Brazil’s iconic samba singer, provocative persona and signature vocalist, with a rising star who brings unique perspective to Brazilian soul
Elza Soares
Elza da Conceição Soares has achieved what most people can only dream of. She has remained a superstar in her field for over six decades, melodically soaring through the ages. A native of Rio de Janeiro, Soares began her professional singing career in the 1950s, when she joined Mercedes Batista on a dazzling samba tour of Argentina. Her popularity grew exponentially when she released her debut Se Acaso Você Chegasse, in which she invoked a Louis Armstrong flavor as she incorporated jazz into samba-scat riffs. From there, she relocated to the bustling São Paulo, where she illuminated clubs and theaters with her signature raspy, boisterous voice. Soares’ next album, A Bossa Negra, saw her star continue to rise, as she was invited to represent Brazil at the ’62 World Cup in Chile. Now known throughout South America, the luminous Soares would partner with vocalist Miltinho, and they would co-record three potpourri style albums, Elza, Miltinho e Samba (Volumes 1-3). By the 1970s, she was touring all over Europe and the US, enthralling audiences with her hallmark husky and impassioned tones. A few decades of unwavering, joyous singing later and she would be named “Best Singer of the Millennium” by the BBC in London in 2000. Soares has remained vital and current; her 2004 album Vivo Feliz featured the single “Rio de Janeiro” (a tribute to her birthplace), that mixed samba and bossa with electronica. In 2016 she put out A Mulher do Fim do Mundo (“Woman at the End of the World”), and sang at the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics. Truly a living icon, Soares is a gift to experience live.
Deep in the lush countryside of Brazil, a gifted gang of like-minded musicians came together. Led by the effervescent Liniker Barros, a transgender vocalist, Liniker e os Caramelows was assembled – never dreaming that they would one day tour the world, spreading their uplifting music. The first tracks that they ever recorded were based off Liniker’s personal letters, and thanks to the far-reaching power of Youtube, this band’s up-tempo songs spread like wildfire (over 10 million collective views). Performing at Brazil’s most important festivals, from São Paolo to Rio, they soon became a national treasure. In 2016 they delivered their first studio album Remonta, and added new members for the subsequent tour (bolstering the sound with keyboards, percussion and saxophone). With unbridled enthusiasm, they are now poised to wow the world stage.
Teleseen (DJ set) Special project of global underground DJ, a mix of deep & afro-house, samba and baile funk The primary project of nomadic DJ, producer and multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Cyr, Teleseen weaves together musical influences from the global underground into a refreshingly unique mix. Manifesting in freewheeling DJ sets, and a wide variety of his own releases and production work for other artists, Cyr’s musical vision draws equally from deep house and afro house, samba, batucada, baile funk and MPB influences absorbed while living in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. He also adds to his worldwide dish of musical experimentation the sound-system culture of his hometown of NYC. Known for his shifting polyrhythmic programming style and psychedelic synth work, Cyr has released records on 100% Silk, Feel Up Records, Boomarm Nation, Percepts, and Goldmin Music. His latest album, The Emotional Life of Savages, is due out in the fall of 2017, as his fans eagerly await to hear what new, funky and internationally-imbued beats he’ll merge together.