A Chat with Rossano Snel, and a Gift From Damin Suarez of GWYM

Hello readers!  2009 has been a fun and eventful year, but it is soon coming to a close.  As our gift to you, we’re going to grant you a little holiday present for being such loyal fans.  You’ll find it at the end of the blog – but first we need to check in with Rossano Snel, who took the time out to answer a few questions for us.

OC:    What’s your favorite song on “Landscape”?

RS:    My favorite song is Her Dance. The inspiration came from my girlfriend, with whom I discuss many aspects of my creative process.

OC:    Tell us about “Tumpah”.  It’s quite distinctive compared to your other songs.

RS:    It really has a special meaning to me. In certain ways, it represents the point where I have turned the ideas created with the piano into a composing and production process driven through machines.

OC:    Do you utilize social networking sites like Twitter?

RS:    I do use Twitter a lot. I try to [use it mostly to share] music and news about my work and career. This way I give the people interested in my music and my fans a connection with me, and with themselves too.

We know you’re dying for even more new songs from Rossi, so we’ve asked Santa to bring a new EP.  If you’ve been a good boy or girl, he might just grant your wish in 2010.  In the meantime, follow him listen to the stream of Rossano’s “Gallery” EP here and follow him on Twitter!

Speaking of Santa, he’s brought a gift early, this time from Go West Young Man.  FYI to those of you in the California area, GWYM will be playing January 12th at the Bootleg Theatre in LA’s Echo Park with Seven Saturdays and the Parson Redheads…for only 8 bucks!  Anthony Cava of Pollyn will be on bass.  If you’re in the area, don’t miss it.

Also, Go West’s song “Hard Times” was recently placed on FX’s “The League” and you’ll hear “The Covinas” on the January 8th episode of the Ghost Whisperer.  Nice!

So what else?  Oh yeah – your gift!  Damin recorded a new song called "Sailboat" on his iphone!  Check it out here.  It sounds a bit like Sean Lennon and James Mercer of the Shins sat down in a coffee house and taped an acoustic ballad.  It’s great stuff, so go listen…right now!

Happy Holidays from the One Cell staff to all of you!

New Year’s Resolution? Buy “Baptista Virou Máquina”

Hello once again, One Cell fans! Last time we felt bad giving you only a tiny taste of the new Burro Morto album, “Baptista Virou Máquina” – we promise to aptly quench your thirst for the grooviest Dead Donkeys in the world in January 2010 – when you’ll be able to purchase this fine album for your very own self. We think you’re really going to enjoy the new record – which is actually considered a concept album (more on that later).

By the time BVM comes around, it will have been only a scant year since their first full-length release entitled “Varadouro”. In that short period of time, Burro Morto has grown more focused and refined their musical vision, creating a polished sound to their jams. We spoke to Burro’s guitarist Leo Marinho who had this to say about how the band has grown in the past year.

"The process of producing this album was totally different than Varadouro’s. Our first work was basically the result of jam sessions – the only conception was to mix afro-funk grooves with our psychedelic-rock influences. Also, at that time, the band was made up of eight musicians, and along the past year the group was reduced to the fixed formation of a quintet. We did almost all of our gigs that way, and playing together brought us a lot of experience and confidence.

“So, at the recording of this new album the band was more mature, and we went further than that conception of ‘afro-funk-rock’. This time we have created a storyline, a kind of ‘novel’ about this character ‘Baptista’, and the music is all related to that theme. We explored new sounds, different kinds of percussion – vintage organs and synthesizers – and there are more rock elements than before.”

Need some more up-close-and-personal time with the group? We’ve got good news for you. Burro Morto is going to be dedicating 2010 to touring and promoting the new album, and they’ll be playing shows all across Brazil. And don’t forget, they’ll be making more of their distinctive music videos for each song on the album – which is awesome news for those who can’t get enough Burro.

Want to get up close with Burro, World Wide Web-style? They’re quite active on Twitter, so follow them there!

While you wait for the album, head over the One Cell Records site to listen to the live stream of Varadouro - or re-watch this great Soma interview with the guys from last year.



Burro Morto’s gone all out for you. So why don’t you get into “Baptista Virou Máquina”?

Need to traduzir esta página? Click here for google’s translation of this blog in Portuguese.

Kiko Dinucci Update and a Peek at New Burro Morto

Hello again, One Cell fans! It’s time now to find out what Kiko Dinucci has been doing – and then later, get a sneak peek at Burro Morto’s new album “Baptista Virou Máquina”. So get settled…there’s a lot to catch up on.

