For Brazilian singer Silva, an entire planet is behind his third full-length album, Jupiter (Six Degrees Records). A dreamy collection of pop songs inspired by bossa nova, R&B, electronica and hip-hop, the 27-year-old from Espírito Santo in Southeastern Brazil has dedicated this record of love songs to his favorite bright spot in the sky. The album is set for release in the US on March 11, 2016.
"Jupiter has been a fascinating planet to me since I was a kid," he says. "Jupiter is also the name of one of my favorite Mozart symphony, and it is my ruling planet in Chinese Astrology."
His previous albums, Claridão and Vista Pro Mar (Ocean View) have hit big across his homeland and overseas. Vista Pro Mar was heralded by iTunes Brazil as the Best Album of 2014, and covered in Culture Collide and Impose Magazine. His 2014 EP Janeiro saw reworks from Teen Daze, Cosmic Kids, and Marbeya Sound.
Jupiter builds on the experimental, beat-driven pop constructions present in his previous works, and doesn't shy away from more ambient, ethereal soundscapes. A curiosity permeates the smooth textures and minimal treatments of these eleven tracks, resulting in his most spacious, intricate album yet.
"I got tired of thousands of layers on every song, so I challenged myself to take a more minimalist approach," he says. "As I play most instruments on the album, creating layers is easier than choosing the right elements on a track. It was hard work but it was also more rewarding than ever before."
Silva was named Best Singer in 2013 by APCA/São Paulo Association of Critics of Art, and has performed at Brazil's top festivals, including Sonar São Paulo, Lollapalooza, Rock in Rio Lisbon and Mexefest. Silva has also produced a track for Tropicália legend Tom Zé, collaborated with funky rocker Lulu Santos, and toured with one of his nation's biggest divas, Gal Costa.
The opening track, "Jupiter," explains the astrological concept of his album, a sort of love song to the galaxy. Silva pulls from his favorite soul artists, such as Brazilian singers Tim Maia and Cassiano and American R&B singer D'Angelo. The upbeat piano riff and punchy rhythm is tempered by a tasteful electric guitar, with Silva's vocals effortlessly floating above the mix.
While initially trained on violin, Silva has been tinkering with various instruments since he began practicing at five. He flips an effervescent piano sample into a bass-heavy 808 on "Sufuco," a track he wrote on an airplane. As tribute to his songwriting process, he left the background noise of this danceable track in the mix.
While inspiration might strike anywhere for Silva, he writes and arranges most songs while his brother Lucas pens the lyrics. For eleven years he's been working with his poetic kin. A focus on words stands out on the ballad, "Eu sempre quis."
"Brazilian music in the nineties was very influenced by Miami Bass," he says. "The sound of the 808 became very popular. The rhythm on 'Deixa eu te falar' is a tribute to this sound. The song was created with 808 and acoustic piano."
While Silva pulls from everywhere, his soul is Brazilian. Artists like Luiz Bonfá, João Gilberto, João Donato, and Azimuth were crucial to his upbringing, while the duo Telebossa is one of his current favorites. His acoustic skills are abundantly clear, however his love of Brazilian funk shines through on "Deixa eu te falar."
Perhaps the most interesting song on
Jupiter is "Marina," a cover of famed Brazilian singer, actor, and painter Dorival "Dori" Caymmi. The cover is cosmic and quirky, and delicately textured. A classic in the pantheon of his culture's music, Silva joins a collective of rising Latin American artists who infuse these important works with modernity and digital production and introduce them to a new, younger audience.
"Marina was a very important song to my family. My grandfather was a huge fan of Dorival Caymmi. He used to sing it loudly in his house; I loved it. So I tried to bring 'Marina' to 'my world.'"
With years of touring behind him, Silva is set to hit the road for his Six Degrees beauty, Jupiter, this summer.
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