Céu

São Paulo (Brazil) born singer songwriter Céu (Maria do Céu Whitaker Poças) is the epitome of malemolência, a beautiful and sexy 25 year old singer with a sophisticated, multi-layered sound. CéU is about innocence, beauty, putting a little rhythm and happiness into life, taking it easy, sunshine and, above all, malemolência. With her first album launching late summer in the UK, CéU presents a modern, innovative and internationally appealing take on samba, at the meeting point between global urban sounds and the Afro-Brazilian tradition. When CéU formed her band she was looking for young, fresh musicians from different musical backgrounds. She ended up selecting a group of musicians whose average age was just twenty-five. However their age is no reflection on the enormous combined talent of the group, whose charisma, energy and musical maturity is a perfect fit with CéUs exposition of Malemolência.

Their influences range from Fela Kuti to Miles Davis, from The Roots to Massive Attack, from M'shell Ndogeocello to Portishead, as well as Brazilian composers such as Tom Jobim, Baden-Powell, Egberto Gismonti among others.

From what I'vre heard of her work, she epitomizes what I love about music, the fusion of rhythms. For some reason I feel more in touch with my feelings as a citizen of the world. It takes us one step closer to being in harmony with one another. If we were like music, so that almost all cultures could coexist in one harmonious place...well... I'll stop the cheesiness here, and just enjoy Ceu's music. But also be sure to check out Chambao, and maybe a little bit of Ojos de Brujo. I'm sure that if you enjoy musical fusion, you'll enjoy these artists. By the way... Ceu means Sky in Portuguese.

Sources: Aurgasm, Last FM