15.2.07

"Baile funk is like the favela CNN" - An interview with Daniel Haaksman of Man Recordings (11.2.)

Daniel Haaksman was visiting Rio and he was kind enough to find some time on his last night here to do an interview for me. He is a 38-year old dj/producer/journalist from Berlin who has been playing since 1989 and nowadays runs in Germany a record label called Man Recordings, that is specialised in publishing brazilian electronic music, mostly baile funk.

Daniel and Mr Catra in Rio. (Photo by Natalie Brunner)

For Daniel it all started in 2002 when a friend of his brought two cds of baile funk from Rio. "That really opened my eyes. I had been a big fan of brazilian music, but at one point I got really bored of the whole bossa and samba thing and also it's european interpretations. I thought they just reproduced the clishé of brazilian music, 60's and 70's bossa, that is music of the past. That's why I was so enthusiastic when I heard baile funk for the first time. I didn't know there was this whole electronic music movement happening in Brazil, totally autonomous, existing outside of the western electronic music realm. As a Berlin guy I always thought I know everything that happens in electronic music, but when I heard baile funk I thought: "Wow, no one plays this music and it's so energetic and raw."

Besides brazilian music Daniel was also fed up with over produced, bling hip-hop: "I thought baile funk was a sonic hip-hop innovation, still unknown to me. It reminded me of old Def Jam recordings: Public Enemy, LL Cool J and Run-DMC."

So he started doing research on baile funk and got frustrated quite soon because you couldn't hear any of it in Europe at that time: "So in January 2004 I decided to go to Rio and check out the scene myself. But as I didn't speak any portuguese, it was really difficult for me to communicate with people." Luckily a friend of his, Andreas Schoyerer, was living in Rio and started to investigate baile funk with him and they managed to establish connections with labels, DJs and producers in Rio. "Before 2004 there were no international labels interested in licensing baile funk, so the local labels were astonished when we wanted to publish their music in Europe. And they didn't know anything about licensing, they didn't know about invoicing, so we had to establish a whole new infrastructure."

Out of that trip came out the first compilation, which was Rio Baile Funk - Favela Booty Beats, released in the summer of 2004 on Essay Recordings, run by Daniel and Shantel, a Frankfurt based DJ. "It was the first official baile funk compilation in Europe and I think it gave access to baile funk to many people around the world. I mean some tracks were available before that in the internet, but it was quite difficult the find the good ones and to get them in a proper sound quality. For me it was a nice task to compile the best of baile funk, because all the labels were very cooperative. In the beginning it was so strange to them that a gringo would come and want to license their music, that they would happily give me any tracks I wanted. So the first compilation is based on tracks from Furacão 2000, Curtisom and Link, which is Marlboro's label. But for the second compilation we released (Rio Baile Funk - More Favela Booty Beats) Marlboro kind of spoiled the game, because I wanted to get some of his tracks for the compilation and he said that "Either you use exclusively Link tracks, or you don't use them at all." I didn't want to be black mailed so I didn't take any of his tracks.

In a situation where Marlboro owns the rights of at least half the baile funk produced in Rio, it made the licensing more difficult. "Yeah, he has many of the cool tracks and some of the best artists, but he has this kind of 'fuck off' mentality towards foreign labels. But some people also obey to his demands; so far he's realesed three albums in Europe of exclusively his catalogue. Compilations like ’Funk Carioca’ on Mr.Bongo, or the two Funk Carioca compilations that were released in Portugal are all exclusively based on Link catalogue material. But I think it's really harming for baile funk, because if music can't flow freely, it's damaging the music."

Nowadays Daniel is mainly working directly with the artists and producers themsleves. "It's better to pay the artists directly, because brazilian labels are notorius for not paying their artists. They get a flat fee per track they deliver and never see any royalties. For example when I met Dennis DJ in October 2005, he didn't know that he's tracks had been featured on my compilation and played in clubs in Europe, simply because Furacão 2000 hadn't bothered to tell him. Many of the artists on the compilations probably still don't know that they have stuff out in Europe."

After the two succesful compilations Daniel left Essay Recordings and founded his own label Man Recordings in 2005. "I wasn't agreeing on the artistic direction Essey was going. They were focusing on gypsy music, and I wanted to focus more on baile funk and hip-hop orientated music. So that's why I started Man Recordings." So far he has released nine vinyls and two cds, most of them material with Edu K, an mc from Porto Alegre in the south of Brazil, Edu K is the author of "Popuzuda Rock'n'roll", one of the biggest cross-over baile funk hits with heavy guitars, opening the way to current hit groups like Bonde do Role.

