Performances are scheduled for January 8 in New York, January 9 in Toronto, and January 10 in Montreal. On stage, Branko will be joined by musicians Danilo Lopes and Ola Mekelburg, as stated in a release from Arruada today.
In the concerts, Branko will revisit “SOMA” and perform songs like “Nafé” (featuring Èlláh), “Reserva para Dois” (with Mayra Andrade), and “Tudo Certo” (with Dino D’Santiago).
Additionally, the musician and producer will introduce a new track, “Pro Mundo Ouvir,” created in collaboration with the Brazilian group Tuyo and released recently.
The connection between Branko and Tuyo began with “Leve,” a track that is part of the “SOMA” album.
Released in March of last year, “SOMA” is Branko’s fourth album, for which he invited musicians who define the “Lisbon sound,” created locally but intended for a global audience.
With so many people “sharing and contributing to the same equation,” the title could only be “SOMA.”
“The album started very collectively, almost like a ‘jam session,’ an improvised session, where I brought some ‘beats’ and invited some of the musicians whom I consider to be the most important in Lisbon, people who’ve undoubtedly shaped what is called, or at least can be considered, the sound of Lisbon,” he told in an interview last March.
The Lisbon Branko refers to is not just a city but also an epicenter for creating culture from various Portuguese-speaking countries.
“Musically, for me, it might be the most important cultural value we have and should be most preserved and worked on,” he shared.
Among those involved in the “jam sessions” that formed the foundation of the “SOMA” album were musicians like João Gomes, Ivo Costa, Francisco Rebelo, and Djodje Almeida.
Throughout his career, Branko has focused on “local creation for global audiences,” and in this album, he sought connections with people building their careers in other markets. These include Carla Prata, who, despite her Angolan roots and having lived in Portugal for some time, is developing her career in the UK, and June Freedom, who, despite being Cape Verdean, is building his career in the United States.
“I found it interesting to pursue these connections and people who, like me, understand the local and are also present globally,” he said.
Among the voices present on “SOMA” are Teresa Salgueiro—”a person whose singing of traditional Portuguese music is renowned worldwide”—as well as Carlão, Dino D’Santiago, Gafacci, Jay Prince, and Bryte.
Arruada reports that while spending a season in Brazil, Branko is preparing new releases scheduled for 2026.
A musician, producer, editor, and DJ, João Barbosa has been linked to Portuguese electronic music for two decades, building bridges to the Lusophone world. He was part of the 1-Uik Project with Kalaf, co-founded Buraka Som Sistema, and founded the label Enchufada.
He made his solo debut with the album “Atlas” (2015), the result of a transcontinental journey in search of new electronic music.
