More info and to support Redes da Maré directly:
www.redesdamare.org.br/en/quemsomos/coronavirus
In 2005 I was invited to participate in a remix project for Brazilian samba funk artist Curumin. His album 'Achados e Perdidos' had been licensed to Quannum Projects, the US label run by DJ Shadow, Blackalicious and Latryx. Quannum in turn licensed the album to Jam Music in Australia, who had a great A&R guy Jesse Flavell at the time. Jesse got me involved in the project which Antibalas, Bing Ji Ling and others were working on too.
For whatever reason, Quannum decided to shelve the project so I never quite finished my remix. It was pretty close though. Here's what I said in an email to Jesse at the time: 'Here's another rough version of mine. It's got probably 90% of the elements that would be in a final version of my remix, but its unarranged, unmixed and the drums and percussion will get a bit more detail. ... I hope this can happen, 'cause I'm really feeling this one personally!' This remix combines my loves for samba, funk, hip hop and even go go. Check for the switch-up to the groove towards the end.
All proceeds from 1 Oct 2020 onwards will be donated to Redes da Maré, which is engaged in COVID-19 aid projects to assist the 16 favelas of Maré in Rio de Janeiro. As you've probably heard, the virus has hit Brazil hard. The projects focus on food security, health care, prevention and special support for women, artists and the homeless. Redes da Maré are also involved in the 'Watch out for Corona!' campaign designed to disseminate reliable COVID-19 information through various media including community radio.
(Fun fact: just found out that Curumin is also Eurasian, like me. Actually probably not a particularly fun or interesting fact unless you're Eurasian too.)
released August 27, 2020