By nature baile funk is not music played on vinyl, but on cd. Since the late nineties CD-DJ-players became more popular and affordable for the Rio DJs and pressing of vinyls stopped. "Baile funk on vinyl is luxury. So for me as a label, I really don't get any money out of it, I do it because I love baile funk. I'd like to put more stuff out, but it's still not so easy to license it from the Rio labels. There are some people finding tracks in internet and putting the out on bootleg white labels, without any cretids, without paying royalties and I really can't support this. These artists are already ripped off by Rio labels and then again by some middle class white kids. I mean, these artists live in shitty houses and never get access to play in Europe because people practicly steal their music. So that's why I don't do any bootlegs, I license the music, artists get paid, they get advance and proper contracts; I wanna treat them as proper artists."

This year Daniel is beginning two new series of releases on vinyl: Funk Mundial and Baile Funk Masters. "Funk Mundial is a series where the brazilian mcs get to work with european producers. First one already came out and has Edu K with Stereotyp and the second is gonna be mc Xana with Zynden and Hervie from Dubside Records."

Baile Funk Masters is a series dedicated to the producers. "I want to show the producer side of baile funk, because many of the sonic innovations in baile funk are created by the DJs and the producers and not the mcs who are always on the spotlight. There are hundreds of producers in Rio, but there are few that stick out. The first one, which is DJ Sandrinho's EP, is instrumental only. It's also a DJ tool and I wanted to offer it to people as a base for remixes and mash-ups. More and more people are doing baile mash ups with r'n'b and hip-hop acapellas, but they always use the same tamborzão beat and the same samples, so I wanted to present some alternatives. But the series also works as promotion for the DJs; Sandrinho is one of the few who have been playing in Europe frequently, but he is still quite unknown for the public. And as he intends to do more live gigs and production in Europe, he can use this as a card to present himself and to get some name."


Sandrinho's vinyl EP comes out during March and it's also available in digital formats from Beat Port and iTunes. Coming up are releases with Sany Pitbull (who was finishing the mixing at the time of the interview), DJ Edgar, who is Mr. Catra's Dj, and Grand Master Raphael or Amazing Clay.

Sandrinho has also been playing in Berlin as a guest in Daniel's party series, Berlin Baile Funk Sessions, along with Marlboro, Diplo and Mr Catra with DJ Edgar. "Even though there's a new generation of DJs and clubbers searching for alternatives for the dominant 4/4 beat, It's always difficult to get the audience going the whole night on baile funk, you have to mix it with hip-hop, grime or reggaeton. I've been trying to cultivate baile funk in Europe for three years now, and I can see that there's more and more people getting into it, but it's not like it's a revolution for the average electronic music listeners."

Still, Daniel believes baile funk has a lot of potential to gain. "When I heard it for the first time, I thought this is gonna be a big thing, because it's energetic, it's party music and great to rave to. There's no other way of consuming baile funk then with your body; you can't just lay on the bed listening to it, you have to get up and dance. Baile funk is not yet at it's peak in Europe. But it still lacks the critical mass, to make a movement out of it; there are still so few people doing it. There's Johan in Stockholm, Rumble in Gothenburg, Rio Rocks parties of LJ Small in London, Favela Chic in Paris, DJ Gü-mix in Vienna and that's about it. But now there's a good network of people playing baile funk, so we can bring more artists to Europe. Sany Pitbull will come in June, DJ Sandrinho and Deise Tigrona is coming in April. And anybody who's interested in booking them or anybody else, please contact me by e-mail or at myspace."

"If a DJ from Rio plays in Europe a one on one Rio set, people probably won't understand it. Funk needs to be brought and translated to european audiences. The success of Bonde do Role could be one key to it." But baile funk is already going European: "There's a swiss guy who has baile funk songs in swiss german on his myspace and in Bucharest a friend of mine saw a gypsy rapper doing baile funk in romanian. So it's obvious it will happen sooner or later. Historically all the music coming across the atlantic have had some european intrepretations. For example, today basically every european country has already a local native tongue reggae scene."

"It's interesting time for baile funk now. Western people will eventually twist it someway, it probably would never have gone in Brazil. Just imagine if some guy like Timbaland would pick up baile funk and its production style, and make something new out of it with western production standards; with a good hi-fi sound and crisp bass lines. Or if ragga mcs would pick up baile funk beats and chant over them. So now it gets interesting to see what kind of fruits all this will produce and what will be its repercussion in Brazil."

"It's the nature of music, it travels and emerges out of dialogue with other cultures and other music. That's also what happened with baile funk itself: It started from Trans Europe Express by Kraftwerk in Germany, which was sampled by Afrika Bambaataa in NY in Planet Rock, that led to Miami Bass and that came down to Brazil, transformed to baile funk and now it's going back to Germany again. It's like a circle closing. Before the musical innovations were connected to certain cities, but I think in the future they will be made in the internet communities. But of course there will always be regional sounds and flavors and I'm shure that in the next couple of years there will be hundreds of regional styles of electronic music, like kuduro and kwaito, emerging for the world audience."

