Shaping the pancadão: Improvisation and Studio Creativity on Rio Funk Independent Recordings from the Early 1990s

Abstract

The Rio Funk movement emerged from the hands of disc jockeys who worked on a thriving dance scene in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 1989, some of them decided to try producing original tracks instead of merely spinning foreign music. Whilst DJ Marlboro, one of the pioneers, moved towards the big national media and the mainstream record industry, a group of DJs composed of Angelo ``Grandmaster'' Raphael, Clay Chavarri and Carlos Machado chose to go independent. They taught themselves the basics of their work - synthesizer and computer programming, digital sampling, audio tracking, mixing, editing, mastering and vinyl cutting - while making records. And counted on sound systems and dedicated radio shows for promoting the music. This paper explores the making of their records between 1989 and 1995, focusing on the original techniques and solutions developed out of improvisation and creativity in the studio and also on their contribution to establish an independent recording scene and shape the distinctive pancadao sound. It is mostly based on interviews conducted by the author with the two remaining members of the team.