Do you want to dance or do you just want to chill out? You can do either with Josyara, a Brazilian guitarist and singer-songwriter who carries on her country’s tradition of combining infectious rhythms with an indulgent laid-back vibe. Despite her first album coming out over a decade ago, Josyara is relatively young, bringing a unique blend of youthful spirit and professional experience to her well-crafted songs. You don’t have to share a language with her to find meaning in her songs, which tend to lean into the realm of politics and social observation. The lilt and emotiveness of her voice transcend mere words, the percussiveness of her guitar punctuates the lyrics, and the references to Brazilian bossa nova (Josyara hails from Juazeiro, which was also the home of João Gilberto) and Tropicalia lend a warm familiarity. Throw in some electronic influences and a whiff of psychedelia and you’ve got a fresh sound perfect for a relaxed dance party or a day spent in the hammock, sipping on caipirinhas.
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About Terra Lightfoot · Hamilton, Ontario
A gutsy roots-rocker with a big molasses-drenched spill of a voice, Terra Lightfoot doesn’t ask for your musical attention; she bloody well rides over and takes it. It was not always thus, although music has been her constant companion since childhood, with an organ-playing grandmother and rocker aunt. Lightfoot made a tentative foray into solo performance in 2011 with a debut album that was, in retrospect, quiet and polite. Not yet comfortable with fully loosing her octave-spanning, note-bending powerhouse of a voice, showing off her bluesy guitar chops, it took some time as a member of the alt-country Dinner Belles to settle into her musical power. With sophomore album she slipped the leash of "quiet and polite" entirely. A recent tour with an all-female band and crew cemented her commitment celebrating women in music. A trip to Nashville to record her 2020 album Consider the Speed broke the dam wide open. There she quickly poured out over a dozen songs reflecting on life as a touring musician, past relationships, and the death of her grandmother – her most soulful, soul-baring, soul-searching record to date. Wielding her red Gibson SG with consummate swagger, and a voice that is more than a match for it, the power of Lightfoot’s voice and poetry is transporting.