BALEIAS

His debut single Rei Da Pesca (Fishing King)is a powerful, yet "leve e solto" (light and carefree) expression of dual heritage and swag. The single, driven by Babo Moreno himself on the drums, features a silky trumpet solo from Mercury Prize 2023 winner Ife Ogunjobi (Ezra Collective). A Brazilian hit with a London sound - Babo Moreno's debut singletells the story of a father-son fishing trip in rural Brazil when the artist AKA Fabio De Oliveira, first became aware of the privilege of having two cultures so present in his life. The single draws on a sense of gratitude and joy for the richness of his experiences, influences and identities as a second generation immigrant and musician. Rei Da Pesca (Fishing King) celebrates his dual heritage, making the struggles and strife that come with second generation identity feel light and easy.

Canto de Kantor-His second single Canto De Kantortruly connects with folkloric Brazilian traditions from the north east of Brazil, featuring Babo Moreno himself on drums, Ruta Sipola (WizKid,The Cavemen) on flute and a stand out solo from pianist Sam Watts (Jean Toussaint, Judi Jackson, Jason Marsalis, Emma Smith). The enchanting mix of jazz and forró (traditional folkloric, north east Brazilian music) is an exuberant articulation of life as a young Londoner from an immigrant family at the same time commenting on the internal battle in having the two different cultures running alongside each other. Canto De Kantor means Song of the singer, the misspelt K in Kantor is an acknowledgement to the fact that Fabio grew up fluent in Portuguese but did not know how to read or write in his mother tongue.

Baleias ft. Baque Luar- This single features powerful Brazilian Maracatu drums by the mesmerising female vocal & percussion collective Baque Luar. BALEIAS is the musical expression of a second generation immigration fearing loss of connection with his cultural heritage. The hook "Ô cadê as baleias do mar" (oh where are the whales of the ocean) is a powerful provocation, expressing the artists' view that aspects innate to an immigrant's cultural identity, are destined to be diluted and perhaps ultimately lost, between generations. Baque Luar's feature on the single brings depth and beauty to the track, as they honour feminine power and creativity through their sound, acknowledging struggles against oppression and praising nature at this critical ecological moment. The mix of Brazilian roots and London swag on BALEIAS is unmatched.