Baile Funk Is Coming To The Gold Coast… So What Is It?

If you’ve ever been to Brazil, chances are you’ve heard some baile funk. The electronic genre, infused with hip-hop, heavy bass, and Latin influences, is a staple in Brazilian culture. And now, it’s coming to our shores - or, more specifically, the Gold Coast’s shores.

On February 1, Mo’s Desert Clubhouse will host Queensland’s first “Funk Parade”, a one-night-only baile funk event thrown by INBRAZA, a cultural collective dedicated to celebrating Afro-Latin music, dance, and culture.

According to INBRAZA’s founder and creative director, Luara Brandao, the collective was created to educate non-Brazilians on baile funk and the long (and sometimes tumultuous) history behind the genre.

“INBRAZA was born from the desire to change the perspective of how baile funk is perceived from our own people - and to educate non-brazilians that consume the genre of the history of it, so cultural appropriation does not take place. Because what's happening now is, yes, baile funk is gaining world recognition - but who's representing the genre on a global stage and profiting over it is gringos that are showing "something new". When I go back home and I tell my friends that today here in Australia there’s no club that is not playing baile funk, they get mind blown. But the success doesn't reach the true creators of the music genre, and that's something that we cannot accept."

As such, Brandao told us a bit about the history of baile, and who we should thank for the creation of it: “Baile Funk is an Afro-Brazilian music genre, born in the favelas of Rio De Janeiro in 1989, influenced by Miami Bass. The first baile funk album, Funk Brasil, was released by DJ Marlboro, said to be the ‘Godfather’ of the genre.”

According to Brandao, the 90’s was when the genre really flourished, with millions of people gathering in Rio every weekend to celebrate baile funk. 

“There is no other cultural celebration in the world that is capable of doing something like that on such a regular basis,” she said.

But baile funk wasn’t just about the music. It became a symbol, a tool, a movement.

“Baile funk became the underground sound that represented the marginalised people from Brasil, and became a complex tool against the system. It gave people hope.”

Unfortunately, though, movements never rise without some push back.

“Because baile funk is black music from the ghettos, despite achieving worldwide success, funk continues to be heavily policed in the favelas of Brasil, and its artists have been constant victims of lawsuits, criminal investigations and even imprisonment, like DJ Renan da Penha in 2015. He was in prison for one year just for curating baile funk events at the favela he's from, Complexo da Penha.

“At the age of 15, I had a police officer pointing a gun to my face at a Baile Funk party. After this episode, I completely denied association with the genre for a period in my life. I was told by my mom that if I kept listening to that type of song and going to that type of environment, I would never make it out of the place where I was from. And for a long time I believed that. I don't blame my mother, I blame the racist system we live in that makes us believe that everything that is black is bad. Baile Funk is black music, and it's a symbol of freedom!  Today I see Baile Funk as more than a music genre, but a cultural and political movement.”

Now, Brandao is bringing that movement to Australia, throwing baile funk events around the country with INBRAZA: “We are reviving the sound system aesthetic from the early baile funk events back in the 90s and 00s. We will be bringing in DJ Karolla from Brazil for her first time playing in Australia. She will be spinning an exclusive set and will bring an authentic style of DJ'ing to the Australian audience. 

“There will also be an art exhibition from Albarte who is a rising artist from Complexo do Chapadão, a favela located in the North Zone of Rio De Janeiro. Through his art, he's empowering his community and flipping perspectives. Contrary to common belief that favelas are synonymous with poverty and violence, he highlights their artistic and cultural richness.

“This will be our first time on the Gold Coast so we would love to get the word out & be able to share this experience with the community!”

Tickets for the Gold Coast Funk Parade are on sale now. Find more information here.