Sessa

Sergio Sayeg (aka Sessa) is fascinated by “the mess” of music, “the crooked translations that music gets when it travels.” A cultural cannibal like the iconic Brazilian Tropicalistas from the late sixties, Sessa unapologetically and seamlessly mashes musical references, from rock to jazz to samba and soul.

A Paulista (São Paulo native) by way of New York City, Sessa’s new album, Pequena Vertigem de Amor (Lil’ Vertigo of Love), expands the sonic universe he’s been building since his debut in 2019. “A bit more nocturnal, open ended, crooked funky,” Pequena Vertigem de Amor channels the late seventies slinky sophistication of Brazil’s MPB scene mixed with the psychedelic soul of Sly Stone and Shuggie Otis without straying from his sonic signature of acoustic guitar, Afro-Brazilian percussion and the dialogue between Sessa’s distinctive vocals and familial female chorus.

Born and raised in São Paulo, Sergio started playing music professionally in his teens as guitarist and a songwriter for the moderately successful and internationally distributed Tropicália-inspired band, Garotas Suecas. His family’s relocation to New York City in 2007 made it difficult to continue with the band, but he soon found himself swimming in new and exciting musical waters, including a job working at the infamous Tropicália in Furs record store and stints in bands playing everything from noise rock to soul music.

Presented by Rich Mix.

All ages