Tairawhiti to go tropical . . . with Brazilbeat Sound System

NEW MUSIC: Brazilbeat Sound System is dropping a new album to get the country through summer with tropical beats. Picture supplied

Heavy hitters in the local music scene, Tairāwhiti's Brazilbeat Sound System is back with their second studio album exploring the worlds of South American rhythms, deep bass and dancehall.

Melding the sounds of North and South America, the duo comprises Brazilian Nego Beto on percussion and Californian DJ Mara.

“From the opening track Let Me Go, you are taken into a world of luscious beats and vocals before being set up with the dancehall vibes of the title track Tropicalness,” the pair said.

Released on Belezza Records, Brazilbeat Sound System wants to blow hearts and minds of their fans.

“This is the music you have been searching for all your life. The riddims and the culture are fused together in a memorable embrace that will stay with you forever.”

The pair met in San Francisco back in 2001 and have travelled the globe, collecting the sounds that inspire their music and making their recording debut in 2007.

Nego grew up on the vibrant beaches of Rio De Janeiro and was immersed in the samba sounds that are part of everyday life.

Trained as a percussionist at the Villalobos Music Academy, he was pulled into the world of reggae and the rich Caribbean sounds.

Nego's love of reggae rhythms took him touring around four continents with the legendary outfit The Wailers.

DJ Mara comes from that hotbed of Californian Bass House culture and blends the fluid forces of roots and electronic sounds to deliver exquisite sets that have sent the dancefloor into a frenzy for over a decade.

Brazilbeat have played at Rhythm & Vines, Homegrown, Splore, Soundsplash, Cuba Street Carnival, HomeFest Samoa, and the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival.

The album Tropicalness captures all their experiences into one enticing journey.

Nego and Mara describe the music as “infectious, addictive, organic, melodic and uplifting with enough grunt to get the dancefloor up on its feet”.

As well as moving bodies to the beat, the pair wanted to draw the attention of the audience to the natural world with the album.

“We cannot wear the name ‘Brazil' without taking a stand on the events that are happening there.

“We have all seen reports on TV about the destruction of the Amazon.

“During the current government's rule, over 20,000 square kilometres of forest has been razed, a huge increase from previous administrations.

“With climate change in the forefront of global consciousness, focus on Brazil needs to be front and centre, with pressure put on the Brazilian government to show that the world does not condone what they are doing. The biodiversity crisis in Brazil affects us all.”

Tropicalness is in digital stores and on streaming platforms tomorrow.