CARAVELA ESCARLATE
The Brazilian symphonic trio bringing a new swing to the classic British and Italian prog that inspired them.
Brazilian trio Caravela Escarlate began exploring classic British and Italian prog before they began including influences from their native country. But according to keyboardist Ronaldo Rodrigues, it’s this long-way-round approach that has imbued their music with a unique, international flavour.
“We have a particular accent in the rhythm,” he tells Prog, “which includes an appreciation of very dynamic rhythm sections, and some inclination to explore more melodic approaches – less experimental music. Our music contains a peculiar light. We deal with contrasts, but we’re always thinking how to sound melodic.”
Rodrigues cites Keith Emerson,
Rick Wakeman and Tony Banks as inspiration. Completed by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Jove David Palva and drummer Elcio Cáfaro, Caravela Escarlate formed in Rio de Janeiro in 2011, and have struggled to retain a foothold in Brazil where, Rodrigues says, prog is still a small niche.
“There are fans and bands,” he says, “but not enough to call a ‘scene’. Even prog metal has become relatively small here. The average age of [prog] musicians and audiences in the 1970s was much lower than now.”
But it’s not all bad news. The keyboardist cites the support of Norway’s Karisma Records, and an increasing level of print and online coverage of their impressive new album, III, as signs of hope: “We believe the album will open the way for our band to be seen at some important festivals around the world.”
Caravela Escarlate sing proudly in Portuguese, and while this helps them properly convey the meaning of III’s historically literate songs, it could also limit their international audience. But then, the band themselves are used to listening to songs in Italian, French, German, English; Rodrigues sees singing in their own language is another point of distinction.
“It would be a challenge to write interesting lyrics in English,” he muses. “Perhaps in the future we’ll look for a collaborator. But we hope the new album will be well received anyway!”
“Our music has a particular rhythm, and contains a peculiar light.”
III is out now. More details at www.karismarecords.no.