MAHI celebrates five years of career with album and music video for “Me Levar”

The band MAHI celebrates five years on the road with the release of “Me Levar,” the title track of their new album, accompanied by an official music video on YouTube. The project marks a phase of artistic maturity for the quintet, combining sensitivity, sonic identity, and a visual aesthetic that translates the light, vibrant, and emotional essence of the band.

With a sound defined as Reggae Pop, “Me Levar” (Take Me) bets on an engaging and modern atmosphere to talk about true connection, emotional freedom, and surrendering to love without reservations. Inspired by both the roots of Brazilian reggae and the contemporary aesthetic of international names like Stick Figure, the track naturally dialogues with playlists such as Good Vibes, Light Pop, and Brazilian Reggae. “This song was born from a conversation about emotional freedom. It’s about trusting in love and allowing yourself to feel. It’s one of the most sincere tracks we’ve ever made,” says vocalist Léo Jack.

Recorded at Estúdio Sérgio Menezes in Rio de Janeiro, the music video for “Me Levar” embraces a minimalist and symbolic concept. With a script by Rafaella Guarany, Léo Jack, and João Frazão, and directed by Frazão, the video uses an infinite white background and a large sphere of light representing the sun, a symbol of ascension, transcendence, and unity. The video’s aesthetic also inspired the album cover, created from a real photograph under the sun, showing only the shadows of the band members—a visual metaphor for MAHI’s collective identity.

Created in January 2021, amidst the pandemic, the band was born in the heart of Rio de Janeiro with the aim of reinventing Brazilian pop from the perspective of lightness, genre mixing, and good vibes. Since their debut single “Vem Pra Mim,” the group has been exploring influences from pop rock, reggae, MPB pop, and neo-soul, consolidating what they define as Pop Good Vibes. In March of this year, MAHI also released the single “Ficar do Teu Lado,” in partnership with Arnaldo Brandão, reinforcing the dialogue between generations and expanding the artistic reach of the project.

Formed by vocalists Léo Jack and Rafaella Guarany, alongside Wellington Graziane (bass), John Lemos (drums), and Sidnei Stellet (keyboards), MAHI combines artistic and emotional partnership in a project that already includes around 13 original tracks and collaborations with names like Milton Guedes, Buchecha, Ronnie Marruda, and Marquinho Duran. With “Me Levar,” the band reaffirms its identity and invites the audience to immerse themselves in a sound that celebrates love, surrender, and the freedom to feel.

Check out the interview answered by Rafaella Guarany:

“Me Levar” was born from a conversation about emotional freedom. What was the exact moment when you realized that this conversation could become a song — and what did each of you want to ‘allow yourselves to feel’ at that stage?

“Me Levar” is a Pop Reggae song, in the style we love to make. It was born from the need to convey this once again and connect with people who also like this style. It talks about emotional freedom, about surrendering without fear or reservations, about trusting in love and allowing yourself to be free.

The music video features a minimalist setting with a symbolic sun that alludes to ascension and transcendence. How did this image come about, and what does this ‘sun’ represent for MAHI today, after five years in the music industry?

The idea for the minimalist setting came from the desire to make the message even clearer. The sun emerged as a natural symbol of ascension, new beginnings, and light. Today, after five years on this journey, this sun represents MAHI, more aware of her own path, stronger, more mature, and more connected to her essence.

The shadows of the band members used on the album cover reinforce the idea of unity. What does each individual shadow symbolize within this collective identity that you have built over the years?

The shadows on the cover represent the union of our individualities within a whole. Each shadow carries a bit of the history and feelings of each member, but together, they form something greater. They symbolize how, over the years, we have managed to strengthen our collective identity, respecting differences and growing together.

MAHI was born in the midst of the pandemic — a period of seclusion, uncertainty, and reinvention. How did this context influence the way you connect with each other and with your audience?

MAHI was born at a time when everything was uncertain, and that brought us much closer. The pandemic taught us to listen more, to value encounters and genuine connection. This experience shaped the way we relate to each other and to the public: in a more human, sensitive, and honest way.

The partnership with Arnaldo Brandão placed MAHI in direct dialogue with a generation that shaped Brazilian music. What did you learn from this encounter between eras, languages, and experiences?

This encounter was a great learning experience. He is an incredible human being with a long and important history in the musical culture of our country, and the exchange with Arnaldo taught us listening skills, respect for the timing of the music, and the power of artistic truth. It was a dialogue between generations that showed us that, even with different languages, the essence of music remains the same: feeling, commitment, and authenticity.

The band explores ‘good vibes pop’, but always with deep emotional layers. How do you balance lightheartedness with such human and sincere messages?

Lightness comes from the sound, but truth comes from what we feel. We believe it’s possible to talk about profound things without being heavy-handed, with sensitivity and sincerity. This balance happens naturally when music is born from real emotions and the desire to connect honestly with the listener.

Rafaella has a solid history in television and entertainment. How does this experience—of sets, cameras, narratives—influence the visual aesthetic and artistic identity of MAHI?

This experience brings a more attentive eye to narrative and aesthetics. My experience with cameras influences how MAHI builds its visual identity. Everything is thought out to tell a story, create atmosphere, and amplify the emotion that the music already carries. I am very detail-oriented and always pay attention to the smallest details to ensure everything is perfect.

After five years, a full album, and an increasingly defined aesthetic, what do you feel MAHI is about to take in the next leap—musically, emotionally, or spiritually?

We feel that MAHI’s next leap is one of deepening. Musically, more freedom and identity. Emotionally, more surrender and truth. And spiritually, more connection with who we are and with those who walk alongside us. It’s a step of expansion, with our feet firmly in the present and our hearts open to what’s to come.