Tecnobrega - The religion of Soundmachines
Belem's suburbs are converting Amazonia to electronic music
Text & Photographs by Vincent Rosenblatt / Agencia Olhares
Light idols, lasers, fireworks, and DJs worshiped like international popstars. The machines they drive make tens of thousands of young Amazonians from the Brazilian state of Pará dance.
For decades, families of stallholders/fairground entertainers from Belem's suburbs have had their "aparelhagens" (equipments) built; these itinerant theme nightclubs are transported by truck from one side of the suburbs to the other, or by boat to other river cities East of the Amazonia, making couples of all ages to dance. All kinds of Brazilian and Caribbean rhythms are played, but it's the
Brega that rules. This music, romantic to perfection, enhanced with electric guitar and electronic keyboard solos is often condemned by the local elites, who perceives it as a musical under-style: in Portuguese, "brega" means tacky (....)
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