DMiguel

DMiguel formed in Salvador, Bahia in 1996. The name plays on the Portuguese phrase "de Miguel," suggesting something that comes from Miguel, though it's not clear who Miguel was or if the band ever explained it. Their first album came out the next year, titled "Cabuçu Mexe e Remexe Através Dos Tempos," which also gave them their most recognizable song.

That song, "A Cabuçu Mexe e Remexe Através Dos Tempos," became popular enough to define their early sound. The music mixed samba, reggae, and axé with African rhythms, and Luciano Salvador wrote lyrics that touched on social issues and Bahian culture. They kept recording through the early 2000s, putting out albums like Samba Rock Filhos da Bahia and Baile da Massa.

The band's lineup included Luciano Salvador on vocals, Jadson Prata on guitar, Emerson Ramos on bass, Capinan on percussion, and João Pina on drums. Their music drew from the traditions of Salvador and Bahia, but avoided becoming purely traditional or purely commercial. They worked in that space where celebration and commentary sometimes overlapped.