zopelar: ritmo freak
Francisco Espregueira
São Paulo's Zopelar is back on Tartelet Records with Ritmo Freak, an electrifying album brimming with 90s electro and acid flair. This eight-track record takes cues from his 2022 release Charme but pushes the energy towards the dance floor with a focus on 12-bit sampling and a lo-fi aesthetic. Drawing inspiration from a pivotal live set, Zopelar masterfully wrangles his extensive record collection into a high-octane journey through house, techno, and electro funk.
The seeds of Ritmo Freak were sown during a momentous live set at the 2023 Não Existe festival in São Paulo. Captivated by the electric atmosphere, Zopelar crafted the album around a specific production method – meticulously chopping up samples from his vast record collection using a 12-bit sampler. This approach, coupled with his background as a trained pianist, forced Zopelar to work within creative constraints, weaving soulful melodies from these short, lo-fi snippets. The result? An unmistakable old-school flavor infused into driving house, techno, and electro funk rhythms. A veteran of countless São Paulo warehouse parties, Zopelar's passion for club culture is deeply ingrained in his sound. Throughout his career, his diverse catalog – spanning jazz, funk, acid, and techno – has found homes on respected labels like Apron, Selva Discos, and Mother Tongue. This dedication to the roots of groove shines through on Ritmo Freak, making it a record that's as informed by history as it is infectious on the dance floor. Available on vinyl, courtesy of Tartelet Records.
“This album is dedicated to freaky club culture. While I was playing at the festival there was a crazy tropical storm outside and the room was packed with the freakiest crowd. I’ve tried hard to immortalize that feeling on this record.”