Wills

Wills formed in São Paulo in 1993, with Rafael Cavalcanti on vocals and guitar, Edu Fragelli on bass, and Rodrigo Tavares on drums. Their music pulls from samba and bossa nova, but moves with a pop rhythm that feels current. The song 'Outros Carnavais' from their 2003 album of the same name became a kind of anthem for them, its melody both bright and a little wistful.

They've worked with other Brazilian artists like Ivan Lins and Lenine, and put out a handful of albums through the 2000s, including 'Samba do Relógio' and 'Acelerou'. Their sound isn't strictly traditional; it's more like they use those older forms as a starting point for something lighter and more direct. You can hear it in tracks like 'Passos Largos' or 'Água pro Vinho', familiar rhythms, but arranged for a band that sounds like it's playing in a room together, not on a festival stage.

That recognition came at a time when their music was finding an audience that appreciated its blend of accessibility and Brazilian roots. They kept recording and playing, and while they haven't become a constant presence in the mainstream, their songs from that period still turn up on playlists and in bars where the mood calls for something upbeat but not shallow.