“Levanta Meu Boi” drops via Caravela Records ahead of Projeto Girô’s June festivities, blending northern and northeastern Brazilian folk culture.
Brazilian artist Letto has released “Levanta Meu Boi” (“Rise, My Bull”), a new single paying tribute to the rich folk traditions of northern and northeastern Brazil. Out now on Caravela Records, the track sets the stage for the upcoming June edition of Projeto Girô, a cultural initiative based in Rio de Janeiro that uses dance, music, poetry, and art to create spaces of bodily connection.
From stage to studio
Letto has a singular approach to recording: he only commits a song to studio once it has proven itself live. “The stage works as a filter for me — I can really tell whether the audience connects with it or not. I only record songs I’ve already been playing live for some time,” he explains.
The stage works as a filter for me — I can really tell whether the audience connects with it or not. I only record songs I’ve already been playing live for some time.
His first encounter with the Boi tradition happened in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, where it is known as Boi de Reis. That experience shaped the song, which references Praia de Santa Rita, a beach where Letto has written many of his compositions.
Recording “Levanta Meu Boi”
A conversation with Projeto Girô founders Bruno Cezzá and Nat Sant’Anna proved decisive: all agreed a Boi piece would be a perfect fit for the project’s next June celebration. Recording took place at Espaço Ipiranga, where Letto sang and played curimbós, acoustic guitar, banjo, and mineiro.
The session featured Luiz de Urjaiss on snare and cymbals, Karine Curty on transverse flute, Conceição Carlos on pandeirão and drum, and Leandro Dias on percussion. Leandro also handled mixing and mastering.
Projeto Girô and community art in Rio
Projeto Girô presents twice a year — at Carnival and during the June festivals. Originally launched as “Vivências em danças populares” (Experiences in folk dance), the initiative has grown to include floor and stilt dance classes, pandeiro-making workshops, costume-making using recycled materials, percussion workshops, and storytelling sessions. Activities take place in private venues, public squares, and free of charge in peripheral communities across Rio de Janeiro.
Listen to “Levanta Meu Boi”: https://hypeddit.com/tlo1vz
Event Info
- Single: “Levanta Meu Boi” — Letto
- Label: Caravela Records
- Available at: https://hypeddit.com/tlo1vz
- Letto on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letto.oficial/
- Projeto Girô on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projetogiro/
- Caravela Records on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caravela.records
