Curumin

Biography

Curumin is the stage name of Luciano Nakata Albuquerque, a Brazilian vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and producer born on July 28, 1976, in São Paulo, Brazil, to Spanish and Japanese parents.[4][1] Growing up in the urban sprawl of São Paulo, he began making music very young, reportedly forming his first band at the age of eight and experimenting on household pots and pans before moving on to drums, keyboards and studio gear.[2][5] Immersed in the eclectic landscape of Música Popular Brasileira (MPB), samba and imported soul and funk, he absorbed the work of groundbreaking artists who mixed Brazilian rhythms with American grooves, shaping his own hybrid musical identity.[3][6]

In the 2000s Curumin emerged as part of a new wave of Brazilian artists updating MPB with electronic production, hip-hop and global funk. His debut album, "Achados e Perdidos" (2005), was first released in Brazil and then internationally after he was discovered by California hip‑hop duo Blackalicious, who issued the record in the United States and helped introduce him to a wider audience.[1][3] The follow-up "JapanPopShow" (2008) expanded his reach with a distinctive blend of samba, reggae, electronica, funk and hip‑hop, leading to appearances at major festivals including Central Park SummerStage, Montreal Jazz Festival, and San Francisco’s Stern Grove Festival, and sharing stages with artists such as Femi Kuti and Jorge Ben.[1] Later albums like "Arrocha" further explored sensual, groove-heavy soundscapes built from MPC-based electronics, layered percussion, guitars and bass, reflecting his stated goal of connecting Brazilian traditions with a forward-looking, minimalist aesthetic influenced in part by his Japanese heritage.[1]

Musically, Curumin situates himself within the MPB and "new MPB" continuum, but with a pronounced affection for tropicalia, funk and hip‑hop production techniques.[1][3] Critics have compared his playful, sample‑savvy approach and soul-inflected vocals to artists like Beck, while noting clear lineage from MPB innovators who fused samba with soul, funk and Afro‑pop.[3] Though he has attained international recognition—helped by placements like his track "Guerreiro" in a Nike World Cup advertisement and inclusion on a Natalie Portman-curated compilation—he has consistently aligned himself with Brazil’s alternative scene, emphasizing creativity over mainstream polish and advocating for music that stretches the boundaries of Brazilian popular sound.[1]

Fun Facts

• His stage name "Curumin" is a Brazilian nickname meaning a precocious or clever child, reflecting both his early start in music and his playful artistic persona.[3]
• Curumin’s mixed Spanish and Japanese heritage strongly shapes his identity; he has described his production approach—connecting past traditions with the future and working meticulously with machines—as a distinctly Japanese way of thinking.[1]
• He was discovered for the U.S. market by the hip‑hop group Blackalicious during their 2005 South American tour, a chance connection that led directly to his international debut release.[1]
• His song "Guerreiro" gained major exposure when it was used in a Nike advertisement during the FIFA World Cup, bringing his Brazilian alternative sound to a global sports audience.[1]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Jorge Ben (Jorge Ben Jor) - Foundational stylistic influence; Curumin grew up in São Paulo listening to Jorge Ben’s fusion of bossa nova, Afro‑pop and American funk, which provided a clear precedent for Curumin’s own multi-genre MPB approach. (Influence heard across Curumin’s albums, especially "Achados e Perdidos" and "JapanPopShow" which echo Ben’s blend of samba, funk and soul.) [Influence from childhood in the 1970s onward.[3][6]]
• Tim Maia - Early MPB and Brazilian soul influence; Curumin was exposed to Tim Maia’s combination of American soul with Brazilian rhythms in São Paulo’s 1970s musical environment. (General influence on Curumin’s use of soul vocals and funk grooves rather than a specific documented collaboration.) [Formative listening during youth in São Paulo in the 1970s and 1980s.[3]]
• Bebeto - MPB/samba-soul influence; part of the generation of artists Curumin heard who mixed samba with American soul, shaping his sense of groove and harmony. (Reflected broadly in Curumin’s samba-soul and funk-inflected arrangements.) [Formative listening era in Curumin’s youth.[3]]

Key Collaborators

• Blackalicious - Key early international supporters and label partners; the California hip‑hop duo discovered Curumin on tour in South America and released his debut album in the U.S. (Released "Achados e Perdidos" in the United States via the Quannum collective and helped promote his music abroad.) [Discovery and U.S. release around 2005–2006.[1][3]]
• Céu - Fellow São Paulo new-MPB artist and collaborator; she helped connect Curumin with Six Degrees Records and appears as a guest vocalist. (Guest vocals on the reggae‑tinged track "Vestido de prata" from Curumin’s album "Arrocha" (Six Degrees Records).) [Collaboration around the release of "Arrocha" (early 2010s).[1]]
• Arnaldo Antunes - Renowned Brazilian lyricist and singer who contributed songwriting to Curumin’s work. (Wrote the lyrics for the song "Pra Nunca Mais" on the album "Arrocha.") [Songwriting collaboration for "Arrocha" (early 2010s).[1]]
• Femi Kuti - Live performance collaborator; Curumin has shared the stage at major festivals and events, underlining his connection to Afrobeat and global groove circuits. (Appeared on the same bills at venues such as Central Park SummerStage and other international festival dates.) [Festival appearances following the release of "JapanPopShow" in 2008.[1]]
• Juana Molina - Co-billed performer and peer in experimental Latin music; Curumin has performed alongside her at international concerts and festivals. (Shared live bills, particularly in the wake of "JapanPopShow".) [Late 2000s after "JapanPopShow" release.[1]]

Artists Influenced

• Brazilian "new MPB" and alternative scene artists (general) - Curumin is widely cited as part of a wave modernizing Brazilian popular music with electronics, hip‑hop and global funk, contributing to an environment that encourages experimentation in the alternative scene, though specific named protégés are not documented in major sources. (His albums "Achados e Perdidos," "JapanPopShow" and "Arrocha" are frequently referenced as touchstones of this evolutionary movement in MPB.) [Mid‑2000s onward as his work circulated internationally and within Brazil’s independent scene.[1]]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Mistério Stereo (JapanPopShow)
2. Compacto (JapanPopShow)
3. Sonar (O Futuro Não Demora)
4. Esperança (JapanPopShow)
5. Vem Menina (Achados e Perdidos)
6. Samba Japa Sample: Dai Tokio Undo (Achados e Perdidos)
7. Um Sinal
8. Pavão (Ascensão)
9. Dançando no escuro (JapanPopShow)
10. Passear (Boca)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz