SALVADOR / YB MUSIC
The untameable sound of Luedji Luna
The new Brazilian phenomenon Luedji Luna brings everything that belongs to her. In her compositions, she connects the voices and roots of her African ancestry with intense and yet intimate lyrics.
Born in Salvador - is a singer and composer, daughter of black political artists. She started her career in art within the literary movement "Palavra Preta" (Black Word) - She started her first work 2 years ago - "Um corpo no mundo" - "A body in the world" ( 2017), a 31-year-old debut album about the African diaspora As the main theme, the work also speaks of the strength of the black woman and the departure of Bahia almost playful that causes the homesickness (Saudades).
In 2018, her muisc gained notoriety thanks to critics and the press and she was perceived as one of the most celebrated novelties of Brazilian music in 2018. She has performed at major festivals in Brazil. With a multi-ethnic group (Cuban bassist, Kenyan guitarist, Swedish percussionist, violinist son of Congolese ...), whose minimalist sound transits between MPB, batuque, reggae, afoxé and Cuban batá, she sang the verses of "Un corps dans le world". The show represents a political weight, whether in words or in speeches full of power, both exalting the debates and icons of the black struggle, mainly feminine. But it is however far from being pamphleteer: Luedji, all dressed in white, transmits serenity, singing and dancing in a kind of trance. On the stage, everything happens in an organic and natural way, creating an atmosphere of emotional acceptance, spirituality and strength.
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“The phenomenon Luedji Luna from Brazil, brings everything that belongs to her. In her compositions, she connects the voice and routes of her African ancestors with intense and yet intimate lyrics.
Since the early stages of her career, she has converted her experiences and of many other afro-Brazilians into songs. As per young Luedji Luna own words - ‘her own truths and the truth of millions of afro-descendants and women from Brazil’.
She has released her first album - ‘Um corpo no mundo’ (‘A body in the world’) in October 2017. With the African diaspora as the main theme, the album talks about the strength of the black people and their departure of Bahia with a touch of nostalgia (‘saudade’ in Portuguese). This "ancestral nostalgia" was triggered during a migratory process ranging from the colourful Bahia to the grey concrete jungle of São Paulo.
Luedji music serves as a voice for her own struggles to connect with her past and also for other Afro-Brazilians who are still marginalized in the Brazilian society. "The story of our kidnapping, called the" black diaspora’, has been so perverse that there is no longer any historical record that can give us any clues to get any idea of our roots," she says.
‘A body in the world’ has consolidated her leading position within the Brazilian contemporary music showing new and refreshing ways of interpreting the Brazilian popular music.
The album is impeccable and a lullaby for the soul. It’s imbued with the influences of the "samba de roda", ‘afoxé’ and touches of Cuban jazz under the influence of MPB jazz (Brazilian popular music) and music of the "terreiro" (place of worship). The arrangements have a refined simplicity and bring together a multicultural band members - Cuban bassist, Kenyan guitarist, Swedish percussionist, Congolese violinist.
On stage, Luedji transmits serenity and sings and dances in a sort of trance. Everything happens in an organic and natural way, creating an atmosphere of emotional acceptance, spirituality and strength.
"A body in the world" is the encounter of different “Africas’ still arriving in Brazil.