51 / 140
funk and jazz. In many ways, Brazil is a cousin
to the Caribbean region. While there may be
a difference in spoken language, both share
an ethnic diversity and a passion for football,
carnivals and especially percussion drivenmusic.
Percussion is at the heart of Brazilian music and
to experience cities like Rio, Sao Paolo or Recife
is to understand how entrenched music is to the
lives of Brazilians.
Lazabeam adds that “performing in Brazil as a
Caribbean musician felt, in a certain sense, like
a pilgrimage to the source of one of the world’s
greatest drum cultures. What was most striking
is that, even in its most contemporary forms,
Brazilian music always incorporates a strong
element of their traditional drum culture.
Whether it is samba, pagode, samba reggae or
even Brazilian hip hop and dance music, one can
almost always find a drum section at the front of
the stage alongside the singers. This is the same
for their recorded music.”
A rapidly changingmusic industry in a globalised
word means that it isn’t easy to chart a road to
success. Musical acts from the CARIFORUM
countries have traditionally been drawn to
our North American neighbours and Europe,
because those are the markets recognised as “star
makers”, where a little known Caribbean act
such as Bob Marley or Buena Vista Social Club
can achieve recognition and worldwide fame.
Additionally, these markets are the location of
the Caribbean diaspora who clamour to the
stars of their homelands, usually during specific
periods of the year such as carnivals or national
days. Most musicians do not understand the
potential of breaking into or how to penetrate
South America, especially Portuguese-speaking
Brazil. It’s useful then to understand a little
bit about Brazil and the prospects it holds for
emerging and established musical acts.
The largest and most populous country within
South America, Brazil was founded in 1822 as
a monarchy, and achieved its current republican
status in 1889. Over 204 million people call
Brazil home, making it the second largest
demographic market in theWesternHemisphere
after the US.
Quick Facts
Size: 3,265,059 sq mi
Pop: 204,716,890
Capital: Brasilia
Monetary Unit: Real
Conversion rate: R3.49 to US$1
Main Economic Activity: Agriculture 8%,
Industry 22%, Services 70%
Source: CIA World Factbook 2015
initiative called “Bass Culture Clash.” One of the
most talked about acts to emerge from Trinidad
and Tobago’s recent romance with electronic
music, Jus Now are known for their UKhit dance
single, “TunUp”, as well as producing andworking
on tracks for the likes of Bunji Garlin, Machel
Montano and Beenie Man.
On being a Caribbean act performing in Brazil,
Lazabeamsays, “althoughBrazilianhistoryweighs
more heavily on the Portuguese side, they carry
very strongAfrican roots, which are sharedwithmy
musical roots in Trinidad. In Brazil ‘Candomble’
is very similar to the ‘Orisha’ traditions and
rhythms we have in Trinidad and Tobago, and as a
drummer I found it quite a study in contrast and
comparison.”
Brazilian music, or Música popular brasileira,
is quite diverse. Some of the main traditional
styles include: samba, pagode, forró, bossa nova,
jovem guarda, batacuda and axe. These are
joined by many new styles such as technobrega
and baile funk which merge more traditional
styles with modern influences like electronica,
TRADE & EXPORT HOT SPOTS
www.carib-export.com49