The New Album

Most importantly, we are excited for Kiko Dinucci’s new album “Na Boca dos Outros”, which will be released December 6^th, 2009 on the Desmonta label. “Na Boca dos Outros” features appearances from Brazil’s best and finest musical artists such as:

Fabia Cozza, Mauricio Pereira, Alessandra Leão, Juliana Amaral, Juçara Marçal, Marcelo Pretto, Rob Mazurek, Sapopemba, and many more!

From the sounds of it, this album is going to be lively, poignant and melodious. If you can’t wait that long, check out selected tracks at Kiko’s myspace!

Don't forget to check in on Kiko's One Cell Bio Page to stay up-to date on any news and events.

Shows, Shows, Shows!

The first couple of weeks in December are going to be big ones for Kiko D. First there’s an album release party at CCJ in São Paulo on the 6^th. On the 11^th he’ll be appearing with Trio Esmeril at São Paulo University.

December 12^th he’ll be playing with the acclaimed MC Sombra, along with saxophonist Thiago França and drummer Sérgio Machado. Thiago França has been joining Kiko at various shows with songstress Juçara Marçal on their new “Metá Metá” project. This is not the first time Kiko has worked with Juçara – in 2008 the two released a record called “Padê”.

Kiko also DJ’s at Festa Engasgagato, which is a monthly party thrown by the Desmonta record label for its artists and colleagues. Check out the Engasgagato Blog here.

Can’t make it to Brazil? Enjoy this video sample of Kiko playing with Trio Esmeril and MC Sombra at September’s Engasgagato.

Reviews...and the Burn Notice Feature

Kiko’s engaging and entertaining partnership with Douglas Germano (from AfroMacarrônico) dubbed Duo Moviola has gotten some superb reviews. Downbeat Magazine gave their “O Retrato Do Artista Quando Pede” album four stars. They state of the duo’s creative endeavors, “By getting the most out of their complex arrangements, the songs burrow deep into the memory.”

Are you a fan of the USA series “Burn Notice”? Kiko’s song “Engasga Gato” will contribute to the soundtrack of the “Friendly Fire” episode airing Feburary 4, 2010.

The Return of BURRO MORTO

As promised, we want to briefly update you on Burro Morto’s new album, “Baptista Virou Máquina”, which is due to be released in January, 2010. (More detail will be coming in our next blog post!)

Check out these teasers that are sure to leave you wanting more of One Cell’s beloved curly-haired quintet.

Don’t worry, there will be more where that came from. Burro Morto plans to make a video for every song on the new album. Lindo maravilhoso!

Need to traduzir esta página? Click here for google’s translation of this blog in Portuguese.

Rossano Snel’s Audio “Landscape”

A long overdue “hello” from all of us at One Cell – hope everyone had a great summer! Our One Cell artists have been very busy since we last posted. Where should we begin?

Let’s start by updating you on what our talented young friend Rossano Snel has been up to. He’s got a new EP out, entitled “Landscape” on the EBS Diggin label. This four-song journey has a couple of surprises wrapped up inside one cohesive package. The album features the unanticipated accompaniment of a sitar on a track called, "Meu Mundo", with Rossi showcasing his envious piano skills in the touching “Tumpah”.

Download “Landscape” EP

Don't forget, you can always check out a free stream of Rossano's debut album "Gallery" at the One Cell site.

Listen to "Gallery"

Rossano recently revisited an old partnership with Dumond Footwear when he contributed a track called “Breeze” that he composed for the Dumond “Making of Summer 2010” video. The clip features Top Model Fernanda Tavares posing in the lovely, lively city streets of Rio de Janeiro, with Rossi’s jazzy beats complementing the behind-the-scenes footage. You can’t find a better soundtrack for your feet than the rhythms of Rossano.

Did you like the Pulp and World Affair sets? Rossi’s got five songs featured on his brand new Neon set, along with many other artists such as Amy Winehouse and Vitalic.

Download Neon

As we sink into the cozy, festive days of the holiday season, get comfortable with your computer or gadget of choice and follow us on Twitter or become a fan of One Cell Records on Facebook. Second to a One Cell album, getting the latest news on your favorite artists is the best gift you could give yourself!

Need to traduzir esta página? Click here for google’s translation of this blog in Portuguese.

On a Brazil kick with Kiko Dinucci

Hello again from the One Cell blog desk. If the summer sun has whetted your appetite for some hot n' jazzy tunes from Brazil, then Kiko Dinucci’s forthcoming new album is for you.

‘Na Boca do Outros’ is a collaboration record with an all-star cast of musicians from beautiful Brazil like Juçara Marçal, Juliana Amaral, Fabiana Cozza, Marcelo Pretto, Mauricio Pereira, Sapompemba, Rob Mazurek, and many others. It’s coming next month, so keep your ears open.