The success of baile funk abroad has lifted it's profile also in Brazil. "In Rio baile funk was always considered to be gutter music: ganster music from the favelas, not worthy for the average brazilians, but now the focus has changed in the media."

In Daniel's opinion baile funk's popularity in Brazil also spoils a bit it's edge and ruffness, since the artists want to please a wider audience. "Since Leozinho's Ela Só Pensa Em Beijar with this romantic mood and acoustic guitar was a huge hit in 2005, I noticed there was more these kind of soft, melodic songs made. Some artists realised that if you do this kind of romantic songs you get to the pop charts and tv. Earlier there was only Bonde do Tigrão signed to a major label, but then the lead singer killed his girlfriend and the press jumped on them: "You see, even though they were on Sony and tv, but they are still the same roughnecks we always warned you of." So now with Leozinho there is this new cheesy, romantic side of baile funk that could spoil it's edge."

"Some people in Rio are scared of baile funk because it's violent and sexual and relfects the favela complex, but really it's a platform in which the favelas can communicate to each other, because they don't have access to the official media. It's like the favela CNN."



Check out also:
Daniel’s homepage
Man Recordings
Mixes and videos
Edu K
Sandrinho’s EP
Stereotyp with Edu K 12”

Records available


Rio Baile Funk - Favela Booty Beats that Essay recordings released 2004 is the first, the best and most definitive collection of baile funk out in western markets. It's compiled by Daniel Haaksman and features among the hits like Bonde Do Tigrão - "O Baile Todo" and De Falla - "Popozuda Rock'n'Roll" also superb tunes like Dennis DJ & MC Cabo - "Tire A Camisa" , Os Corrascos - "Pique Ta" and SD Boys - "Planeta Dominado". The only weakness of this compilation is that it only came out in cd and there’s only a 4-track 12” sampler available on vinyl. But if you’re not yet familiar with baile funk, this is definately the to start with. Read also the cool introduction of the record on Essay’s homepage!



The sequel of the first Essay compilation is Rio Baile Funk 2 - More Favela Booty Beats. It features a bit lesser known, but not less bombing tracks like DJ Sandrinho - "Berimbau" and Moleque Manhoso & Bonde Do Vinho "Dança Do Rodo". After you fall in love with the first one, you’ll want thye second one also... Again this is unfortunately available only on cd. And the well written, informative liner notes are also available in internet, check them out!

Slum Dunk Presents Funk Carioca (out on Mr. Bongo label 5/2005) is another great compilation of baile funk tunes and this this one is also available on vinyl. It features bangers like Tihuana - ”Pula”, Almilckar & Chocolate - ”Som De Preto”, Deise Tigrona - ”Injeção” and Bonde Neurose - ”Break Da Caveira” alongside with my all time favourite Os K-rrascos/Vanessinha do Picatchu - ”Bochecha Ardendo”. This is definately another essential compilation.



Señor Coconut presents Coconut FM is another compilation of essey Recordings. It features 6 tracks of baile funk along side other latin dance music like reggaeton and cumbia villera.

Sou Funk EP of the Flamin’ Hotz label (FHZ-001) features 5 Tracks on vinyl released 5/2006. Some of them are good rockers, but some quite old stuff. Unfortunately not all the artits are credited right, but still for djs it’s worth it. Anyway it’s sold out, so you’ll be lucky to find a copy.

German Man Recordings has also many great vinyls out, but I’ll present them more soonish, as I have an interview with Daniel Haaksman, the headman of Man recordings, coming out soon on this blog. So stay tuned!

P.S. If you know any other releases (specially on vinyl) available in Europe or the States, please let me know!

12.2.07

My article on the latest Basso magazine

An article I wrote just came out in the latest Basso magazine, so if you’re from Finland, check it out. It’s pretty much a full account of baile funk, but unfortunately I can't put it online; you have to buy the magazine to read it...



1.2.07

I Love Baile Funk at Circo Voador (10. & 14.11.)

The first bailes we went after arriving to Rio in the beginning of November were I Love Baile Funk parties in Circo Voador.

Circo Voador is a club/consert space right in the middle of Rio’s bohemian party district Lapa. The place is a big half-open round tent with a proper stage and a steady big sound system. Around it there’s a open-air space and all together you can fit some 3000 people there. It’s sponsored by prefeitura (the city of Rio) and offers varied program of arts, events and of course gigs, ranging from Caetano Veloso, to brazilian hc-punk. Once a month they organize a I Love Baile Funk party with a massive line-up of the most popular baile funk artists.


