“From the age-old tradition of the ancient bards and minstrels to the metro wagons of large cities; strolling through Indigenous philosophy and cosmogony and the rescue of African ancestry; from the lyricism of classical music to the mysteries of the Tarot; from the denunciation of colonizing barbarism to the debate on the right to land for all her children; the right of the Earth itself to be understood as a conscience and a mother. This is the world of Teko Porã”
Formed in late 2012, the band Teko Porã emerged from the union of three musicians who played through the streets of the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Playing in a clandestine way in the corridors of the São Paulo subway, the trio dedicated themselves to long instrumental improvisations of guitar, mandolin, and violin. This original formation, which lasted a few months, ended up composing some songs that would be recorded five years later, on the debut album, “Anamaguaçu“. With the arrival of vocalist/composer Marilia Calderón, Teko Porã became a song quartet, and no longer an instrumental trio. With this formation, they record an EP in 2014, released at Sesc Vila Mariana.
One of the most remarkable facts of Teko Porã‘s trajectory is perhaps the fact that they lived collectively in the same house during the 7 years of the band’s existence, in São Paulo. Practically, all the members from their different backgrounds lived together, which made Teko Porã not only a band but a shared life experience.
Currently, the group is composed by Pablo Nomás on the 7-string guitar, Bia Sabiá on the vocals, Kinda Assis on the viola de arco, Israel Marinho on the cello, and Caio Gregory in the mandolin and vocals.
The start of an incredible project
Due to the exotic instrumentation to the standards of Brazilian popular music, combined with a robust authorial repertoire, the band started to be invited to play in the main venues and events of the independent scene in São Paulo, like Casa da Caldeiras, Sesc’s (Vila Mariana, Bertioga, Osasco, Interlagos, Santana), Casa da Francisca, Anhangabablues Festival, Teatro da Rotina, Tucarena, TEDx at Allianz Parque, Paranapiacaba Winter Festival, SESI Mauá. They have also performed in other cities, including the Teatro Guarany in Santos, the National Song Festival in São Tomé das Letras-MG, and the Sesc Winter Festival in Petrópolis-RJ.
“Anamaguaçu” the album
Launched in January 2019 at Teatro da Galeria Olido, the album “Anamaguaçu” is the result of the artistic confluence of various musician formations that passed through Teko Porã.
With a difficulty to define their sound, Teko Porã is a popular music group that brings diverse musical influences such as medieval, gypsy, traditional Irish, popular, and folk music, and, through the lyricism of the string arrangements, this album invites you to reflect on topics as complex as thorns.
“Anamaguaçu” comes from the old Tupi and means Família Grande (big family), a term commonly used by the band members to refer to the wide network of musicians, artists, friends, fans, and family members that make up the band, directly or indirectly.
Due to the result of the study on the origins and the dialogue with indigenous cultures, mainly of their Tupis and Guaranis ancestors, “Anamaguaçu” is also about the family relationship in which the band lives, which throughout their history, created, played, and lived all together.
Through art and music, Teko Porã seeks to develop themselves and spread messages of memory, resistance, love, and hope.
Crowdfunding in Portugal
“Anamaguaçu” by Teko Porã arrives now in Portugal and the band is campaigning to finance the release of this album in physical format, and preparing its presentation in concert at Quimera Brew Pub, in Lisbon, between December 2020 and January 2021.
This campaign is being carried out on the PPL website, being a simple and direct way to finance the pressing of a thousand copies of “Anamaguaçu“.
Like Teko Porã’s first crowdfunding, this one also has “esoteric” rewards. By taking part in this campaign, you can receive various rewards such as Tarot printings and astral map readings made by more than ten astrologers who are partners of the band, two paintings by Rio de Janeiro artist Cris Conde, and an autographed 7 string guitar by São Paulo luthier Samuel Carvalho, signed by the renowned Brazilian guitarist Badi Assad.
Participate in this campaign here and find out more about this band through their website and Instagram.
