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Brazilian Girls: A Multilingual Musical Affair

The members of Brazilian Girls met while playing at the New York club Nublu.
The members of Brazilian Girls met while playing at the New York club Nublu.

First, know that Brazilian Girls are neither Brazilian nor all girls. The band, which was formed in New York City, is composed of three men and one woman who combine influences ranging from reggae to jazz to pop. Singer Sabina Sciubba's sultry vocals and sly, dreamy lyrics have led to more than a few reviewer blurbs featuring the words "sex," "seduce" or some variation on the theme.

A distinguishing feature of the band's self-titled album is that it features lyrics in five languages, a function of Sciubba's Italian-German upbringing and residence in four countries over the course of her life. "It feels really unnatural to sing only in one language, let alone only in English," she says. The band labels its sound "melting pop."

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Scott Simon is one of America's most admired writers and broadcasters. He is the host of Weekend Edition Saturday and is one of the hosts of NPR's morning news podcast Up First. He has reported from all fifty states, five continents, and ten wars, from El Salvador to Sarajevo to Afghanistan and Iraq. His books have chronicled character and characters, in war and peace, sports and art, tragedy and comedy.