However November was a special case as they had a special party with melodic Miami Bass star Stevie B from the U.S. I had agreed with the producer of the event, Soca, that I could film there with my partner Taneli Bruun. (we were doing to do a 3 min insert about baile funk for a youth program in finnish television)


We arrived early, around midnight to put ready our filming equipment. Furacão 2000 Djs were still warming upp and most of the people drinking cheaper beer and caipirinhas outside on the street as people tend to do in Lapa. The party really started going only after one o’clock and people started flocking in despite of the light, occasional rain showers.

First was up Korell, with his mullet, play-back songs and old school hip-hop dancers. Two songs and Stevie B was released on stage. He was slick and seemed to very well know he has a reputation in Brazil. The dancers kept doing their moves straight out of ’87. It was all pretty absurd, flash back to eighties, but people seemed to enjoy it. At least judging by people singing with smiles on their faces the last song, his biggest hit, Spring Love, a sweet, melodic Miami boomer.

Taking it back to the old school

I enjoyed it also, but on a kind of ironic level, as he clearly had seen his best days... In the end he invited some girls dance on the stage and there was a tv-group filming it and it was all so totally brazilian.

But what was really impressing that night, was the group of 4 young guys, Os Ousados. They had an energic live show: The boys looked like basket ball players and were driving the girls in the audience crazy popping their asses and doing some pretty erotic choreograpies. We did a little interview with them after the show and got a promo cd of them and Gaiola das Popozudas. As I learned later on the bailes, they were one of the biggest newcomers of the year with their hit songs ”Arrasta Ela”, ”Pega o Sabãozinho” and ”Passinho do Basquete”.

Os Ousados slammin their moves on the stage

The next tuesday, a day before a national holiday, there was the regular I Love Baile Funk party with bigger attractions. It was Mr. Catra’s night and he had invited a nice cavalcade of artists including Cidinho & Doca, Mc Galo, Mc Duda do Borel, Biruleybe etc.

We were there filming again and we were doing some interviews and left early so I only saw a couple of the artists, but who realy teared the stage with his energy was Duda do Borel. That’s why he also features in a main role on our tv-insert.


Duda is a huge, playful man, reminded me of Biz Markie because of his size and character. He was really taking his singing to another extent with grouwling, shouting, moaning and barking. He was constantly moving around the stage bouncing and he really got the crowd going. It seemed like everybody knew the lyrics and were singing along.

Duda do Borel on stage

When performing live, most of the artist don’t do full length sets, but only kind of hit pout-pourris of 15 or 20 minutes. But Duda alongside Dj Sandrinho, who was really punishing his MPC on the stage, did about 30 minutes, which is quite much on baile funk standards.

Dj Sandrinho banging his MPC

We talked with Duda after the show and he said he feels like one of the funk veterans in Rio since he is already 31-years old. ”When I started at the age of 16, it was a whole lot more difficult to break though. Nowadays baile funk is more accepted, everybody loves us and the media is crazy about us. I’ve even been to France singing baile funk.” he explained. ”Thank god there are places like Circo Voador where the favelas can meet the middle class and get their voice heard peacefully. This has really been an important place for the funkeiros, opening doors to wider public among those who don’t go to favela bailes.” he went on praising Circo Voador. ”It’s two years since I’ve put out a new song, but still the audience loves me, they always welcome me with open arms. And I’m really happy to sing with the old guard, as I nowadays fell being one myself. Catra is like a brother to me; when I was not doing so well, just lying on my bed without any hope, he was the one who came and said you have to go on singing, you have fans out there.” Then Duda went on explaining the essence of baile funk: ”Funk has a story to tell, a story of the favelas. Funk is culture, you know, there’s no violence to it. An mc is an mc and a criminal is a criminal, as simple as that.”

Duda do Borel taking the crowd

Also Soca, the producer told me before the show that Circo Voador is one of the bridges between favelas and the wider audience: ”The baile in a cominidade (a favela community) and baile in a club are totally different things. In favela people are more at ease and enjoy more dancing. But thay don’t have proper stages for the artists to perform. Here we try to bring out the best of both worlds as we also deal out loads of free tickets for the funkeiros in the favelas, who couldn’t afford these parties otherwise. So the baile won’t become too middle class.”

Biruleybe with his girls. Note the guy with the cell phone...

One of the stragest acts and the last one I saw before we headed home, was Biruleybe. He’s an old bearded geezer who always when singing tries to imitate swiss jodling, making it sound pretty horrible to my ears. He was doing his show with two female dancers and the drunken in front were going crazy pulling their tongues out imitating licking and taking photos of the womens pussys and asses with their mobile phone cameras. Pretty absurd scene...

The audience going wild, licking...

And how about the tv-insert we made? Well you can check out the clip here.