Qivalarfa

Qivalarfa formed in São Paulo in 1999, with Paulo Chacon on guitar, Gabriel Ramos on drums, and André Arcuri on bass. Their name came from an anagram of 'farvaláqui,' which set the tone for the playful, somewhat cryptic quality that ran through their work.

Their music pulled from post-punk and jazz, but also worked in Brazilian rhythms like samba and baião. The result could be rhythmically dense and harmonically unexpected, with lyrics that leaned toward surreal imagery. Their 2001 album 'De Trás Pra Frente' gives a good sense of that approach.

They released a few more records, including 'Mágica' in 2004 and 'De Dentro Pra Fora' in 2007. Their live shows often involved elaborate staging and visuals, which added to their reputation as an act that was more interested in creating a particular atmosphere than in straightforward performance. They developed a dedicated following, though their sound kept them from breaking through to a wider audience.