If that’s too long to wait and you’re in Sao Paulo, you can catch Kiko Dinucci and M. Takara on the 25th at Tapas Club in the heart of the city. This second monthly night party will see Kiko DJing and performances from M. Takara 3 and New York’s Victor Rice performing as Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Heart Dub Band. With a name like that, how can you resist?

Check out some brand new videos of July’s club night performances at these links: part one and part two. Speaking of videos, the charming boys at Desmonta records have been uploading old material to their website - head over to their Media Sessions area for more great Brazilian music.

By the way, Kiko Dinucci has also started a new project as a trio with Thiago França and Sérgio Machado - for all the Brazilian music anoraks out there, he’s the drummer of Ney Matogrosso and Céu.

Even though he’s only done a few shows, Kiko has already been featured by musical magazine +Soma. Read the interview (Português) or watch a performace featured by the mag here. Until next time folks, keep it tuned to One Cell.

The hit of the summer from Go West Young Man

Hello again from the One Cell blog desk. Today we present Go West Young Man's new single 'Covinas', with a sizzling real-feel video that is set to become the hit of the summer.

It features an exciting outdoor show by the band under the blazing Santa Monica sunshine. Lucky GWYM fans flocked to the promenade to see the band's one-off live gig for the cameras.

And that's not all. The video also features cuts from the band's live show intimately filmed on location with 16mm film.

Director Arvel Chapell was behind the unique reality video project, which he says was driven by the quality of the band's music and the power of the song.

Catchy 'Covinas' also has a story to tell about a model making her way in the fashion world. Intertwined with the band's live shows, we see her story as she leaves her home and everything she knows to seek fame in the big city.

Former LA Times rock critic Kevin Bronson, writer of the famous Buzz Bands blog, has been praising it to the hilt. He reckons 'Covinas' is a 'nifty summertime southern Californian pop song', and says GWYM's self-titled debut has been 'sticking to me like summer sweat' for months now.

He says 'it’s old-school pop-rock with energetic, new-school twists, and I’ve recommended it to many who think the current indie landscape tends toward the tuneless'. Here at the blog desk, we couldn't agree more.

Grab the album right away from One Cell Records.com if you haven't already. And join us on Facebook below to see the video plus get more Go West Young Man news, photos and videos. Until next time folks, stay tuned to One Cell.

Bill Lehane

One Cell Facebook

Get into a sunshine groove with Rossano Snel

Hello and welcome to another update from One Cell Records. Today we've got a great treat in store for you – free music from Rossano Snel.

Our favourite electronica artist from Sao Paulo, Brazil, has created two music sets just for fans to enjoy. 'The Pulp Set' features 17 kickin' tracks from artists like Daft Punk, Phoenix, Basement Jaxx, The Rapture, Crystal Castles, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Bittersweet.

'The World Affair Set' has even more great music from Royksopp, CSS, Thievery Corporation, Nite Jewel, Empire of the Sun, Jamie Lidell, Soel, Skeewiff and of course Rossano himself.

He tells us exclusively here at the One Cell blog desk that the sets are a gift to his fans as well as a trip down memory lane for him.

'In these sets I have put many kinds of music that I used to play as a DJ as well as the music I listen to everyday,' Rossano says. 'I'm recording them so people can download them to hear them everywhere.'

So what are you waiting for? Both sets are available to listen online and download from the links below.

The Pulp Set

The World Affairs Set

Meanwhile, Rossano's got another EP in the works. Entitled 'Landscape', it's coming out on EBS Diggin, the label of Sao Paulo legend DJ Tahira. Keep an ear out for that one.

Lastly, just a reminder that Rossano's free compilation 'eBrazil: Amazing new music from the land of samba' is also available for free download. It's the hottest roundup out there of all the coolest artists from the new school of Brazilian music – grab it while you still can.

Until next time folks, connect with Rossano using the links below and keep it tuned to One Cell.

Rossano Snel's links

His blog: soundsfrombrazil.blogspot.com

His MySpace: www.myspace.com/rossanosnel

His Twitter: twitter.com/rsnel

Buy the 'Gallery' EP: onecellrecords.com/Store.php

Riding high with Go West Young Man

Welcome to another update from your favourite label, One Cell Records. Today we've got a real treat for you – a short film. It tells the story of a lone rider who tries to fit in with a group of night cyclists in downtown Los Angeles. As our hero discovers, one of the group's rules is that no rider gets left behind…

And these guys do exist in real life as well - known as the Midnight Ridazz, the group meets up every second Friday night to cycle around the city. It was started by a bunch of eight people five years ago, but has since grown to more than 1,300 members.

