Los Hermanos
Encyclopedia
Los Hermanos is a rock
band from Rio de Janeiro
, Brazil
. The group was formed in 1997 by Marcelo Camelo
(vocals/guitar
), Rodrigo Amarante
(flute
/guitar/vocals), Rodrigo Barba (drum
s), and Bruno Medina (keyboards
). Currently they are on an extended hiatus.
Although the band is Brazilian, the name is Spanish for "the brothers", which would be "Os Irmãos" in Portuguese.
. The band was then invited to perform on one of the biggest alternative music festivals in Brazil, the Superdemo. Their self-titled album
, released in 1999, became a huge seller on the back of the hit single "Anna Júlia". The success of "Anna Júlia", in a general sense, overshadowed the rest of their career, leading some to think they are a one-hit wonder, despite experiencing success among fans and music enthusiasts with other works. The song has been covered by many different artists, including Jim Capaldi
with George Harrison
.They toured Argentina
in 2000.
After the success of their first album, in 2001 the band released Bloco do Eu Sozinho, leaving behind the hardcore
sound that highlighted their debut to a mix of rock, samba
, and other Brazilian rhythms. Bloco do Eu Sozinho did not make much of an impact in the mainstream media (it had only two hits, "Todo Carnaval Tem Seu Fim" and "Sentimental"), but it is still regarded as one of the best Brazilian rock albums of all time. In 2001 the band toured Japan
The follow-up to Bloco do Eu Sozinho, Ventura, was released in 2003, and the band's sound was even more influenced by samba
, choro
and bossa nova
. Although these albums weren't as commercially successful as Los Hermanos, they were acclaimed by critics and generated a strong cult following which propelled the band to be regarded as one of the defining alternative rock acts in Brazil, mainly because of their elaborate lyrics and their mixture of Brazilian rhythms with rock. In 2008, both Bloco do Eu Sozinho and Ventura figured in Rolling Stone magazine's list The Top 100 Brazilian Albums of All Time, placing 42nd and 68th, respectively.
Their most recent record, simply titled 4, was released in August, 2005, to mixed reviews. The record led the band into MPB
rhythms with more melancholic lyrics and melody.
In 2006 the band toured Portugal
for the second time and Spain
with Portuguese band Toranja
.
On April 23, 2007, after ten years of uninterrupted career work, the band announced a recess for undetermined time span (hiatus). The note on the official website affirms there were no quarrels whatsoever among the band members, the reason for the recess simply being each one's need of time to dedicate to other personal activities. On the same note the band also announced its three final performances on June 7, 8 and 9th in Rio de Janeiro.
In 2009, Los Hermanos played at "Just a Fest" festival at São Paulo
and Rio de Janeiro
with Kraftwerk
and Radiohead
. But, according to Bruno Medina these two concerts don't mean the band will record an album soon.
In 2010 they played in the SWU Music & Arts
Festival and four additional gigs but no one clue to a future reunion or a new album.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band from Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. The group was formed in 1997 by Marcelo Camelo
Marcelo Camelo
Marcelo de Souza Camelo, is a Brazilian composer, singer, guitarist, and poet. He is best known as composer and lead guitarist of the Brazilian band Los Hermanos. Since the end of the band, he continues composing for many interpreters, mainly Maria Rita and Ivete Sangalo...
(vocals/guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), Rodrigo Amarante
Rodrigo Amarante
Rodrigo Amarante de Castro Neves , in is a guitarist, occasional bassist, singer and songwriter for the bands Los Hermanos, Orquestra Imperial and Little Joy....
(flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
/guitar/vocals), Rodrigo Barba (drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s), and Bruno Medina (keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
). Currently they are on an extended hiatus.
Although the band is Brazilian, the name is Spanish for "the brothers", which would be "Os Irmãos" in Portuguese.
History
They recorded two demos that eventually found their way into the hands of Paulo André, the producer of the Abril Pro Rock festival, in RecifeRecife
Recife is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Brazil with 4,136,506 inhabitants, the largest metropolitan area of the North/Northeast Regions, the 5th-largest metropolitan influence area in Brazil, and the capital and largest city of the state of Pernambuco. The population of the city proper...
