Having made her mark
on Brazil’s rich musical legacy with three best-selling albums to date, Rio’s
original nu-bossa queen returns with a tour de force of golden-era Brazilian
soul music. From the spiritual swing of the early pioneers of modern Samba, to
the dizzying hedonism of Brazil’s eighties disco/boogie craze, Clareia is a
life-affirming journey through the rich and varied sounds Sabrina Malheiros has
been immersed in since she can remember. For her most up-lifting and danceable
album to date, Sabrina has (as always) enlisted her father Alex Malheiros -
bassist of samba jazz-funk legends Azymuth – and visionary London based
producer Daniel Maunick (aka Dokta Venom), son of Incognito’s Jean-Paul 'Bluey'
Maunick.
Sabrina Malheiros’ career has often been characterised by
her place in the succession of those special Brazilian women who, with
unmistakable talent and effortless grace, have encapsulated the magical energy
of Brazil with their voices. “Elis Regina, Astrud Gilberto, and Joyce all had
it, and Sabrina Malheiros has it in spades.”(MOJO) With her debut album Equilibria
in 2005, Sabrina arrived on a wave of instant acclaim, carving out her place as
the pioneering voice of a new brand of Brazilian soul music, rooted in the
traditions of samba and bossa, but with an edge of contemporary electronic
sophistication. Sabrina’s innovative nu-bossa sound would continue with the
2006 remix album Vibrasons followed by sophomore New Morning – declared the
“best album of summer 2008”(Evening Standard), before 2011’s best-seller
Dreaming.
Six years on, Sabrina returns with Clareia. “It means to
clear, light, brighten or illuminate, which, after seeing Brazil and the rest
of the world go through some very difficult times, is exactly what the writing
of this album brought to my life.” All tracks are written by either Sabrina, or
in collaboration with her father Alex Malheiros and producer Daniel Maunick.
Written and recorded in Niteroi, Brazil, overlooking Gunabara Bay and Rio’s
beaches, mountains and forests, the music basks in its surroundings and sings
of ecological beauty, peace and sanctuary. Echoing Sabrina’s emphasis on
clarity, Alex notes that “the album’s title represents an appeal to the minds
of our civilization today, to clear our thoughts for good and for peace.”
This pursuit of clarity continued into the studio: “It took a
little longer than usual” notes Sabrina, “which was good in way, as all my
previous albums were recorded in rush and we usually had a week for
pre-production and another week in the studio, which always gave me the feeling
that I could do better. With this album it was different… we took our time.”
Set for release at the height of summer this year, Clareia
is an inter-generational masterclass of Brazil's soulful spectrum, led by a
pioneering voice of today’s scene on the very top of her game. The up-lifting
compositions, which take inspiration from the stunning natural beauty amongst
which the album was made, and the call for the clarity of mind needed to
preserve it, are enriched by this special team of some of Brazil’s most
established musicians. Like the sun breaking through tropical storm-clouds,
Clareia is a vessel of joy, as Sabrina puts it simply, “I hope Clareia
brightens the soul of whoever listens to it. That's the spirit of this album.”
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