The short movie features Go West Young Man's 'Covinas', a catchy favourite here at the blog desk with a video of its own coming your way very soon. In the meantime, let's check out a rough cut of the movie, which might be featuring in a Banana Republic ad campaign by the way. Until next time folks, stay tuned to One Cell.

Watch the video

Get gigging this summer with GWYM, Burro Morto

Hello again from the One Cell blog desk. It's shaping up to be a sizzling summer for One Cell fans on the live circuit.

For starters, our indie rock heroes Go West Young Man are headlining at the legendary Silverlake Lounge on Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles next month. Known as the home of fiercely original live music, the lounge will be hosting GWYM along with Jared Mees & The Grown Children, Marvelous Toy and The French Semester on July 1^st at 8pm. Head on down if you're in town.

Meanwhile Brazil's favourite foursome Burro Morto have a slew of great gigs lined up. They're doing the Porto Musical, Brazil's leg of Womex, on Thursday June 18^th. If you haven't heard of it, it's only the biggest world music trade fair on the planet!

They will also be gigging on June 20^th with the Mad Professor, one of the most famous dub and Jamaican music producers of modern times. And Burro Morto have also got dates at the Sesc Pompéia in Sao Paulo in July and in August at the Perro Loco, one the biggest film festivals in Latin America. To the One Cell faithful in Brazil, we say take your pick. More live news is coming your way very soon. So until next time, dear readers, stay tuned to One Cell.

Bill Lehane

New! - Follow One Cell Records on Twitter

New tunes from Rossano Snel, Thavius rocks Brazil

Hey folks!

Welcome to another update from One Cell Records. This week we're really stoked about Rossano Snel's forthcoming follow-up to his superb EP, 'Gallery'. His next release is a five-track EP called 'Landscape'. Fans of his first record are in for a treat because the upcoming disc follows right on from where Rossano left off. He tells us the new EP is 'planned as a natural sequence, a second episode'. Keep an eye out for a track on it called 'Tumpah' - it's a piano solo tune which we dig very much here at the blog desk.

That's not all from Rossano right now, either. He's just released an online compliation of Brazilian music in assocation with music mag Odiluvio. Known as 'e-Brazil: The amazing new music from the land of samba', this free virtual album offers a whistle-stop tour of all the music that's hip and happening around Brazil right now. Get it right now from these links: part one and part two.

Speaking of beautiful Brazil, Thavius Beck's EP release gig went down a storm - literally - in Sao Paulo last weekend. Our man in the city tells us fans came out in their hundreds to the SESC Pompeiia despite heavy rain, heavy traffic and a major soccer game - serious stuff, remember - just a couple of blocks away.

We hear M Takara 3 opened the show with a new lineup, and only played new material on the way in their next album. Thavius himself headlined the show, and the fans had a great time, with plenty of them also picking up a copy of 'Urban/Subsonic'. Do so yourself if you haven't already - it's a stomping good one. Until next time folks, stay tuned to One Cell.

Visual poetry from Rossano Snel

Hello again from One Cell Records. Rossano Snel has been talking exclusively to us about his internet video project in the making.

With a working title of 'Subterfuge', the one-minute short film is coming to us from Bonobo Films, who provided the pictures for Rossano's Gallery EP.

So what's it all about? 'The movie is about me and my musical work,' Rossano says. 'It's like an abstraction, a visual poem about my music.'

Keep an eye out for that, and keep an ear out for a free digital compilation called 'e-Brazil – amazing new music from the land of samba'. Rossano picked all the tracks, and it features artists like Tita Lima, DJ Tahira, Modo Solar, Sonic Junior and many more. It's coming your way as a free download very soon.

Meanwhile, Kiko Dinucci's tourmate M. Takara is getting ready to play at Thavius Beck's EP release concert this coming May 28th in Sao Paulo. It's a one-off appearance for Mauricio in his home town – he's returning in the middle of a European tour as drummer with Kiko and Chicago trumpeter Rob Mazurek.

The jazzy trio – going by the name of Sao Paulo Underground – have already taken in Germany, Italy and Poland on their musical jaunt. Grab a taste of how it's all going down over on YouTube, where you'll find fresh videos of Kiko strumming his stuff on stage.

Until next time, stay tuned to One Cell.

Bill Lehane.

A dead donkey in the sun

Hi folks and welcome to another weekly update from One Cell Records. First up this week, our favourite psychedelic foursome Burro Morto have given us exclusive images of Brazil's best band in the making.