. The band was then invited to perform on one of the biggest alternative music festivals in Brazil, the Superdemo. Their self-titled album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, released in 1999, became a huge seller on the back of the hit single "Anna Júlia". The success of "Anna Júlia", in a general sense, overshadowed the rest of their career, leading some to think they are a one-hit wonder, despite experiencing success among fans and music enthusiasts with other works. The song has been covered by many different artists, including Jim Capaldi
Jim Capaldi
Nicola James "Jim" Capaldi was an English musician and songwriter. His musical career lasted more than four decades. He co-founded Traffic in Birmingham with Steve Winwood, and the band's psychedelic rock was influential in Britain and the United States...
with George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
.They toured Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
in 2000.
After the success of their first album, in 2001 the band released Bloco do Eu Sozinho, leaving behind the hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
sound that highlighted their debut to a mix of rock, samba
Samba
Samba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival...
, and other Brazilian rhythms. Bloco do Eu Sozinho did not make much of an impact in the mainstream media (it had only two hits, "Todo Carnaval Tem Seu Fim" and "Sentimental"), but it is still regarded as one of the best Brazilian rock albums of all time. In 2001 the band toured Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
The follow-up to Bloco do Eu Sozinho, Ventura, was released in 2003, and the band's sound was even more influenced by samba
Samba
Samba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival...
, choro
Choro
Choro , traditionally called chorinho , is a Brazilian popular music instrumental style. Its origins are in 19th century Rio de Janeiro. In spite of the name, the style often has a fast and happy rhythm, characterized by virtuosity, improvisation, subtile modulations and full of syncopation and...
and bossa nova
Bossa nova
Bossa nova is a style of Brazilian music. Bossa nova acquired a large following in the 1960s, initially consisting of young musicians and college students...
. Although these albums weren't as commercially successful as Los Hermanos, they were acclaimed by critics and generated a strong cult following which propelled the band to be regarded as one of the defining alternative rock acts in Brazil, mainly because of their elaborate lyrics and their mixture of Brazilian rhythms with rock. In 2008, both Bloco do Eu Sozinho and Ventura figured in Rolling Stone magazine's list The Top 100 Brazilian Albums of All Time, placing 42nd and 68th, respectively.
Their most recent record, simply titled 4, was released in August, 2005, to mixed reviews. The record led the band into MPB
Música Popular Brasileira
Música Popular Brasileira or MPB designates a trend in post-Bossa Nova urban popular music. It is not a discrete genre but rather a constellation that combines original songwriting and updated versions of traditional Brazilian urban music styles like samba and samba-canção with contemporary...
rhythms with more melancholic lyrics and melody.
In 2006 the band toured Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
for the second time and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
with Portuguese band Toranja
Toranja
Toranja is a Portuguese rock band with a flair for lyrics with a rebellious tone. Their first album "Esquissos" was greeted with some acclaim in Portugal. "Segundo" is the title of their second - and ironically named - album which established Toranja as one of the relevant names of the new...
.
On April 23, 2007, after ten years of uninterrupted career work, the band announced a recess for undetermined time span (hiatus). The note on the official website affirms there were no quarrels whatsoever among the band members, the reason for the recess simply being each one's need of time to dedicate to other personal activities. On the same note the band also announced its three final performances on June 7, 8 and 9th in Rio de Janeiro.
In 2009, Los Hermanos played at "Just a Fest" festival at São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
and Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
with Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
and Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
. But, according to Bruno Medina these two concerts don't mean the band will record an album soon.
In 2010 they played in the SWU Music & Arts
SWU Music & Arts
SWU is originally a Brazilian sustainability movement, which organised the rock music festival SWU Music & Arts Festival. The festival had its first edition in October 2010...
Festival and four additional gigs but no one clue to a future reunion or a new album.
Discography
- Los Hermanos - 1999 (Platinum)
- Bloco do Eu Sozinho - 2001
- Ventura - 2003 (Gold)
- Ao Vivo no Cine Íris (DVD) - 2004
- 4 - 2005 (Gold)
- Perfil (The Best Of) - 2006
- Multishow Registro: Los Hermanos na Fundição Progresso (DVD) - 2008