“Versão Brasileira I” brings Belô Velloso's beat mix back to the market

Singer/Songwriter’s latest work gives Brazilian audience a taste of what she's been doing abroad these past few years.

Traditional and contemporary. They seem to be two opposite extremes, but singer/songwriter Belô Velloso brings them together in her most recent work, which will reach the stores in October. Her commitment to the present time made her choose to release an EP (Extended Play), because it allows for a certain number of tracks, as opposed to a single. However, it's still far from a conventional multiple-track album.

This format is a current trend in the music industry, because it's not attached to a concept or any unique idea. Besides, it allows listeners to enjoy the available tracks over and over again. This alternative also seems to be consistent with our fast-paced reality, when the concept of art itself becomes so fleeting. Additionally, from the consumer's perspective, EPs are the less expensive “hard-copy” alternative available at stores. There's another novel aspect to this six-track album. “Versão Brasileira I” is the first of a three-set piece. Volume II will be released in 2010.

Another unique aspect of this work is the fact that it reveals Belô Velloso as a producer. She's now one of the partners at BMGV MUSIC and owns her own record label. Her main focus with this project is to develop new career paths inside BMGV, which is responsible for the current title. “Versão Brasileira I” is also going to be available for download and listeners will be able to select the individual songs they wish to buy. On the release date, whoever has a Nokia XPress Music cell phone will also be able to download the six songs included on the EP. MP3 versions format will be exclusively sold at UOL Megastore, a mainstream site that addresses the digital market demand.

This sales strategy shows that Belô Velloso is up to date with web technologies. Since 1998, she's been using the internet to reach out to her fans and promote her work. Samba roots – The traditional aspect of “Versão Brasileira I” comes from its conservative sound. Samba songs take Belô Velloso back to her birthplace, the mythical Bahia environs. Her first musical influences come from that fertile surrounding, where the Brazilian samba itself was born. Her “return to the origins” reveals an unorthodox combination of two well-known Bahia rhythms: Afoxé and Ijexá. “Povo de fé” and “Dois do dois” are two good examples of this musical melting pot, with a remarkable rhytmic section and sequencing of different beats.

With “Desejo” and “Mangueira”, Belô Velloso gives us a mix of strongly-accented samba, shedding light on a culture situated between Rio de Janeiro and Bahia. “Pelas águas” uses the ocean once again as the main constant source of inspiration, following on the footsteps of the old master Caymmi, with a smoother inflection, and lyrics and harmony that suggest a hypnotic timing. The title track “Versão Brasileira” pays tribute to the Brazilian spirit, not only with the lyrics, but also with the polyrhythm that evokes all flavors and colors of our national musicality. An appropriate nod to Ary Barroso is heard in the brass section, and in some elements of Luciano Calazans’ arrangement.

Belô Velloso's recurrent partner, Calazans took the arrangement upon himself, imposing rhythm patterns without deconstructing the very origins of each style covered by “Versão Brasileira.” At the same time, the musician created a musical pattern that is now a kind of his own identifiable personal signature. The product of this musical withdrawal may sound timeless to fans who have been following Belô Velloso's career, which already spans six albums. However, her most current work is consistent with what the audience abroad is used to listening to these past five years, period during which the artist dedicated herself to the international scene.

Bringing more contrast between the past and the present, the traditional and the contemporary, Part I of the “Versão Brasileira” trilogy also has a bonus track. Looking for a challenge, Belô revisits “Back to black”, originally recorded by the R&B inspired revolutionary Amy Winehouse.
http://www.belovelloso.com.br/release.htm