No this is an advertisement for a pornography. Brazilian Girls was a 4-piece NYC based band, focusing in Latin, Lounge, Bossa-Nova, Funk and Electronic Dance Music backed by an amazing enigmatic vocalist, Sabina Sciubba. Founded in 2003, Brazilian Girls had 3 major releases on Verve Records: their self-titled debut in 2005, 2006's Talk To La Bomb, and 2008's New York City. Personally I tend to ignore their most recent release as it was wildly disappointing, terribly experimental, and, for undisclosed reasons, the band parted from their bassist, Jesse Murphy, a questionable decision at best for a band who was well known for their awesome danceable rhythms.
My first exposure to this band came in 2006 at the Langerado Music Festival at Markham Park, in Sunrise, Florida near Ft. Lauderdale. The acts I was most excited to see were The Flaming Lips, RJD2, Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, and Robert Randolph & Family Band. Due to the poor planning for this festival, I was unable to return to my campsite midday to rehydrate. Desperately seeking refuge from exposure to the hot, Florida sun, I made my way to the dance tent. As I neared, I was able to clearly discern the music emerging from the tent amidst the confusing sonic medley you typically experience at a festival where many artist are performing simultaneously, side by side. Immediately, the pain of my sunburn subsided, and I was no longer seeking refuge, but rather being drawn by the Siren Sabina's beautiful vocals, and the eerie melody of the music. When I entered the tent, I found this (Forgive the quality). It was a kind of music I had never heard before, and it was incredible. I would certainly credit this band, and this particular experience with forging my interest and passion for live music, particularly electronic dance music. Since Langerado, I had the opportunity to see Brazilian Girls perform live twice in New York City, once in Boston, and once in Berlin, where I was pulled up on stage, and had a memorable, romantic (at least in my mind) moment with the lead singer.
As things inevitably do, their music changed drastically, and, after the brief departure of their bassist in 2008, the pregnancy of their lead singer in 2009, the band officially disbanded in January of 2011. It would be nice to say that they went out with a bang, or never passed their prime, as they certainly missed the mark on the latter by several years. However at the very least, they left us with songs like Pussy, which like the band, were warm, exciting, bold and dirty. A nice reminder, like today, that summer is just around the corner.
*Image Courtesy of Verve Records
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