Zé Nigro – Gorjeios (feat. Arthur Verocai) / Trincheira (feat. Saulo Duarte)
The first taste of São Paulo artist Zé Nigro‘s forthcoming album ‘Silêncio’ (released October 17th on New York‘s NuBlu Records), we’re excited to present the double single pacckage of ‘Gorjeios’ (feat. Arthur Verocai) and ‘Trincheira’ (feat. Saulo Duarte) (Release Date: September 20th, 2024).
First up, with a hypnotic blend of Brazilian rhythms and dreamy melodies, ‘Gorjeios’ transports listeners to a lush sonic landscape. Zé Nigro’s ethereal vocals intertwine seamlessly with Arthur Verocai’s instrumental magic, creating a captivating musical journey.
“Gorjeios was chosen for its greatness in both music and poetry. The song has an aesthetic reminiscent of music from Minas Gerais in the 1970s, both in terms of instrumentation and mixing and in terms of the melody and harmony of the composition, which makes it reverberate in another time but also points to the future with the blending of the orchestra and synthesizers”.
says Nigro
The new single is a revamped version of the track released in 2021 on the album Apocalip Se, which marked the debut of the producer’s authorial musical career. Nigro is a two-time Latin Grammy winner, with albums by Liniker (2022) and João Donato (2023).
The collaboration with Arthur Verocai gave shape to a long-standing admiration.
“When I first encountered Verocai’s work, I was completely mesmerized. His arrangements are featured in the most incredible songs of Brazilian Popular Music. So, as soon as I met him in person at a recording session in 2021, I was overwhelmed by hearing his arrangement played by an impeccable orchestra. From then on, we started exchanging ideas about the arrangement of ‘Gorjeios’. As soon as I sent him the song and asked if he liked it, he commented that it sounded like his own music, which made me feel honored, coming from an iconic MPB maestro. When I heard the arrangement played by the orchestra for the first time, it was a unique sensation – I almost fell off my chair.”
recalls Zé
Gorjeios was composed in mid-2018, after Nigro spent a week in Bahia at a lodge in the middle of the forest.
“I always woke up at 4 a.m. to the sound of a variety of birdsongs, and I kept thinking ‘what are these birds saying? Do they even think about us?’”.
The artist then composed the instrumental part with his guitar and sent it to the poet Eveline Sin suggesting this theme, and she responded years later, at the time of the recording of Apocalip Se. The song was formed in several movements, also bringing together pianist and partner Dustan Gallas, with a new arrangement featuring more than 20 musicians, taking the new version to another level of interpretation.
“I think the voice is an instrument, a fascinating harmonic instrument”.
As for the construction of the melodies, Nigro reflects:
In addition to producing for numerous well-known artists, such as Russo Passapusso, Francisco el Hombre, Curumin, and Anelis Assumpção, on albums that have marked the history of independent Brazilian music, Zé Nigro has used his role as a singer as a long experiment in self-knowledge.
Second single ‘Trincheira’ sees Zé Nigro collaborating with Saulo Duarte, as the pair effortlessly blend reggae, funk, and rock with the rich rhythms of the Amazon. Reminiscent of trip-hop groups like Zero 7 and Tricky, the Amazonian rhythms and a horn section are less moody, but retain a ‘great rainy day music’ feel. ‘Trincheira’ invites listeners to explore new possibilities of existence, feeling, and living with dignity. Saulo Duarte‘s guitar playing is rooted in the Country-style picking of ‘guitarrada’ music from the north of Brazil. But Saulo is now living in São Paulo, the nation’s commercial hub, and with his more international sound, has become one of Brazil’s most in-demand musicians.
Zé Nigro’s second solo album, titled Silêncio, features notable guests including Arthur Verocai, Souto MC, Saulo Duarte, and Russo Passapusso, and is set for release on October 17th.