In 2007, the Brazilian 1970’s legendary psychedelic rock band, Os Mutantes, regrouped after 30 years and invited Zelia Duncan to join them on an international tour. This itself is very telling of the quality of Zelia’s artistry as a performer and singer. Indeed she is everything that is good about a Brazilian singer/songwriter. She will be in Toronto over the weekend and will close the Brazilian Film Festival with a special performance. While the ‘Mutantes angle’ is the pitch the Toronto Brazilian Film Festival is using to the attract interest of a public that may not know Zelia’s music very well, she is undoubtedly an inspiring presence in her own right and her career spans from the late 70s to today. She recently won the 21st Award of Musica Brasileira for best singer in the pop/rock/reggae/hiphop/funk category (wow big category). Check out her interview below (she speaks excellent english!). She explains about her unique sound, her album and her tour.

Now, if you are in the Toronto area, I suggest you run out and buy tickets for her show, if not, I think that she will be in the tri-state US area in due time. She is touring with her guitarist Webster Santos, and drummer/percussionist Jadner Zimmerman. I am looking forward to getting her album, Pelo Sabor do Gesto, or For the Flavour of the Gest, because my favorite producer is at the helm of the soundboard, the one and only Beto Villares. Check her website here.

I’ve put together a collection of her songs and performances from Youtube, enjoy!

Her music video

Live with Os Mutantes

Fantastic rendition of “Dream A Little Dream” wow Zelia, I think I’m falling in love!