Arp Frique returns with a brand new release on his own imprint Colorful World Records in collaboration with Rush Hour: a compilation of 12 Cape Verdean gems assembled with the help and knowledge of Americo Brito., with a special story behind it. Americo Brito, who features on Arp Frique’s original Nos Magia, is a proud and important member of the Cape Verdean community in Rotterdam. His story reveals part of the history of the connection between radio, vinyl, Cabo Verde and Rotterdam’s international music scene in the 70s and 80s. 

Cape Verdean insiders say “we export all they have to other countries, only to import it back again”. The migration of Cape Verdeans all over the world, mainly to cities with a big harbour, such as New York and Boston, and Rotterdam, Holland became one of the main destinations (next to Portugal) on the European mainland. When Americo , like many of his friends and relatives, moved to Rotterdam, he quickly became infected with the music virus, surrounded on a daily basis by Cape Verdean music in Portuguese pensions and small hotels where sailors ingested a dose of “sodade” through the interpretations of their beloved music by the local Cape Verdean artists. Americo took the stage with his band Djarama in the 70s and 80s, the live music scene was buzzing and the Cape Verdean community had their own infrastructure for arranging shows, often in nightclubs where the band had tob ring their own soundsystem. Interestingly, Americo didn’t stick to performing and recording music, he found another way to help spread the Cape Verdean magical secret of music across Rotterdam, Holland and beyond:“THERE WAS THIS SPOT IN ROTTERDAM WHERE ALL FOREIGN RADIO STATIONS WERE HOUSED, ALL THESE DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES TOGETHER, SURINAM, CAPE VERDEAN, HINDUSTANI…GUY RAMOS AND SOME OF MY OTHER FRIENDS MADE RADIO IN THE 80S THERE, I GOT INVOLVED IN THEIR RADIO ACTIVITIES. LATER ON I STARTED TO WORK AS A TECHNICIAN AND EVENTUALLY AS PRODUCER AND RADIO DJ FOR “RADIO VOZ DE CABO VERDE”. RADIO BECAME BIGGER AND THERE WERE AROUND 4 DIFFERENT CAPE VERDEAN STATIONS ACTIVE AT ONE POINT IN ROTTERDAM. INSTRUMENTAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS WAS THE ATTIC OF A DUTCH FRIEND, WHERE “RADIO BABALU” CAME TO LIFE. RADIO HAS ALWAYS HELD A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART.” Americo’s music collection in his attic stems from this era for a large part, also aided by his many travels across Europe to cities where there is a Cape Verdean community. Together with another Rotterdam local, Arp Frique, Americo unveals some of these songs: dancefloor hits and beloved radio gems known in the Cape Verdean scene by both a young and old generation, undiscovered yet by the “bigger” audience. The compilation showcases the worldy view of Cape Verdeans on music, incorporating all the knowledge from their travels in their compositions. Ranging from the obvious funana and coladeira, to the more unexpected influences of deep disco, new wave, uptempo reggae, jazzfunk and Brazilian popmusic, showcasing only the tip of the iceberg, but what an amazing t(r)ip it is!