Bem Querer / Amor Doente

Floating into our inbox on the East winds came a mysterious bunch of tracks
by a mesmerising new act called Curio Curio, which we simply couldn't ignore.

Named after a vibrant Brazilian songbird, Curio Curio consists of singer, lyricist, and
actress Luiza Monteiro, based in Austria, and producer and musician Dustin Braun
from Germany. Together, the duo brings a fresh voice and a twist on MPB, taking
influences from 1970s Brazil and blending them into a modern fusion of psychedelic,
MPB, disco, and samba.

Curio Curio's vocalist, Luiza Monteiro, was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and raised
listening to the rich sounds of MPB. She started taking classical singing lessons
weekly by the age of 14, and later developed a career in acting, skills of which she
brings with her into her songwriting. You may be familiar with Dustin's production
through his recent collaborations with the Turkish artist Peki Momes on Mocambo
Records, or by his earlier incarnations, including a neo-soul release on Sichtexot and
projects with Village Live Records and HHV's record label. His music has a tangible
analogue warmth and a feeling of a real band performing live. For this 7-inch release,
'Bem Querer' ('Beloved' in English) takes the A side. In it, Luiza calls a missed love to
come close and dance with her. Even without an understanding of Portuguese, this
feeling and energy radiates throughout the production; one of partying together, loving
each other, living in ecstasy, feeling pleasure, and freedom. Built on an authentic
samba street vibe with a super catchy sing- along chorus, that collective, carnival
energy comes in part due to the choir that Dustin and Luiza assembled. A group of
Brazilian friends, some of whom Dustin met whilst DJing in Leipzig, joined together in
the studio. Half of them were non- professional singers, bringing that organic
atmosphere of Rio's streets to the recording.

The B- side 'Amor Doente' has a more bitter- sweet taste; the song speaks playfully
about a relationship that goes on without really developing. Both parties cannot fully
commit to each other, but they are also unable to end it. The production, however, has
a delicious loose funk groove, sun-soaked and sultry. Dustin wrote the instrumental
with Lucy Liebe, who joins on bass, guitar, synths, and trumpet, with Max Lobner also
featuring on trumpet. A track that is equally adept at warming up a dancefloor as it is
closing out a night.

We were genuinely blown away by the vibrancy and joy of this new project when we
first heard it, instantly feeling like a familiar friend. In the band's own words, "Curio
Curio is not straight disco, not straight samba, not strictly old-school but inspired by
all of them, creating something contemporary but still nostalgic".