During my youth, I was captivated by a music style known as Neo-Acoustic, which emerged in the 1980s in Britain as a fruit of post-punk to new wave, influenced by jazz, soul, bossa nova, and Latin, characterized by delicate acoustic pop. It’s been my impression that many record jackets in this style feature motifs of bicycles. Surprisingly, Brazilian music seems to have numerous tracks revolving around bicycles. This month, among them, I’d like to introduce Alulu Paranhos’ ‘Bicicletinha,’ a tune that might appeal to Neo-Acoustic enthusiasts.
This year’s 23-year-old Alulu Paranhos has become a prominent figure in the ‘Rio New Generation,’ gaining significant attention as a bright hope among female singer-songwriters since the emergence of artists like Ana Frango Elétrico. Her track featured on the 2021 debut EP ‘Alulu,’ which received acclaim and admiration from Brazilian music legends like Caetano Veloso and Ceu, stands as a masterpiece with its acoustic flavor that’s hard not to adore, owing much to her gentle storytelling. ‘Bicicletinha,’ which translates to ‘little bicycle,’ showcases a Brazilian touch with its endearing, nickname-like phrasing.
Moreover, what’s truly captivating is the incredibly charming portrayal of her, riding that ‘little bicycle,’ exploring Rio’s outskirts—a slightly mischievous side showcased in her music video. Alulu Paranhos, who recently released the new EP ‘Compacto de Verão Deluxe,’ presents a delightful, refreshing Brazilian tune with ‘Quando a Gente Brinca,’ marking the EP’s opening track. It’s a wonderfully airy and joyous number, quickly becoming one of my favorite tunes. Please do remember her name!
Toru Hashimoto (SUBURBIA) Editor / Music Selector / DJ / Producer. Founder of Suburbia Factory. Owner of Shibuya’s “Cafe Apres-midi” and “Apres-midi Selecao.” Over 350 compilation CDs, including series like ‘Free Soul,’ ‘Mellow Beats,’ ‘Cafe Apres-midi,’ ‘Jazz Supreme,’ ‘Music With A View,’ and many others, have been curated, making him the world’s foremost selector. He oversees and produces music broadcast channels “usen for Cafe Apres-midi” and “usen for Free Soul” on USEN, wielding significant influence in Japanese music scene since the 1990s. In recent years, his ‘Good Mellows’ series with a focus on mellow chillout has gained great popularity both domestically and internationally.