The band – whose name means Dead Donkey, by the way; rock n' roll or what – are deep in work on their first full-length album.

The record is coming into existence in association with the Brazilian Ministry of Culture, which is sponsoring the band under its Pixinguinha programme after our boys won a public contest for the privilege last year.

These never-before-seen photos by Alessandro Potter show the boys talking a break from the recording to soak up some sunshine. Who wouldn't!

In the meantime, you can catch Burro Morto live for two small gigs in João Pessoa, Brazil's first city to see the sunrise, later this month. They're at Espaço Mundo on the 21st and Intoca on the 30^th.

Also on the live circuit around Brazil is Rossano Snel – he'll be giving a DJ set down at Ocidente in Porto Alegre next month. Rossano tells us he'll be playing lots of his own material plus other music he likes - keep an eye and ear out for that one.

Meanwhile, Thavius Beck is gearing up for a concert to mark the release of his 'Urban/Subsonic' EP, which is coming out right here on One Cell. If you're in Sao Paulo on May 28th head down to the SESC Pompeia where he will be playing with Saul Williams, The Mars Volta and M. Takara. 

Thavius has also been giving more details about his upcoming solo album 'Dialogue', that's coming out in early October on Mush Records in the US and BigDada in Europe.

He says he's spent more than a year working on it since recording it all in a month in studio, but reckons it was worth all the hard work.

'I think you can hear the time that was put in to it...this is easily the best sounding record I've made, and I think the best thing I've done to date,' Thavius says. Bring it on! Until next week folks, stay wired to One Cell….

Bill Lehane

Talking dirty with Thavius Beck

One Cell's favourite beatmaker Thavius Beck has been talking exclusively to us about his forthcoming EP, 'Urban/Subsonic'.

This gritty sonic slice is released digitally on 19 May and on 23 June for vinyl fans. So what will it sound like? Thavius says we should picture 'dirty concrete walls, trash and shady characters in an even shadier alley'. 

Confused? The idea is, he says, that 'these songs would be part of the soundtrack to a night out at the dirtiest, most underground club that happens to be the most popping shit around'. 

'It's like discovering diamonds in a landfill that has 60 inch subwoofers and strobe lights, and these songs would accompany the search through the rubble...if that makes sense.'

I think we can dig that, and watch this space for 19 May to grab the EP. The gem finder's got more sparkling treats on the way this Fall, by the way - his third solo album is due in November. Thavius produced the whole thing and rhymes on every track as well.

He tells us 'it's the first time I've released a record like that in over a decade, and based on the feedback I've gotten so far (and my own personal opinion) it's easily my best album to date'. No ego issues at all, then. 

Before that, he's gonna be around Los Angeles this summer giving workshops on how to make music with Ableton Live, the best new thing in music software. He's also been producing some rap records, both for Bigg Jus and NoCanDo. And as if that wasn't enough to keep him busy, Thavius has been remixing too: he's done one for Buck 65's upcoming group project and another for Nosaj Thing's new album.

Meanwhile another Brazilian beatman, Rossano Snel, has been kicking up a storm of praise for his debut EP 'Gallery' on the blogosphere. Indie Passion recently gushed: 'He deftly melds jazz, reggae, Soul, and Brazilian sonorities with electronic elements and organic instrumentation to craft sonic tapestries that sound fresh and progressive, but maintain a familiarly classic, cultural sensibility, all while keeping up a danceable groove.' 

We couldn't have said it better ourselves. The young groovemaker has also been treating us to some new tracks over on Myspace, including a rather fine piano solo named 'Tumpah' that you won't want to miss. And if that still isn't enough, head over to Brazilian site Misturinha and download an hour-long podcast Rossano did. We think it's rather funky.

Speaking of funky things, genre-hopping fivesome Burro Morto have been getting their festival groove on all over Brazil. This includes Recbeat, part of the massive Recife carnival, and Universo Paralello, one of the biggest electronic and world music festivals down there, with more than a week of sun, sand and non-stop partying. Who doesn't need a week like that right now! At the same time the boys have been working on the follow up to 'Varadouro', their amazing debut. Grab that here if you haven't already.

Also gigging around Brazil in the guise of 'Duo Moviola' is one third of Kiko Dinucci's samba collective Bando AfroMacarronico, namely Kiko himself and Douglas Germano. Check out some plucky tunes from that project on their Myspace. 

Lastly, One Cell's answer to The Arcade Fire, Go West Young Man, have been kicking up a storm lately on their tour of the West coast. Catch them next at Santa Monica's Dakota Lounge and the Silverlake Lounge in LA. 

Until next time, One Cell fans, keep it real….

Bill Lehane.