In the ‘representative’ and ‘symbolic’ continuation of the debut album, Manual de Como Amar Errado (2022), WIU brings more mature lyrics and sounds
After singing about heartbreak and disbelieving in love on her debut album, entitled How to Love Wrong Manual (2022), WIU showed a warmer side, with more irreverent lyrics and a more confident lyrical self Luxury Vagabondreleased on July 10, 2024 on streaming platforms.
Despite being very young, Vinicius William Sales de Lima has a very successful career at the age of 22. Not only a composer and singer, but the artist also produces his own music and works for other artists, such as Time Machine (2020), one of the most important albums of Brazilian trap, by Matuê.
Part of the label’s artist catalog 30Praumfounded by Matuê and by the businesswoman Clara Mendes, WIU has always had an eclectic contact with music, present since childhood in Fortaleza, capital of Ceará. The main influence is his brother Kelvinnine years older, who always played the guitar and really liked national music, like Ash, NX Zero and Pitty.
However, everything changed when a Vinicius William met rap.
Despite his older brother’s vast knowledge of music, he was an uncle of WIU who actually introduced him to hip hop culture. The relative had a very loud sound system in his house, where he listened to a lot of Racional MC’s and RAP inmatesas well as other sounds, such as Charlie Brown Jr. At that time, he still consumed different musical genres, including MPB, rock, funk, reggae, etc. In other words, he grew up surrounded by a lot of national music.
Over time, WIU moved to another neighborhood and went to Ayrton Senna Plateauwhere he began to learn more about rap. “I changed schools, met different kids, and made friends,” he recalled during an interview with Rolling Stone Brazil. “The older kids would rhyme and make rhymes during recess. I wanted to do the same and be the best at it.”
Rap was an immediate passion, and the singer even dreamed of winning the national MC duel in Belo Horizonte. Over time, he began to seek out new sounds, a fruit that he reaps in his songs, albums and EPs, with hip hop, brega, reggaeton, love song, piseiro, among other rhythms.
I love all genres. I listen to a lot of things. Nowadays what I listen to the most is reggae.
View this photo on InstagramA post shared by WIU (@hotwiu30)
The Boy Who Loved Too Much Became a Luxury Tramp
As WIU explained, Luxury Vagabond is a “symbolic” and “very representative” continuation of How to Love Wrong Manualbut “not so direct.” On the cover of the first album, we see the singer characterized as the character The Boy Who Loved Too Muchwho has no heart in his chest.
In the “sequel,” he found the solution to his own problems by filling the gap in love with other relationships. For example, that’s why the cover is full of kisses, as well as the strong presence of the color red, which signifies passion, energy and excitement.
“He has lived through a lot and now everyone wants a piece of him. Luxury Vagabond,” he said WIU the Rolling Stone Brazil. “He continues to be the same lazy, street urchin from Fortal, but now he lives in a world of luxury and learns to deal with it and how it affects him, not only in how he sees himself in the world, but how he sees himself in love, too.”
The 13 tracks on the new album’s tracklist are practically nomadic. The rapper has a kind of mobile studio and always takes recording equipment on the road. He makes music literally anywhere. For example, he has songs made in the studio, at home, etc.
There is a song that was made several years ago… another one made a month before the album. So we have a lot of stuff, a lot of baggage, a lot of things that I have experienced, a lot of things that I have learned and seen.
WIU He used this wide space to talk about various subjects, not just about love, money or trap. He wants to put a smile on the face of those who listen to his music, just as he wants people to dance on the dance floors at clubs and parties.
But, after all, what would a Luxury Vagabond be?
According to the Dictionary by Vinicius William Sales de Limathe Luxury Vagabond lives among people of luxury, in places where people think he shouldn’t be, but “he continues to be the 100% vagabond spirit.”
Kid from the slum who lived there Ayrton Senna Plateauthere in the back of Strengthwho watched rap on the street, on the sound system and used the wall of the Febem at the end of the street as if it were a goal to play ball, flying kites. He’s still the same kid, making the same rhymes, having the same fun, only now it seems like everyone wants a piece of him, as if he were a luxury item.
A sound beyond trap
Typically, artists and bands tend to explore and mix other musical genres with a long career. However, WIU He has always released songs that draw from various phonographic influences, just like his relationship with the music shown by his brother and uncle.
Including, “Queen of Finesse,” one of the best songs of Luxury Vagabondstarts with a trap to have a very interesting turn towards forró. This decision was made due to the versions that artists of the genre make of songs that are successful.
“I love forró, I really like it. There at the parties Fortal is one of the things that plays the most, band music,” he said WIU. “And then I said: ‘Man, but the guys are going to want to re-record it, right? What if I do it beforehand?’ I took the song, which was complete, and cut it in half. It’s really crazy because, obviously, I don’t have drums at home, nor do I know how to play drums.”
Despite being a producer, the rapper had some important help for the track: a recording session with the drummer little natan. So he built the base of the instrument on top of that by emulating a live instrument.
Producing other genres is very easy. I am a producer who has never been prejudiced. My brother was my biggest influence on what I listen to. He listened to everything. With him, I learned to appreciate the vibe of each thing. I have no prejudice against any musical genre or type of writing.
To WIUmusic does not have a formula. It is like a puzzle, which you put together in a different way each time, generating a different image in each situation: “So you can play with species in any way.”
“You can mix the order of the ingredients however you want, because something new will always come out. I get a lot of pleasure from that, I’m very synesthetic,” he added. “I see a lot of colors in the sounds I make. I play a lot with textures. I get a lot of pleasure from that. So, I joke that it’s like I’m making a drug in the studio.”
WIU establishes himself as one of the main voices of the new generation of trap, showing that, whether in rhymes about love or ostentation, he dominates with authenticity and creativity. The future is promising for this Luxury Vagabond.
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.
