Let's Go to Brazil
I'm serious. Let's all go. I went a few years back and haven't stopped talking about it. Kristin and I travelled to Rio de Janeiro (the beach! the music!) and a beautiful city called Ouro Preto (the history! the artisans!), but we went primarily to visit our friends Sam and Ryan, who showed us around their home of São Paulo.
On our first night in Brazil, Sam and Ryan took us to one of their favorite local spots with some of their friends, which is where I met Diego. We talked about music, and he gave me record store recommendations, and I think it's safe to say we were fast friends.
We stayed in touch and talk music sometimes. He's given me such gems, I figured we may as well formalize it with a mix of some of the best Brazilian tunes. Truly, this is some of my favorite music in the world, and I'm excited for you all to listen to this mix I barely had a hand in creating but had so much fun letting Diego lead the way.
And hey, if you like it, why not share the mix or this newsletter with a friend?
Brasil
Created in collaboration with Diego Villas Bôas for caipirinhas, beaches, and Bip Bip.
*Some songs aren't available on streaming in the US. Listen on Mixcloud for the full mix!*
A few words from Diego:
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Hi.
When Brady asked me if I would like to make a playlist with the best Brazilian songs, I immediately said: of course!
But then I asked myself how could I put together “the best Brazilian songs” in just 90 minutes. Worse... What are the best songs? That's so relative!
Anyway, trying to find a starting point, something that would make sense, I thought about where would I take Brady to listen, dance and have fun with some good classic Brazilian songs if he wre here in São Paulo. And places like Fatiado Discos (@fatiado_discos), PDD (@botecopratododia), Mundo Pensante (@mundopensante), NossaCasa Confraria (@nossacasa.vilamadalena) came to my mind. Some of the best dance floors in São Paulo for this style of music, in my opinion.
This playlist has some songs that could easily be played in one of my favorite clubs in SP. Hope you enjoy it. :)
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Love you all. Hope you enjoy!
Have a Caipirinha!
Join me with Brazil's national cocktail, the wonderful caipirinha!
It's the drink that adorns the cover art of the mixtape and the one that will adorn my bar while listening to this mixtape.
It's easy as hell to make and all you need are 4 things: limes, sugar, ice, cachaça. The last of these might be the toughest to source, but I believe in you.
If you're ever in Brazil, you won't want to drink anything else, nor should you. Might I recommend the maracuja caipirinha? Simply divine.
RIYL: rum, margarita but sweet, I don't know man maybe a nice cocktail while listening to the mixtape?
Check out this step by step video for making a great caipirinha.
Some Other Brazilian Music That Diego and I Love
(that you might love too!)
Brz Bonus - When Diego and I were putting together this mix, we briefly considered throwing in a bunch of modern songs with the classics we wound up with. He actually put together an entirely separate 90 minute playlist of modern Brazilian music that's just as incredible. You can and should check that out.
Los Indios Tabajares - Beautiful guitar music from a duo of Brazilian brothers who achieved international success in their career, which started in the 1940s.
Azymuth - A jazz funk trio that absolutely rules. I walked into one of the record stores Diego recommended in Rio and asked the guy working there for recommendations. He put this record on and I said yes in 15 seconds. It doesn't disappoint.
Jorge Mautner - This was one that we needed to trim from the final mix for time, but it's such an incredible song, and it deserves to have its moment.