Bia Ferreira presented by World Music Institute
Nublu 151151 Avenue C, New York 10009
Bia Ferreira comes to Nublu 151 in a World Music Institute presentation, billed as a performance with DJ. The Brazilian singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and self-described “artivist” brings songs whose words confront racism, homophobia and other forms of discrimination. Ferreira calls her approach MMP, Música de Mulher Preta, or Music of the Black Woman, making this a set where songwriting and political conviction are inseparable.
Born in a rural town in Brazil’s Minas Gerais region, Ferreira works across guitar, double bass, cavaquinho, atabaque and drums, performing solo as well as with bands. Her music joins African-diaspora rhythms including soul, R’n’B, reggae and rap with Brazilian forms such as samba and repente, while her Portuguese-language lyrics carry queer-feminist perspectives. Her breakthrough song, “Cota Não É Esmola,” has been widely viewed, and its lyrics have entered school curricula. NPR Music hears “a combination of funky beats, reggae and soulful ballad grooves,” and describes lyrics that press listeners toward “the discomfort that generates ‘movemente’, or action.”
A second-floor club in the East Village, Nublu 151 is a compact space with a center stage and a balcony that overlooks the performers. The room is dark and grungy with solid acoustics and a disco ball, mostly standing room with a few stools that disappear quickly. The atmosphere is intimate and focused on music, with live sets and DJs spanning jazz, funk, Latin grooves, electronic, and world music. The building's layout supports diverse live performances, and the venue has its own record label. It's a place where musicians gather to play, attracting a crowd of music lovers and creatives. The vibe is laid-back, with a good attitude and openness to different styles going a long way.