Beto Villares

Beto Villares has been a name in Brazil for years, mainly because of his high-profile composition and production work on soundtracks, including for the film Antonia. His musical world was changed forever, however, when he worked on a multipart documentary for Brazilian TV called Musica do Brasil. Hosted by minister of culture and venerated pop star Gilberto Gil, the documentary exposed Villares to the hyperkinetic vibrancy of Brazilian music outside the cities. He put some of his newfound inspiration to use in producing fellow Brazilian CeU's hugely successful debut, but it's most evident on his own debut, which was released in Brazil in 2004 as Excelentes Lugares Bonitos and was released in the U.S. by Six Degrees in 2008 as Beto Villares. An innovative mix of big-city sophistication and small-town joie de vivre -- coupled with very unusual, subtle electronic touches -- it was a stunning release from a welcome new voice in Brazilian music.