We’ve clearly been on a Brazilian kick here at TVD NOLA. On Friday, an interesting album that merges electronic and organic beats with the breathy vocals of the Brazilian chanteuse Luisa Maita will be on shelves nationwide. Fio da Memória means “Thread of Memory” in Portuguese.
The album is mostly down and mid tempo songs sung in her compelling voice. The tunes, largely written by Maita, swirl amid sensuous arrangements of beats, blips, and other hallmark sounds of modern electronica. But the music is thoroughly grounded in the strong bass parts which drive many of the songs.
The music is rooted in traditional Brazilian rhythms but like so many of her contemporaries it is brought to life with electronics and other synthetic sounds. It is the sound of modern urbanity the world over with a unique perspective based on her life in Sao Paulo, the frenetic city in Brazil.
I found the description of the recording process fascinating. She started the production with Tejo Damasceno, a DJ and electronic musician who helped formulate her new sound. For the second phase, she worked with bass player and producer Zé Nigro, who took a more organic approach. After they recorded the instruments, they applied filters, beats, and effects.
For American listeners who are not familiar with Maita from her critically acclaimed debut album, her voice may be familiar from the award-winning film, Boyhood. She had two tunes on the soundtrack. She also won the Brazilian equivalent of a Grammy and sang at the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in Rio.
Maita is bringing her sound to a number of cities in North America this month and will be appearing at the Austin City Limits Festival on the first two weekends in October.
