted company active in various areas related to music and culture. The slogan “Trazendo a música do mundo até você” (Bringing the music of the world to you) describes the concept of the company: to promote cultural and business exchanges between Brazil and international market, overcoming comercial, bureaucratic and logistical challenges with “ginga” and creativity. Recent projects: Reconcavo Jazz Festival, Santo Antonio Jazz Festival (headlined by McCoy Tyner), “Encontros Percussivos — Um diálogo entre a tecnologia e a diversidade musical”, Joshua Redman and Orkestra Rumpilezz Brazil Tour. In their third year at APAP, in 2013 Ginga P. will be working on several different initiatives related to exchanges in both directions (Brazil – US and US – Brazil). These include a summer 2013 tour for the band Baiana System and a new workshop project from maestro Letieres Leite (Orkestra Rumpilezz) on afro-baiano rhythms for jazz and orchestras. They will also be looking for US based artists to participate in the 2013 & 2014 editions of the Santo Antônio Jazz Festival & Recôncavo Jazz Festival. In addition they will be distributing a limited quantity of the Bahia Music Export compilation CD (vol 3).

• Scubidu Music was established in 2006 to provide a comprehensive approach to Brazilian music: we manage young Brazilian musician’s careers, we promote foreign artists tours countrywide and we launch our music through our own label. The company relies on a Brazilian-centered/World-oriented management that places the artists where it matters – on-stage, online and offline. In 2013 Scubidu Music will be present at APAP for the third time. This year we are mainly focusing on US tours for Ricardo Herz Trio (official Womex 12 selection – JazzAhead 13 selection), reggae/afrobeat-influenced singer Anelis and Orquestra Brasileira de Música Jamaicana, a group that plays Brazilian classics the Jamaican way. Having promoted a successful tours in 2012 (Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, McCoy Tyner, Kymani Marley, Didier Lockwood, amongst others), we are again looking for well-established, renowned artists to tour Brazil in the second semester of 2013.

Showcases

After a day of exchanging information, why not relax to the sound of… Brazilian music? As part of BMA’s effort of promoting Brazilian music to international audiences during APAP, two music events have been scheduled in NY.

Nightclub SOBs will be home of “Samba Saturday”, with three gigs programmed for the 12th. NYChoro, Matuto and Dende & Band are expected to play starting at 7pm, bringing to the audience some samples of more traditional rhythms of our national production. For reservations, click here.

On Monday, 14th, the tone is set on the experimental and names such as Pedro Moraes, Gabriel Santiago, Mozik, Sergio Krakowski Trio, among others, take the stage at Le Poisson Rouge. The project presented, Brazilian Explorative Music draws from a centennial tradition of musical innovators, who have, both individually and as members of movements such as Choro, Bossa Nova, Tropicalia and Clube da Esquina, catalyzed innovation from canon, universal from indigenous, timeless from vanguardist. Although enjoying less publicity over the last couple of decades than other musical scenes bearing more radio-friendly beats and sociologically seductive leads, aesthetically explorative music in Brazil is thriving — and during this evening, from brazilian jazz to other forms of instrumental music, from modern songwriting to contemporary electro-acoustic music, some of this universe will reveal itself. In between sets, music videos of other artists of this generation will be played, so that a wider variety within this scene can be experienced.


Feiras e Festivais internacionais de 2013

03 January, 2013 | Exchange

Sorry, this entry is only available in Port.