The band Samba Esquema Russo transcends any limitation of musical genre or nationality, diving into a psychedelia that flows through sound freedom. Originating in Rio de Janeiro, they release the single “Cazuza Já Morreu”, a provocative track accompanied by a video clip that invites you to a sensory journey through everyday images, exploring the interaction between memory and reality.
This release is the gateway to a new phase of Samba Esquema Russo, now with a renewed formation. Driven by distorted guitars, the group finds inspiration in the contrasts between the picturesque landscapes of Serra dos Órgãos and the effervescent city of Rio de Janeiro. Two origins separated by a short spatial distance, but divergent in terms of time, colors, tones, rhythms and sounds.
The single’s video captures this divergence. Amidst a whirlwind of images ranging from brutal events to sublime moments, a misty vision emerges, but at the same time confident in what he sees. The alert “Watch out: use low light in fog” accompanies this duality. The Samba Esquema Russo, born at the intersection of diverse soundtracks, absorbs the reverberations of the word that is born. A journey from the new to noise and, now, to Russian, woven into the personalities of Vinícius Gusmão (guitar) and Gabriel Gorini (guitar).
“Cazuza Já Morreu” is more than just a song; it is an invitation to creative freedom, the transgression of borders and the subversion of expectations. The Samba Esquema Russo rejects labels, genres and categorizations. More than defining what it is, the band emphasizes what it is not. The single defies ratings, is neither a social critique nor a posthumous tribute. It is neither continuation nor rupture, neither tradition nor avant-garde, it is something unique.
The Samba Esquema Russo journey is a search for meaning in words and sounds, inspired by the crossing. Just like in Serra dos Órgãos, where the path between Pedra do Açu and Pedra do Sino requires preparation and familiarity with the terrain, the band found its meeting point in the constant walk to the destination, without fearing the journey.
This new release is just the first in a series planned by the band. While we await the next steps, we can dive into the anticonformist cry of “Cazuza Já Morreu”. The track is available on all major platforms, and the clip can be found on the band’s official YouTube channel.
Samba Esquema Russo is known for its unique and psychedelic approach to music. Could you tell us more about how this approach came about and how it influences the band’s sound?
We don’t know if we’re really known, but it’s true that we try to print or explore a sound that varies between the usual and the experimental. We are starting this stage of releases and new recordings now, continually experimenting and learning the sound we are looking for.
The new single “Cazuza Já Morreu” brings an intriguing mix of sounds and images. Could you explain the concept behind this song and the accompanying music video?
In the clip, the idea was to make a rhythmic collage, using a universe of references that inspire us; artists, landscapes, facts of everyday life, and cultural facets of the places where we live.
With a renewed formation, how is Samba Esquema Russo evolving musically? Are there any new influences or directions you are exploring?
We are always looking for new and old references. Cazuza Já Morreu is the first single from the album O (interminable) ano do Rato, which we will release in September of this year. The songs feature a bit of the sound we’ve been developing, with a mix of different musical genres that we’ve always liked. Perhaps this makes the songs on the album very different from each other and at the same time maintains a musical unity.
The duo mentioned the influence of the contrasting landscapes of Serra dos Órgãos and the city of Rio de Janeiro. How do these landscapes translate into the music of Samba Esquema Russo?
The mist from the mountains and the sea air from the Atlantic are mixed in our personal and artistic lives. This haze is also called “Russian” – one of several meanings of that word.
“Cazuza Já Morreu” is described as an invitation to “color outside the lines”. How do you hope listeners will react to this music that doesn’t fit into conventional categories?
We hope listeners like it enough to pay to go to one of our shows.
The band emphasizes that the sound of “Cazuza Já Morreu” is not a social critique, posthumous homage, continuation, rupture, tradition or avant-garde. How did you manage to create a song that transcends all those definitions?
We don’t want to transcend anything. We believe in play taken seriously.
The Samba Esquema Russo mentions a sequence of launches already projected. Could you share a glimpse of what fans can expect from these upcoming releases?
For now, our fans are just our friends, and they can expect an album different from what is being done in the current Brazilian scene.
The crossing and the journey are recurrent themes in the approach of Samba Esquema Russo. How do these concepts connect with the band’s journey into the music scene?
The crossing is the journey of every being, always in the tension of birth and death. Remembering this is perhaps one of the most archaic teachings of living experience.
What is the band’s creative process like? How do you collaborate to create music that is both innovative and authentic?
The attitude is to be a servant of creativity and music, and try to do the best you can within the limitations.
In addition to your music career, you also have an intriguing music video that accompanies “Cazuza Já Morreu”. How was the process of creating this video and what message do you hope to convey to viewers?
The clip is perhaps a kind of map, but it has no message or secret. The creation process was: we spent days and days in front of the computer editing. We hope people listen to the music and appreciate the real possibilities of cinematography.
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