Over the past two years, Kaique Vieira, also known as DJ K, has been shaping a fresh sound from São Paulo. Drawing inspiration from favela street parties, the 24-year-old producer blends the distorted bass, Afro-Brazilian rhythms, and vocal melodies of baile funk—a dance genre born in 1980s Brazil—with darker elements like reverb-drenched vocals, rave sirens, and buzzing synths. He calls this electrifying mix bruxaria (witchcraft).
Vieira’s 2023 debut, Pânico no Submundo, introduced his style with 15 tracks that captured the raw energy of blown-out speakers. His latest release, Radio Libertadora!, pushes further into bold, high-volume territory, evolving his sound into a full-blown dancefloor revolution.
The album kicks off with a sample of revolutionary Carlos Marighella’s 1969 radio speech—which also gives the record its title—urging resistance against Brazil’s military dictatorship. This sets the tone for the album as a defiant response to the criminalization of baile funk parties today. In Vieira’s bruxaria world, beats hit hard, vocals are screamed, and basslines explode, creating an apocalyptic intensity.
Tracks like Mega Suicídio Auditivo unleash sirens, thunderous bass, and shouted lyrics within seconds, while Sua Filha Quer Os D layers rap verses and synths over an Islamic call to prayer. Techno de Favelado shifts effortlessly from Berlin-style techno to trance and baile funk, with featured artist Meduza fighting to be heard in the chaos.
Vieira’s skill lies in balancing these chaotic elements, ensuring each sound—no matter how wild—remains distinct rather than collapsing into noise. Some may find it overwhelming, but surrender to the relentless energy, and there’s freedom in the storm of sound—an invitation to lose yourself in the madness.
### Also out this month:
– Hand to Earth’s Ŋurru Wäŋa (Room40) blends ambient electronics and deep bass drones with First Nations singer Daniel Wilfred’s haunting vocals in the Wägilak language, crafting six tracks that explore the search for home.
– Ami Taf Ra’s debut, The Prophet and the Madman (Brainfeeder), merges Arabic melodies with spiritual jazz, offering a sprawling take on poet Kahlil Gibran’s work. Kamasi Washington shines on the soaring standout How I Became a Madman.
– Brazilian guitarist Atletas delivers the lush, intimate Reflexão Meteórica (Municipal K7), where electronic percussion and synths intertwine with delicate guitar melodies, creating dreamy, shimmering soundscapes.
