Oruã Photo credit: Carolina Faraco
Today, Oruã has premiered their fuzzy, off-kilter single “Deus-Dará” and its accompanying video via The Big Takeover. They’ve also announced their new LP Slacker, out October 24th via K Records. Composed of Lê Almeida (guitar/vocals), João Casaes (synths), Bigu Medine (bass), and Ana Zumpano (drums), the quartet creates an exciting, unique style of guitar music–they combine elements of 90s lo-fi indie rock, krautrock, noise, afrobeat, and Brazilian music, ranging from Luiz Gonzaga’s primal Pernambuco sound to classic Brazilian psych rock. “Deus-Dará” is the band’s first release since their 2024 LP Passe, and is a fitting first look at their new LP, which is out later this year.
Check out the Q&A with Lê Almeida:
“Deus-Dará” is described as both scuzzy and melodically off-kilter—can you talk about how the song came together sonically, and what emotional or cultural ideas were guiding you while writing and recording it?
LÊ ALMEIDA: It has an exciting vibe of continuing to make music. I wrote this track in Brazil after returning from a tour of the United States and Europe in 2023. Here in Brazil I went through some difficulties re-adapting. I’ve spent a lot of band time travelling the world and I have better opportunities to work in music outside my country. Realising this has visibly shaken my musicality. The new disc is a revival of the indie culture I’ve always appreciated.
“Deus-Dará” is about perseverance and the courage to throw yourself into the world. We’re about to embark on another tour of Europe and a lot of emotions are hanging over us. Many of my lyrics are like prayers. I think this is another one of those strong, motivating lyrics.
Your music blends Brazilian psych, afrobeat, krautrock, and 90s lo-fi indie—how do you approach maintaining that balance between rooted Brazilian identity and global experimental rock traditions, especially on Slacker?
LÊ ALMEIDA: I’ve always seen a lot of connections between these styles and ideas. I grew up listening to Pavement and Sonic Youth, but when I discovered Fela Kuti I got really into Afrobeat. There’s a very hot beat pulsation in Oruã. Many elements are rhythmic, Brazilian music is extremely rhythmic and a big influence on me.
Here in Brazil there are Afro rhythms that were born in macumba terreiros. Things linked to African religious rituals. I have a lot of influence from these drumming sounds. They give me some kind of emotion that’s hard to explain.
Having toured with Built to Spill and co-produced their last album, how did that experience influence your approach to making Slacker, particularly working with Jim Roth in Seattle?
LÊ ALMEIDA: We met Jim because of Built to Spill, that connection opened up my horizons, I’m very grateful for that. Being able to play and be around people who have been doing what I do for much longer than I have and know a lot about sound is a gift. At the end of 2023 I was in Seattle and I talked to Jim about the idea for the new Oruã album, which was basically all the unfinished or finished tracks I had put together so far. In September 2024 we recorded Slacker with Jim playing on almost every track with us. It was very genuine and symbolic for me. It all happened very naturally. Including the title Slacker, which was born at Jim’s house while we were reading various reviews of our last album Passe saying that we made slacker-rock or associating our sound with that word.
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