Banda Uó

Origin

Goiânia, GO

Genres

tecnobrega, pop, indie pop

Biography

A Banda Uó was a Brazilian musical group formed in 2010 in the city of Goiânia, Goiás, by vocalists Davi Sabbag, Mateus Carrilho, and Candy Mel. The project was born from the transition of an indie rock and folk duo into a pop and tecnobrega sound inspired by an LGBT party organized by Davi. The group gained massive national prominence upon releasing "Shake de Amor", a Brazilianized version of a song by Willow Smith, whose music video earned them the Webclip award at the MTV Video Music Brasil in 2011. With the support of producers like Rodrigo Gorky and Diplo, the trio consolidated their colorful and irreverent aesthetic, mixing elements of pop culture and regional rhythms.

In 2012, after signing with the Deckdisc record label, they released their acclaimed debut album, Motel, which reached the top of the most downloaded charts on Brazilian iTunes and spawned hits like "Faz Uó", "Gringo", and "Cowboy". The group's trajectory was marked by prominent partnerships with names such as Mr. Catra on the track "Catraca" — which was part of the soundtrack for the telenovela I Love Paraisópolis —, Preta Gil, and Luiz Caldas. In 2015, they released their second studio album, Veneno, featuring collaborations with artists like Karol Conka and Vanessa Jackson, seeking even more pop-oriented sounds.

After announcing an indefinite hiatus in 2017 so that the members could focus on their solo careers, Banda Uó performed farewell tours and temporarily ceased activities. However, after a six-year hiatus, the trio surprised fans by announcing their return to the stage with the O Reencontro tour in 2024, in addition to collaborations with artists such as Gaby Amarantos. The band's contribution was fundamental in giving visibility to the LGBT aesthetic and tecnobrega within the country's contemporary music scene.