zopelar: mensagem
Francisco Espregueira
Via the urban tropicalism of São Paulo and fresh off a pair of fire releases on Apron Records and Selva Discos, Zopelar presents his first LP on Soul Clap Records. Mensagem is a tribute to all the Brazilian OG DJs, collectors, and musicians that were responsible for spreading the funky music in the 70’s, laying the foundation for the sounds of today. In fact, funky is a simple, yet truthful way, of describing Mensagem. But the intricate compositions, the careful choice of sounds and the tension between sweet and acid progressions, cement Zopelar as one of Brazil’s most notable producers at the moment.
The melting pot of culture that is Brazil has seen its dance music morph into very distinct genres and sounds in the past fifty years, from underground techno to baile funk. The roots remained, though. Zopelar takes on those roots, creating a sound of his own. He combines classic drum machine rhythms with a modern approach to synths, chords, and melody, orchestrating a new vision of the music played in the old “Bailes”. Timely and timeless, this music is a message from the future to all the pioneers of the Brazilian sound. A resounding message that in Brazil and beyond, the funk is going to be alive forever. Available on vinyl, Mensagem is for the funky collectors.