Brazilian rhythms have been a hit abroad for quite some time. Those living outside Brazil know how much foreigners love our music. So much so that many artists, whether in the Americas or Europe, end up being influenced and even incorporate some Brazilian style into their work.
This is the case of Zuco103, a Dutch musical group that was so influenced by Brazilian rhythms that it ended up creating its own style, Brazilectro, a mix of electronic music with Brazilian rhythms.
However, in Zuco103, the influence of Brazilian music came from within the group itself. The co-founder and vocalist of the band is Lilian Vieira, a native of Teresópolis, a mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro, who moved to the Netherlands at 23 and, during her studies at the Rotterdam conservatory of music, met the colleagues who later invited her to form a group, initially called Rec.a. The trio, formed by keyboardist Stefan Schmid and drummer Stefan Kruger, began working together, exploring mainly the musical repertoire of Lilian’s homeland.
“We are a stubborn group. We chose a path that is not the easiest, but rather the one that brings more pleasure. It’s doing what we love. And when you live abroad for so many years, you become more Brazilian than ever,” says Lilian referring to the group’s musical style.
“We mixed drum and bass, electronic rhythm, with Brazilian music, mainly maracatu. And it worked. Stefan (the keyboardist) said it was electric Brazilian music,” the vocalist recounts.
The free fusion of Brazilian music, electronic, funk, and jazz has acclaimed them as pioneers of Brazilectro, a name created by the keyboardist to describe the band’s sound. He ended up creating a concept that became internationally known.
They released their first album in 2000, and their first full album in 2006, “Whaa!”, which reached the 11th position on the Billboard World Music charts in the United States. An article about the group in Billboard was what they needed to truly take off.
“After Billboard wrote an article about the band, doors opened not only in Europe but all over the world. We played in Japan, Africa, always at various events and festivals. In the United States, we played once at SOB’s in New York,” Lilian recalls.
The vocalist is also the author of all the lyrics of Zuco 103, which she sings in Portuguese. The lyrical content is handled by the rest of the band, which today includes, in addition to the keyboardist and drummer, a guitarist, percussionist, and bassist.
Telenova, the ninth album
Zuco 103 has just released its ninth album, “Telenova”. Although the group is considered a veteran given the more than two decades of playing together and the long discography, this new album is, according to Lilian, almost a new beginning.
“Telenova is a product of the pandemic. We worked together virtually, and when we could meet again, we recorded. It took us two years to record this album. I didn’t imagine it would come out,” she shares.
The Covid-19 pandemic gave the band a moment to take a break from their busy touring schedule and return to basics. The result is a collection of intimate songs, funk, and Brazilian and Afro-Cuban grooves. “A reflection, a reaction to everything we lived through,” emphasizes Lilian, praising the group’s natural chemistry and their ability to reinvent themselves and seek new musical adventures.
Zuco 103 is just starting the tour for “Telenova”, which was officially released in April. For now, a stop in the United States is not on the schedule.
“I don’t know what’s happening with this album, but we are reaching many places. Returning to New York is a dream,” Lilian concludes.
To learn more about Zuco 103 and the group’s latest album, visit the website: https://zuco103.com or Instagram @zuco103music.