January 17, 2023 - - Brazilian singer-songwriter and guitarist Rogê has shared “Mistério da Raça,” the latest preview of his forthcoming album. Curyman will be released March 3 (Diamond West Records via Secretly Distribution) and was recently deemed a “modern Brazilian masterpiece” by Gilles Peterson. Amidst the sun-kissed strums of Rogê’s guitar, orchestration from collaborator and cult legend Arthur Verocai brings the samba of “Mistério da Raça” into an unexpected territory of cinematic funk.
"Mistério da Raça" was originally written by Luiz Melodia, widely considered one of Brazil’s most important musicians. Says Roge, “Like the song says, ‘light is life,’ and Melodia is still with us through his eternal vibration.” Listen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOQOj7UKI3Y
https://diamondwest.lnk.to/misterio_da_raca
Curyman was created with kismet collaborator Thomas Brenneck of Menahan Street Band fame and the go-to producer for Mark Ronson, Jay-Z, Yebba, Sharon Jones, Beyonce and many more. The very first night that Rogê and Brenneck met they had demoed an album’s worth of songs. Brenneck says that he was floored by Rogê’s charisma and the emotion that pours out of his songs and guitar playing.
After tracking Curyman in Los Angeles, they flew to Rio to record with Verocai at the historic Cia Dos Técnicos Studio. The sessions and weight of the session nearly brought Rogê and Brenneck to tears. Verocai is famous for his 1972 debut album, under-appreciated for decades before becoming legendary in record collector circles, and sampled extensively by MF Doom, Madlib, Ludacris, Cut Chemist and many others. The album also features BadBadNotGood’s Chester Hansen on bass, whistler Molly Lewis, and keyboardist Victor Axelrod.
Rogê has been on the verge of an international breakthrough since the 2020 release of Night Dreamer Direct-To-Disc Sessions, recorded with Seu Jorge and featured in the NY Times, WSJ, the New Yorker. He was just profiled by the LA Times, appeared on WNYC Soundcheck, and performed at the Hollywood Bowl in August. He also just completed a series of dates across the U.S. with The Budos Band and will perform in Brazil with new collaborator Jack Johnson on January 18 in São Paulo and 20 in Rio De Janeiro.
Today’s announcement follows the release of “Existe Uma Voz”, a swanky ode to the self, tinged with psychedelic flourishes and worldly wisdom, as well as “Pra Vida”, which was described by KUTX as “channeling Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66 with sandy acoustic guitar and breezy group vocals… an experience that’ll have you reinvesting in the magic of life.”
Pre-order here: https://DiamondWest.lnk.to/curyman
CURYMAN TRACKLIST
1. Pra Vida
2.Nação Yupi
3.Eu Gosta Dela
4.Câmara
5.Retumber Do Meu Tambor
6.Mistéria Da Raça
7.Existe Uma Voz
8.Se Eu For Falar Da Amor
9.Grita Do Natureza
10.Yemanjá
11.Curyman
Rogê On Tour
January 18 - Espaço Unimed, São Paulo, Brazil *
January 20 - Qualistage, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil *
*Support for Jack Johnson
For more information on Rogê, please contact
Chris Taillie (ctaillie@shorefire.com) or
Ailie Orzak (aorzak@shorefire.com) at Shore Fire Media