Ana Clara Ribeiro

2 months ago | popmatters.com | Ana Clara Ribeiro

History tends to repeat itself when it comes to music genres being disrupted by technology. Be it for the replacement of real musicians for machines or the simplification of the sound, the “electronic” version of music genres often faces resistance and prejudice. The narrative was no different with Brazil’s beloved forró, the genre born in the country’s Northeastern backlands whose instrumentals are marked by the combination of accordion, zabumba, and triangle.

2 months ago | popmatters.com | Ana Clara Ribeiro

DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS Rimas While a bit semantically vague and increasingly emptied by fandoms eager to elevate their idols, the expression “” is often used in social media and online communities to describe an entertainment product’s massive impact on people and culture. If you need a reference of what a “cultural moment” is, think of (or get to know) the phenomenon Bad Bunny created with albums like Un Verano Sin Ti (2022).

Dec 18, 2024 | popmatters.com | Ana Clara Ribeiro

Pop music is a mirror of its time. In Brazil, it’s hard not to connect the best music released in 2024 with the themes that dominated politics, culture, and social media discussions throughout the year. This was the year when Black Consciousness Day became a holiday across all Brazilian states, and pop music played the same tune. Many of 2024’s finest albums celebrated Black culture and ancestry, weaving stories of pride and joy into the soundscape of contemporary Brazil.

Sep 19, 2024 | popmatters.com | Ana Clara Ribeiro

Tecnobrega is the most exuberant breed of the brega genre and has become a symbol of the State of Pará in the Amazonian region of Brazil. In 2024, it is also making waves outside the borders of Northern Brazil through pop hits like Pabllo Vittar’s “Ai Ai Ai” and getting recognition from the global scene of electronic dance music, such as London-based project Boiler Room.

Aug 15, 2024 | popmatters.com | Ana Clara Ribeiro

Funk GenerationRepublic / Universal Music LatinBrazilian funk always makes its way toward foreign audiences in organic, unplanned, surprising ways. It’s seen in the TikTok trends of “Tubarão te amo” and “Parado no Bailão” during the FIFA World Cup 2022, the unexpected success of Bibi Perigosa in East Europe, the use of Brazilian funk samples by artists like Kanye West and DJs like Bjork, and in collaborations of Brazilian funk artists with Drake and Karol G.