André Abujamra recalls the behind-the-scenes of the classic 1995 album, twice chosen as one of the best rock albums on the continent by Rolling Stone; band performs on the 20th at Blue Note SP
“Karnak is the only band with a dog that climbed Pão de Açúcar and the only Brazilian band that, despite not having broken out, came before Os Mutantes on the list of Rolling Stone.”André Abujamra remembers the surprise and commotion with which he received the news of the arrival of Karnak (1995), debut album by his namesake band, ranked seventh among the best Latin rock albums in the world. Rolling Stone.
The year was 2012 and, at that point, two decades had passed since the return of the definitive journey that launched André into the world after the end d’Os Mulheres Negrashis duo with Maurício Pereira. From his experiences between Spain and Egypt – where he visited the Karnak Temple – he brought in his luggage audio recorded on tape in various places around the world. He also brought an idea of making the “most pop band in the universe”: “I thought it would be like a Phil Collins.”
The beginning of Karnak
Karnak was not a Phil Collinsbut brought its own Face Value: bringing together 11 musicians, two actors and a dog – the late Jeton -, they would present rock with different influences and aspirations in the early 1990s. A work that doubled the anthropophagic stakes of a generation with Abujamra’s cosmopolitan wanderings and theatrical performance.
Released by the label Tinnitusin Pena Schmidt, Karnak reached the public in 1995. In the album’s credits, names like Chico Cesar, Tom Zé, Marisa Orth, Lulu Santos, Paulo Miklos It is Paulinho Moska they shared space with the troupe, which used pop aligned with rock, jazz, reggae and the sounds of distant places – but with a warning: “Karnak is not World Music!”, as stated in the album’s booklet itself.
In the cauldron of Karnak, Abujamra and his companions added “a lot of madness”. In the lyrics, “Lee-o-Dua” and “Hymboraewqyeyra” suggested an alternative to thematic rigor, while “Alma Não Tem Cor” and “O Mundo” sang the group’s global aspirations – the latter, in fact, would gain excellent versions in the voices of Paulinho Moska and Ney Matogrosso.
Sonically, Karnak brought into the premiere the sounds of a world that the studio was unaware of: “It has the laugh of my aunt Celina, who died. Since I was little, she would look at me and laugh. She couldn’t look at me and she would laugh. . It’s funny. Then I said: ‘auntie, I’m going to put you on my album'”.
Karnak also included the participation of the director and presenter Antonio AbujamraAndré’s father, with an anthological declamation in the album’s closing track (“Shut up boy”, which also includes Marisa Orth and Tom Zé) and also with a sample from an African music album: “Um disco de 1930 e something, from the first African recordings. So there’s a song that Chico César made when he came to São Paulo that has these guys singing in the intro.”
Today, several of the layers included on the album ended up lost along with Karnak’s master – except for the musicians’ memories: “I remember everything”, guarantees André. For those who are “a bit nerdy” and curious, he now recommends the use of artificial intelligence programs that open the elements of the songs digitally: “it’s unbelievable the things you can hear by opening them”.
Pop aspirations, as a genre, would end up being overcome: “It’s an album that has a lot of information. I think it’s pop, but it’s not pop because it has a lot of information.” But Karnak falling into popular taste – elevated by a MTV Brazil which still bet on legitimacy, as well as good sales, of more than 50 thousand copies, which would even go beyond the country’s borders:
“Back in the 2000s, we played a lot on radio stations in the United States. We did a lot of shows there. You have two Brazilian bands that played for an audience that wasn’t Brazilian, which was Marisa Monte and Karnak – It was very rare.”
Among the best in Rolling Stone
Their success outside Brazil would place them, years later, on the pages of Rolling Stone. Elected in 2012 by the Latin music specialist Ernesto Lechner as 7th among the 10 best Latin rock albums of all time, Karnak would be the best-ranked Brazilian name on the list – ahead of none other than Manu Chao, The mutants It is Santana.
“There was a lot of positive criticism and a lot of negative criticism because of this. [do posicionamento à frente d’Os Mutantes na lista de 2012]. But Karnak’s first album is, modesty aside, a milestone. I came back from Egypt in 91, 92, and I was already sampling, gluing K7 tape with duct tape”, says André.
In 2023, the same Rolling Stone would update and expand the ranking of Latin rock. This time, Karnak would end up behind The mutants (1968, in sixth position) and Clube da Esquina (1972, in fourth place). In 17th position, however, the album would continue to be recognized for its uniqueness: “A broad, cosmopolitan and deeply moving debut”, says the magazine. “The most criminally underrated album in Latin America”; or “painfully ahead of its time”, states the dramatic and even hyperbolic review – as Karnak himself never stopped being.
Rolling Stone Sessions: Karnak
On June 20th, Karnak is the attraction of Rolling Stone Sessions at the Blue Note SP. On the stage of every São Paulo, the troupe celebrates three decades of success and also the renewed recognition for Rolling Stone in 2023. Tickets are on sale at Eventim.
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In a special show, the band pays homage Eduardo Cabelloone of the band’s founding musicians, who left this year.
In the repertoire, “O Mundo Muda” – partnership between Eduardo Cabello and Abujamra, “Ai,ai,ai,ai,ai,ai,ai”, “Zoo”, “O Mundo”, “Juvenar” and other classics that cannot be missing a karnakian show.
“Karnak talks about serious things, but people go to the show and start laughing. We are funny on stage, but if people stop to pay attention, they will understand that what we say is very serious and remains relevant”, says André Abujamra.
The band is formed by André Abujamra (Guitar and vocals), Carneiro Sandalo (Drums), Kuki Stolarski (Drums), Luiz Macedo (Guitar and vocals), Mano Bap (Guitar and vocals), Eron Guarnieri (Keyboards), Sergio Bartolo ( Bass), Marcos Congento (Voice, trumpet and flute), Marcelo Pereira (Sax and voice) and Maestro Tiquinho (Trombone).
Tickets on sale at eventim.com.br/karnak.
Rolling Stone Sessions presents: Karnak
Date: Thursday, 06/20/2024
Opening of the house: 7pm
2 sessions: at 8pm and 10:30pm
Location: Blue Note São Paulo
Address: Avenida Paulista, 2073 – 2nd Floor – Consolação – São Paulo, SP
Tickets at Eventim: eventim.com.br/karnak.
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
