Exclusive Interview with Singer Zuzuka Poderosa

By Rodrigo Brandão

A stylistic blend of Funk Carioca and NYC rumble, Zuzuka Poderosa drops Brazilian bred, Brooklyn based swagger like no other. Recently approached by Samsung to be a part of a national ad campaign in Japan, through which she introduces Baile Funks to the Japanese audience, Zuzuka is a rising star – both in and outside Brazil. She is currently hosting a monthly event featuring live performances in collaboration with Le Poisson Rouge, which showcases some of the hottest new tropical sounds from across the globe.

Zuzuka Poderosa (left)

Now, under the alias of “DJ Babyfresh” she spins rare vinyl and Brazilian gems alongside DJ partner Joel Stones ( Tropicalia in Furs Records ). The rotation consists of an exotic blend ranging from Baile Funk, Dancehall, Ghettotech, Booty Bass, Afrobass, and many other tropical delights.

A new single and video is expected to come out soon; stay tuned! For more information, visit her MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/zuzukapoderosa

1-) What is your first memory of a Baile funk in Brazil? And what is it like to be a Baile Funk MC now?

ZP: My first memory was about 11 yrs old. We had this club in my neighborhood called ITC and Furacão 2000 used to play there sometimes. I used to blackmail my brother into taking me to see them, and he did. I used to meet my friends there and do synchronized dancing also known as “passinhos”. I’m a N.Y Baile Funk MC. I bring flavors and influences from different worlds together and you got a Brooklyn N.Y Baile Funk Diva. I get great feedback, so what’s not to like?

2-) The Miami-based house music, which was so popular in Brazil during the 1980s, inspired the development of “Funk” music, and the Baile funk scene in Brazil. Do you think it’s a good sign that American acts are now quoting and being inspired by Baile funks?

ZP: Most definitely. Brazil is unique.  We have the good and the bad side of life, the struggle. And that struggle, most of the time, turns into beauty – an art form. That’s Brazilian Baile Funk: inspiration for every one.

Zuzuka Poderosa

5-) A lot of people still get bothered by the way women get represented in some of the Baile Funk classics, but now there’s a huge number of Brazilian women who, like you, are writing Funk music from a female perspective. Do you think there’s a new trend of female funk music in Brazil and abroad? Are there other female singers in the Baile Funk scene that you respect/like?

ZP: Of course, the world is evolving, and so are the many female MCs out there – there are also many business women on the rise. We do not live in the stone age any longer, and women have earned their place besides the cooking and cleaning for their man at home, which used to be the stereotype. It’s 2010! And it’s time to smell the coffee and let women know that they also have the rights to say what they want. We don’t have to sacrifice our whole lives to take care of the households. There’s equal opportunity nowadays.  Of course this topic hasn’t evolved everywhere. But it will. It’s just matter of time.

Ok, Gaiola das Popozudas definitely has a big influence on this subject. Mc Novinha, Mc Nem, Mc Gi, Deize Tigrona, Mc Loira wow… It’s endless… And at the end, it’s all about expressing yourself – your thoughts, feelings, ideas and so forth.

6-) I love that there’s no such a thing a sacred song for Baile funk producers; they’ll sample any song, no matter how famous or recognizable they are, and that’s part of what’s interesting about our funk music. But the copyright issue in the US is a little different… Did you have to ask permission to sample Eurythmics in one of your songs?

ZP: When Kassiano produced this song, he did not and won’t have any intentions of releasing this song. It was basically done for fun, no purpose for financial gain at all. He just used for his mixtape. but Ai Voce Gosta became more of an underground phenomena passed around by people and DJ’s.