So earlier this month, I accompanied Zuzuka Poderosa on her first West Coast Tour from Sacramento, to San Francisco, to San Jose and Los Angeles. Like two DIY reinas; we were on a super low budget, fighting the good fight, email signup sheet and CDs in hand, spreading the word about Zuzuka’s music.
I have to say – what a response. Check out this awesome MTV Iggy ‘Bands We Like’ piece that ran recently after the tour – couldn’t have said it better myself:
“Not only is she bringing her own brand of the hot Brazilian underground sound to the rest of the world, but from her international vantage point she operates like a provocatively rhyming hurricane, sucking up global riddims from ghettotech to dancehall and flinging them back out at gale-force speeds.”
Back to the tour. Zuzuka brought her specific brand of funk to the super community lovefest at Sol Collective in Sacramento {check out the fotos here, nevermind the strange article}…
Zuzuka Poderosa in Sacramento. Thank you Estella Sanchez {foto: Amanda Lopez}
…down to San Francisco – where we ate lots of Papalote {it was a taco/burrito-only trip with some In & Out thrown in the mix} and caught Los Rakas rock with Collie Buddz {who Zuzuka calls Calli Buddz} at The Independent, laughing backstage as the guys talked about how they thought Zuzuka Poderosa was a superhero when they heard her name (not that far off, you guys!)…
…then she literally ignited the dance party at ‘Tormenta Tropical’ @ Elbo Room in SF (opening up for kindred worldwide futurist spirit, Spoek Mathambo}…big ups to Kush Arora for the hospitality and DJ Righteous Trash for rocking on the 1s and 2s (also in LA)…
The crowd packed into Elbo Room for Zuzuka’s set and STAYED moving throughout the night – success!
…then she brought something fresh to what I’m told is a culturally thirsty San Jose – thank you Sound Clash Productions, TurboMex, Kool Kyle and System D-128 who rocked the pre-show video installation that blew my mind…
Thanks Duey!
…and then made it down to Los Angeles {holla at a scholar, Craigslist rideshare! did i mention DIY punk rock ethics?}, where she rocked the KCRW/Mad Decent Monday ‘it’s a school night‘ w/ Spoek, who she then did some recording with the next day in Echo Park…
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Zuzuka center stage in LA. Check out all the photos here.
PHEW! And that was it…Zu got back on the plane to NYC with all sorts of great energy, new fans and offers to return to California soon – mission accomplished.
2011 will be major, I predict – Zuzuka is involved in some groundbreaking projects to bring some of Rio’s Baile Funk pioneers stateside, more touring, getting together her debut album, and continuing to collaborate with amazing producers, all while fiercely rocking NYC like no other! STAY TUNED!
Check out this track she did with DJ Rekha {acclaimed Bhangra DJ who has thrown the infamous ‘Basement Bhangra’ night in NYC for over 10 years now} which will be featured on Rehka’s debut album. I can’t quite call it…INDO BA(i)LI(e) DANCEHALL CARIOCA BHANGRA BASS FUNK?!? Just listen.