Taking
inspiration from the many Brazilian greats – Caetano Veloso, Arthur Verocai,
Ivan Lins, Joyce, Hermeto Pascoal, Marcos Valle and Azymuth (to name a few) –
who he has worked with as an engineer, assistant and producer, Ricardo Richaid
melds his tropical heritage with his love for psychedelic music, jazz and rock.
As well as
being heavily influenced by Brazil’s fabled Tropicalia movement, Richaid is the
grandson of Brazilian actor, singer and Disney star Aurora Miranda (Carmen Miranda’s
younger sister), so tropicalism is in his blood. Describing his sound as
‘Industrial Tropicalism’, Richaid’s music is undoubtedly a product of his
environment. Just like Rio, it’s warm, hazy and beautiful. But reflecting the
current mood of his homeland, there’s an ominous smog looming amongst its
charm. Lamenting the political, economic and ecological crisis he sees
engulfing Brazil, Richaid’s obscure, poetic lyrics touch on drugs, drones and
darkness, emphasizing the importance of art to bring light in troubled times.
The
unconventional time signatures and sunny jazz-folk meets post-punk aesthetic
are adorned by Richaid’s studio smarts. Working day to day in Rio’s top
studios, he developed a comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of the recording
process. But seeking autonomy and total creative independence, Richaid went on
an equipment finding mission in the USA. Upon returning, he set to work
building his own studio in Rio’s Gavea district and began writing the tracks
that would become Travesserio Feliz. Singlehandedly composing, producing and
mixing everything himself, Richaid recalls the endless nights he spent working
on the album, often sleeping on the studio floor.
Travisseiro
Feliz features a host of notable names from across Rio’s music spectrum,
including percussion sensation Marcos Suzano (Gilberto Gil), experimental pop
artist Ana Frango Eletrico, and vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Jose Ibarra,
who has been lauded for his recent performances as part of Milton Nascimento’s
touring group. On interlude track ‘Formigas’ we also hear a few verses of
Ricardo singing together with his 7-year-old daughter, Nina Richaid.
Living with
his grandmother Aurora Miranda until the age of seventeen (who featured in Walt
Disney’s Three Caballeros film, and happens to be the first human being to kiss
Donald Duck… really!), young Ricardo would listen with intrigue to his father
playing chromatic scales and bossa nova melodies on the saxophone; his mother’s
Brazilian classical piano; or his punk rock brother slamming the drums. This
eclectic musical upbringing led a teenage Ricardo to learning his trade as the
bassist in a short-lived hard rock band, which disbanded when Ricardo began to
dig deeper discovering the likes of Os Mutantes, King Crimson, Frank Zappa and
especially the ‘Clube De Esquina’ sound pioneered by Milton Nascimento and Lo
Borges. Since then, alongside engineering some of his musical heroes in Brazil,
Richaid has played in bands like Mara Rúbia and nitú, from Rio’s underground
experimental psych and jazz scenes.
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