Tropicalia was the ground-breaking movement in 1960's , led by Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Tom Zé, Jorge Ben Jor and others that embraced both Brazilian roots music and international sounds. Some of 's most exciting artists today are inspired by the sounds and philosophy of Tropicalia.

Assisting with understanding the Neo-Tropicalia Movement, Afropop sought the expertise of renowned Brazilian producer Roberto "Beco" Dranoff. Beco has collaborated with a plethora of established and up-and-coming artists worldwide to bring just the right sound to the music world. Do enjoy our latest installment of the exciting progress of Brazilian music today!



Marisa Monte

"To talk about Brazilian music is to talk about diversity and variety. We have many so many different styles and influences - both internal and external ones. One of the most important characteristics about our culture is mixing and creating new styles, renewing our expressions through the mixes. So, I am very comfortable with it. I am singing what I listen to, what I grew up listening to. To mix samba with pop music with funk with bossa nova, as Brazilians, we are used to it, we grew up like this, we live in this kind of variety. It is not just in our music, it is in our food, in our religion, in our race." --Marisa Monte




Marcelo D2

This Scorpio from Rio de Janeiro brings the vibrancy of hip hop and Latin rhythms front row and center to the world. Highly recognized for his skills, Marcelo sites musical influences from such Brazilian greats as João Nogueira, Bezerra da Silva, with popular references to hip-hop legends De La Soul and Nesta Bob Marley. Touted as the vanguard of the new Brazilian music scene and considered by most as the Brazilian Jay-Z, Marcelo D2 has the sound to get everyone movin' and groovin'.

Visit Marcelo D2 at: http://www.myspace.com/marcelod2




Cibelle

This Brazilian songbird may be new to most ears, however through one hearing of her voice will invite you in.  Incorporating the mellowest bossa nova grooves, elements of jazz with a touch of electronica, Cibelle offers up her life in melody.

Visit Cibelle at: http://www.myspace.com/cibelleblackbird




Curumim

Can you say: Afro-Brazilian-funk-dub-psychedelic-swing?  That's the make-up of the artist known as Curumim. Luciano Nakata Albuquerque, born in to Spanish/Japanese parents, early on earned the moniker Curumin, a term reserved by indigenous Brazilians for their more precocious children. He's spent the greater part of his life as a student of all styles of music.  When the time came, this Jedi of sound broke through with a rhythm so deep and wide; those in the know took interest.

Check out more from: http://www.quannum.com/site/

Nacão Zumbi

They are less a band than they are new musical style, unwitting pioneers of the only completely new movement of their native land. That sound was labeled Mangue Bit (later altered to 'Beat') - a modern computer bit reinvigorating the old-time grooves; the old and local fusing with the modern and global.

Check out their latest CD "Futura" on Circular Moves: http://www.circularmoves.com/discs/disc20.html

CéU

Singer songwriter CéU (Sky) is the epitome of malêmolencia, a beautiful and sexy 25 year old singer with a sophisticated, multi-layered sound. CéU is about innocence, beauty, putting a little rhythm and happiness into life, taking it easy, sunshine and, above all, malêmolencia. Her album "CéU" has been nominated for Latin Grammy-Best New Artist!

Get to know CéU at: http://www.myspace.com/ceuambulante

 




Vanessa Da Mata

Vanessa da Mata is a force of the nature. In spite of coming from a very small town (Mato Grosso) and not playing a single instrument, Vanessa da Mata (a.k.a. Vanessa da Matta) is a veroracious songwriter, having over 250 songs written in her notebook. Even before releasing her first album, Vanessa had already composed for the likes of popular and well established Brazilian artists, such as Chico Science, Maria Bethânia and Daniela Mercury.



Carlinhos Brown

It is impossible to go anywhere today in without hearing the music of Carlinhos Brown. His name is almost synonymous with music. Over the past decade, he has been collaborating with artists from all over : Daniela Mercury, Marisa Monte, Caetano Veloso, Djavan, and Sergio Mendes. In 1996, he took that Bahian samba reggae in a completely new direction when he recorded the landmark album, "Alfagamabetizado", a virtual "Sgt. Peppers" of Bahian music, bringing together rock, MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira), funk, and samba reggae with Brown's unique percussive inventiveness.

Mundo Livre S/A

Viva Recife !  Mundo Livre S/A is another band credited with fledgling the Magnue Beat movement in . Currently, there works can be found on "Transformer," compiled by noted mix-master DJ Bruno Pedrosa.

MORE AFROPOP MUSIC SOURCES


Check out all our Brazilian Artists and Music

“Brazil’s Neo-Tropicalia Movement” program DISCOGRAPHY

APWW Classic Streams featuring Brazil

FEATURED INTERVIEWS & FEATURES

Chico César
~ About the artist
~ Interview

Sergio Martins on the dynamics of Brazilian music
Book excerpt: " Brutality Garden : Tropicália and the Emergence of a Brazilian Counterculture" by Christopher Dunn

Afropop Worldwide covers the Porto Musical Conference in Recife Brazil, 2005 

First published: www.afropop.org