Carlinhos Brown: Innovative Artist and Percussion Icon, in Domestika Maestros

Discover the making of a multi-faceted artist who achieved success through social music and incredible performances

Carlinhos Brown (@carlinhosbrown) is one of Brazil’s most innovative and creative artists, and one of the best percussionists in the world. He was the first Brazilian musician to be named Ibero-American Ambassador for Culture, and to become a member of the US Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He’s a singer, composer, arranger and instrumentalist when not moonlighting as a coach on The Voice Brazil and The Voice Kids .

Carlinhos lives to pass on his knowledge, and his ancestors’ skills. He defines himself as a tamboreiro [drummer] “on a mission to bring people together”. Drumming comes with layers of meaning and socio-cultural importance. It’s a transformative tool that gives voice to a whole community. This voice sings of the happiness afforded by self-esteem and ancestral knowledge.

Carlinhos Brown is an important spokesperson and this video, he talks about his unique career, his ideas and his world view. Do not miss it!

Great Meetings

Carlinhos Brown’s creativity and inventive nature as a musician, performer, composer, arranger and percussionist have allowed him to work with some of Brazil’s greatest musicians including: Djavan, Gal, Maria Bethânia, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Sérgio Mendes, Sepultura, Marisa Monte and Arnaldo Antunes, and to be a member of Tribalistas.

Percussion Leader

Carlinhos Brown’s career as a percussion leader began with Timbalada. This band united percussionists and gave new meaning to timbau drumming. The band formed in the Candeal neighborhood of Salvador, Bahía (Brazil) in the early 1990s.

Carlinhos believes “Timbalada is revolutionary” because it represents percussionists speaking through drums. Soon after the group was formed, their album Timbalada was named the best CD produced in Latin America by Billboard magazine.

Social Action

Timbalada’s success strengthened Carlinhos’ desire to get involved in local community education. He founded the Associação Pracatum Ação Social association for social action in 1994.

His project provides language, fashion, upcycling and dance courses, plus a preschool. He always wanted to provide an educational center that teaches subjects and invests in community relationships. Pracatum won the UNESCO youth prize in 2002.

Awards

Carlinhos has been honored with numerous awards throughout his career, including a Goya and two Latin Grammy awards (in 2003 with Tribalistas and 2004 for the Carlinhos Brown and Carlito Marrón album) in addition to over 10 nominations for the latter.

In 2012, he and Sérgio Mendes were nominated for the Oscar for best original song for their track Real in Rio, from the film Rio.

Respect for Diversity

Carlinhos Brown respects all music styles. He has always believed in the importance of dialogue and fusion with styles that may at first seem very different from his own.

He has literally played everything from samba to heavy metal, and worked alongside bands like Sepultura.

Carlinhos lives the importance of percussion. In his world, percussionists are no longer the band’s ‘metronome’. They now enjoy the spotlight, thanks to the secular militancy of an ancestral culture.

Love the maestro? If you want to learn how to find your inner percussionist with Carlinhos Brown, don’t miss his online course: Percussion for Beginners: Discover the Magic of Rhythm.

English version by @studiogaunt

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