Zuzuka Poderosa is a Brazilian-Indonesian musical force based in Brooklyn. Hit Sauce caught up with the artist after one of her explosive live shows.
Hit Sauce: What does Zuzuka Poderosa mean?
Zuzuka: Zuzuka Poderosa was a name that was born in New York City at the studio around 2006 alongside some of my first collaborators – DJ Kassiano & Sujinho – when I was recording an earlier song, “Ai Voce Gosta”. They had asked me what I would name myself if I’d take my career seriously. I immediately thought of Zuzuka Poderosa aka Powerful Zuzuka – like thunder – out of nowhere!
Your live show is electric, how do you maintain that level of energy and connection to your audience?
I think the energy & connection comes out naturally. I get in the zone and I want the audience to get in the zone with me. I think that’s the whole purpose of a live show. Though I rap in Portuguese, Spanish and English, another really important language for me is Body Language!
You recently performed at Marimacho’s party during Fashion Week, what else do you have lined up for fall? Any CMJ dates or touring?
Yes I did perform at the historic Marimacho fashion show in Williamsburg during New York Fashion Week. For those that don’t know, Marimacho is a trans, queer, genderqueer-friendly fashion line. Their show featured all brown and black people on a runway and 98% of the creative & production team were brown and black folks – which is rare in the fashion world! So, for me it was great being amongst so many creative visionaries and artists like Wavy Spice, DJ Precolumbian and Shomi Noise!
As far as touring, I’m coming to DC on Oct 12 for a Meso Creso event, followed by the #Psicodelia European Tour with dates in Norway, Sweden, and Spain.
Carioca Bass has elements of baile funk and bass music, what kind of dance music are you listening to lately?
I’ve been listening to a lot of Slick Shoota, he’s based in Norway. Also, MIA’s new stuff and my friend, Gucci Banana – a Swedish artist. We collaborated on a remix to her song “Goodah” this year which featured New York City’s Jasmine Solano, UK dancehall artist Lady Chann, and electronic pop artist from Gothenburg Sweden, Nadia Nair. Talk about powerful women on one track!
Your July collaboration, “as Mulher” is wild, dirty, Klezmer, carioca bass! What records can we look forward to coming up?
Yes, “As Mulher” was a collaboration between myself, DJ Chernobyl (Brazil) & Shazalakazoo (Serbia) and prolific DJ, Gregor Salto (Netherlands) on the remix. Huge success and total transnational, Digital Age “Interracial Music Baby”! The song’s lyrics mean a lot to me: “That’s right, I am the one who rules things around here now and you better do what I say, because the world is ours and we the women run things from now on!”
As for new music, Nego Mozambique and I are finishing lots of new music, which we are debuting during the European Tour in November! I’m also working on a “World Cup” song with NYC/Uruguayan artist Guarco and frequent collaborator, Miami-via-Brooklyn’s Burt Fox.
