Imagine the Brazilian drink caipirinha, then replace the broken ice with samba rhythms, the sugar cane with rhythmic electric beats and the cachaça with sounds of the streets.

DJ Dolores aka Helder Aragao is from Recife from the north of Brazil. He’s not only a producer and famous as a cutting-edge DJ, he’s also active in theatre and the writing of film music. He tours all over the world with his live band. His latest project, Aparelhagem, is a Brazilian expression of a special type of sound-system, and like Aragao himself, full of contradictions. It can be full-on, but DJ Dolores manages with his artful understanding, humour and knowledge, to keep the beat intact and beautifully pulsating. The tracks vary from whistles and the carnival feeling to the sound of rubbing balloons and flipper games. If it sounds surrealistic- that’s exactly what it is- surrealism at it’s best!

DJ Dolores released his first album in 1997 but was active before as a DJ in Recife during the 80`s. Since then he has put together music on-screen (O Rap do Pequeno Principe contra as Almas Sebosas, Narradores de Javé), for dance performances (Desatino do Norte, with Corpo de Baile do Teatro Municipal de Sao Paulo, liveversion with Peter Diezt) and theatre (A Maquina, de Joao Falcao).

He was crowned, Best DJ of Beats at Trofeu Noite Ilustrada, 2003 and won the category for Best Club Music at the BBC Awards. His latest tour was in 2003 when he did around thirty gigs in Europe and the USA.

By mixing Brazilian traditional rhythms with modern electronica he creates a new genre that beats straight to our hearts and souls.

Nathalie Bödtker-Lund