A Tribute to Brazilian Music Traditions
Linear Labs: São Paulo is not just an album; it’s an homage to the revolutionary Brazilian musical movements of the 1960s and ’70s, notably the Música Popular Brasileira (MPB) and Tropicália eras. These genres emerged as cultural and political statements, blending traditional Brazilian music with contemporary global influences, especially jazz, funk, and psychedelia. Younge’s project draws deeply from these influences, creating an album that is both reverent to its roots and forward-looking.
Among the tracks is the single “Nossa Cor” ("Our Color"), a collaboration with Brazilian actress and singer Samantha Schmutz. The track exemplifies the album's ethos, merging the classic, heartfelt Brazilian ballad style with Younge’s lush, cinematic production. This single is a soulful love song that captures the vibrant sounds and cultural depth of São Paulo, punctuated by Younge’s intricate arrangements and Schmutz’s emotive vocals.
A Lineup of Global Talents
The eclectic lineup on Linear Labs: São Paulo brings together diverse voices and styles that complement the album’s Brazilian foundation. Each featured artist contributes their own cultural and musical perspective, making this album a unique meeting ground for different genres and traditions:
Snoop Dogg: The legendary West Coast rapper brings his smooth lyrical style to the mix, adding a hip-hop layer to the Brazilian rhythms and textures.
Liraz: A renowned Middle Eastern singer, Liraz’s haunting voice introduces Persian influences to the album, intertwining traditional sounds with Younge’s sophisticated production.
ALA.NI: Known for her evocative jazz vocals, London-based ALA.NI adds a layer of elegance and introspection, evoking the golden age of jazz vocalists while staying fresh and relevant.
Bilal: With a style rooted in Afro-futurism and neo-soul, Bilal brings a warm, rich texture to the project, resonating with Younge’s lush orchestration.
Lætitia Sadier: The collaboration with Stereolab’s Lætitia Sadier on a bonus track is a special inclusion that ties the album’s jazz and psychedelia influences with a European avant-garde sensibility, creating an unexpected but fitting bridge between cultures.
Production Mastery with Vintage Flair
A master of analog recording, Adrian Younge’s production style has long been revered for its vintage authenticity. For Linear Labs: São Paulo, he has carefully crafted each track to bring out the warmth and organic qualities of live instruments, using old-school recording techniques that are rarely seen in today’s digital-dominated industry. Every layer—from rhythm to melody to harmony—was meticulously produced to capture the raw, immersive sound of classic Brazilian albums.
Younge’s dedication to analog production also enhances the album’s sensory appeal. By using analog equipment, Younge captures the raw textures that were a staple in MPB and Tropicália, giving the album a tactile, lived-in feel. For Linear Labs: São Paulo, Younge leaned heavily into live percussion and strings, favoring real instruments over synthesized sounds. This commitment to authenticity extends to the album’s structure, with each track designed to flow into the next, creating a seamless listening experience that transports the listener through São Paulo’s sonic and cultural landscape.
A Deeply Personal Project
Younge has always been an artist who delves into the connections between music, identity, and culture. This project is particularly close to his heart as it represents his own journey of artistic discovery and homage to a city whose music has inspired his work over the years. São Paulo’s eclectic sounds and styles, rooted in African, Indigenous, and European influences, have informed many aspects of his compositions, making Linear Labs: São Paulo both a tribute and an exploration of new musical terrain.
Tracklist and Themes
Each song on the album serves as a chapter in a broader narrative about cultural exchange, love, and self-discovery. The album’s tracks follow a natural progression, where themes of love, revolution, identity, and unity intertwine. The Brazilian balladry of “Nossa Cor” is contrasted with the Middle Eastern mystique of Liraz’s contribution, the jazz sophistication of ALA.NI, and the soul-stirring performances from Bilal. The cumulative effect of these collaborations is an album that feels global in scope yet rooted in the spirit of São Paulo.
In crafting Linear Labs: São Paulo, Younge also weaves in themes of social justice and resilience. These themes resonate with the cultural roots of Brazilian music, which has historically been a voice for the marginalized and a call for social change. By uniting artists from different cultural backgrounds, Younge’s album underscores the universality of music as a unifying force, a sentiment that feels particularly relevant in today’s divisive times.
A New Landmark in Younge’s Career
Linear Labs: São Paulo solidifies Adrian Younge’s reputation as a visionary artist who refuses to be confined by genre. His ability to blend diverse musical traditions into a cohesive, sonically rich album speaks to his talent as a producer and his commitment to honoring the cultural significance of music. The album is a testament to Younge’s belief in music’s power to transcend boundaries, an idea that lies at the heart of Linear Labs: São Paulo.
A Celebration of Collaboration and Innovation
With Linear Labs: São Paulo, Adrian Younge has crafted a soulful, layered, and deeply immersive album that pays tribute to Brazilian music while pushing it into new, unexpected territories. Fans of Younge’s previous work will recognize his signature touch, but they will also discover something new: a deeper exploration of Brazilian sounds through a global lens, infused with Younge’s passion for analog production and his dedication to cross-cultural collaboration.
For jazz aficionados, soul lovers, and fans of global music alike, Linear Labs: São Paulo promises to be one of the most compelling albums of the year.
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