Batucada Sound Machine

Loosely translated, batucada means percussive samba jam, which aptly describes Batucada Sound Machine's musical roots. It began in 2003, when five drummers met each month in the lounge bar of Auckland's Galatos nightclub to experiment with fusing batucada with local beats and influences. Soon the band had grown to 13 members, and found a strong live following both in New Zealand and abroad. After a live EP, they recorded debut studio album Rhythm and Rhyme in 2008. With a guest appearance by Che Fu, the album swings from pure dancefloor afrobeat to funk, hip hop and samba-reggae.