Blurring the lines between genres with the old-school rhythms of PPJ’s "Bicha”

There are three parts to PPJ: Páula, Povoa and Jerge. Páula sings and writes, while Povoa and Jerge are musicians and producers. Until a couple of years ago, the trio had never played together - starting life as a one-off project in a Normandy 2020’s lockdown. “The first release was called Páula, Povoa and Jerge, because we said, okay, it’s just collaboration’. We were using it for a laugh, but then no one could remember our three names. It was too complicated. So we just said okay, PPJ is easier!,” they reflect.

Armed with their protean techno-pop and Brazilian influences, the three friends invite us into their bubble of sensitive positivity with the new song titled "Bicha", full of devouring yet increasing energy. The track sounds as if it was created to make bodies dance and brighten up gloomy moods while waiting for the clubs to reopen.

Povoa has already released 2 solo EPs on Moshi Moshi, while Páula feels the need to write and sing all the time, which he does with his band Tampon Tango (with producer DieDerDas). Jerge collaborates with various producers such as Myd or as a live musician for Christine & the Queens, but he also has a solo project (he produced the song Everybody with You Man released on the Circa 99 label).

As PPJ, they burst onto the UK scene in 2020 with the 4-track EP Primavera, an eruption of colourful influences straddling the exhumed, experimental sounds of Awesome Tapes from Africa and the rich house heritage of continental Europe. Yet, their joyful musical attitude got praised a few months ago and had a real crush with the seven-song EP Trindade.

The title of the opening track "Cajuína", is directly inspired by the artisanal juice of the cashew fruit, a speciality from the north of Brazil, and is their latest soaring auditory journey released last April. So, PPJ’s productions are a celebration of different cultures, radiating happiness and good vibes only.

That sense of celebration is what Páula refers to very specifically as 'Brazilian energy': “Bloco is the name of the popular gatherings and parties in the streets of Rio during carnival. With it, we want to transmit the idea of dancing all together without boundaries of gender, social class or age like if partying was a bond between all of us.”