In December of last year, Copyright embarked on a three-day tour of Brazil, taking in three venues in three different cities, and absorbing plenty of local culture (and tequila) along the way. Here, Sam Copyright tells it like it was...
It’s a cold Friday night in the lounge at Heathrow Terminal Five, but we’re smiling as we are waiting to head off to Brazil for a mini three date tour of Brazil. In three crazy days we will be taking in Sao Paulo, Goiana and then finishing off at a private party in Belo Horizonte - The Masquerade.
As we leave the grey skies of London, we settle back with a nice glass of wine and check out 'The Other Guys' starring Well Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, a great way to start the trip before we get some rest for the madness ahead. A hearty English breakfast before we land and we are almost in Sao Paulo, and we can see from the pink skies it going to be warm! Yes!!
After we land, we get through one of the more 'smiley' immigrations in world travel. This always nicely sets the tone for the trip…people in Brazil are love to party. That’s why we are back!
After hooking up with our tour manager David, we grab a coffee then make the drive through the streets of Sao Paulo. What strikes us straight away is how much amazing street art there is. And I’m not talking mindless tagging, I’m talking some seriously proper art!
We retire to our room to chill and get some little edits ready for our set. Tonights we’re playing for Kiss and Fly, and it’s a Dom Perignon launch party, so it’s going to be a struggle to keep to tour rule No.1…don’t get drunk on the first night!
Anyway we hit the club and grab a bite at Buddha Bar (sushi all round) and we hang out with the owners, some of whom we know from a huge party on our last tour. As 2.00am approaches we hit the club, which is completely packed by the time we arrive. I’ve never seen so many people going crazy on a Thursday night....I mean it’s a school night right?? Nope, this is Brazil and things like that just don’t seem to matter.
We start our set with Quentin Harris’ Give it 2 U, and get the thumbs up from a couple of familiar faces at the front….looks like it’s going to be a good one! The night is a haze of vocal anthems and so many people in and around the booth it’s hard to move, but everyone’s enthusiasm is infectious and the three hours fly by! We end the night with a little selection of disco, which is a goes down really well, and as the last few bars of Aretha Franklin’s Jump are FX’d-up to the max we bid farewell to Kiss and Fly on a total high.
We rise early for the flight ahead to Goiania and are smiling as we managed to stick to our rule. We hit the SP Burger bar at the airport for tour breakfast, and as there’s a slight delay, David plays us some Brazilian funk music, and we grab some tracks off him for inspiration…the beats are amazing, and with a little editing these are sure to rock the more afro floors. After we land in Goiania it’s time for room service and a disco nap, once the routine Skypes to our loved ones are done.
We wake and hit the club again around 2.00am. It’s a big square dark room, with a really cool bar all the way round. Plus, the DJ is actually playing a proper warm up set…this is looking good! We start our set and the vibe is great; a gang of hardcore house heads are whipping up the crowd around them, and they go insane when we drop some Defected vocal anthems…they love a good song in Brazil. Our edit of Ultra Nate’s Free is the highlight of night. Yes this has been played many, many times, but it’s still a great song, and there’s not enough of them around right now (moan over!)
Gav’s had a couple of vodkas and I’m still on the wagon…so far so good…we’re still keeping to the plan! It’s time to get back to the hotel, because tomorrow we are going out to lunch with the owner of the club for a Brazilian BBQ. If you haven’t has one of these…DO IT. It’s the finest meat you will ever eat and it keeps coming to your table until your turn to table sign to red! We enjoy an amazing meal topped off with a superb mango dessert. Heaven.
Now we are tiring a little, but the pace has to keep going. We head to the airport and fly to Belo Horizonte. For our final night we’re at The Masquerade......this is a private party, with a guest list of 2000! Very private! We land late so we rush to the hotel grab a bite and it’s pretty much straight to the party where we are greeted by our good friend and agent Didio. Now this boy loves a tequila, and he's having a baby soon. So we get the tour rule book, tear it up and throw it out of the window. The venue is a massive old building and the decor is amazing. And everyone is wearing masks, we politely decline the offer of two.........now where did David go? I’m sure that’s him over there in the black mask??? Oh sh*t........
We get on the stage and start our set. The VIP area is jumping, and I’m sure I recognize the odd face. But I've have had more than a couple of tequilas, so I wouldn’t put money on recognizing anyone at this point. Our track Someday booms out and the crowd are bouncing, the tequila’s flowing and it’s a great way to end the tour! Its hugs all round as we say good bye to Didio…our flight home is in the hours....we need to get a move on!
After three nights of not much sleep, were are pretty much finished, and a bit foggy from the tequila. Another amazing tour...if you like great weather, great food, great parties and most of all great people, then make sure you check out Brazil......they are definitely IN THE HOUSE!!!!
Sam Copyright
Defected In The House Brazil ’11 is out 31st December – click to listen & pre-order
