Eric Fraga
Welcome to our interview with Eric Fraga, a talented DJ and producer hailing from São Paulo, Brazil. Eric’s latest release, titled “Berimbau EP,” in collaboration with Cafe De Anatolia, is making waves in the music scene. The EP features two captivating tracks: the first track, “Berimbau,” and the second track, “Toribalé.” . It is officially released on July 18, showcasing Eric’s unique musical style and creative prowess. Eric Fraga built his musical identity through an interlocution between the Brazilian sound and the international references acquired during more than 10 years of living abroad. An Afro House enthusiast, Fraga creates sound narratives guided by percussion and drums, which reflect his Bahian origin. Let’s dive deeper into Eric’s journey and explore his passion for music.
Tell us more about yourself & your music career.
I am a DJ and producer. I’m gathering all my references and managing to reproduce them in music, bringing back my childhood in Bahia with the instruments I have the most affinity with, which are percussive, and mixing them with all the experience acquired in the 10 years I’ve lived outside Brazil.
How would you describe your style of music?
Tribe – A more specific variation on the ethnic fusion theme, combining man’s most primeval musical expressions by recording and mixing elements of indigenous music with African percussions. Where do you find inspiration? I find inspiration in my roots and experiences, blending them with my intuition. Describe how music is important to society.
What is your best time of the day to create?
Mornings without breakfast.
Who are your musical influences?
I have many, but the ones that recently inspired me are Notre Dame, Maga, and Hyenah.
What is the most difficult thing about being a musician?
The beginning is very challenging because we start navigating alone, without the perception that the void and lack of direction is already part of the journey. What has been your biggest career highlight so far? GIGs – IT Tulum, DEDGE São Paulo, Klein – Istanbul/Turkey. Also, my first internationally released EP – Cafe De Anatolia.
Eric Fraga
Where do you find inspiration?
My inspiration comes in different forms: thoughts, feelings, or ideas. To create music, I like to create projects for albums or tracks. For example, with the Berimbau, I wanted to relive my roots, my origin, and think of characteristic sounds from Bahia. Then, I focused on creating a sound that represents a theme, something that transports you to that place. When I decided to make a track centered around the berimbau, a direction came to me. I sought out artists who played it, recorded it in the studio, and looked for instruments I already had on disc that had the same note and tone. Then, I searched for more instruments and emotions. I stay in this process for about a week, looking for artists, recording instruments, and then spend another week in the studio per song to achieve the final result.
What are your latest releases?
Cipó and Benção.
What is your connection with Cafe De Anatolia?
I have been following the label for about a year and always felt that we could collaborate because of our music styles and artists.
Are you working on something new?
I just had a session with true Brazilians, the indigenous people, where we managed to record everything, including wind instruments, percussion, singing, and more.
What’s the best piece of advice another musician has ever given you?
Don’t worry about how to succeed; you are already in the process of getting there.
What’s your process for dealing with performance anxiety?
Anxiety is a feeling that I have learned to live with. Like everything in life, it has a good side. In the fervor of the feeling, when pessimism is also present, I try to use that strength and discomfort to take it in a positive direction. These moments are when I study the most and think about what I can do to change the point that makes me sad and anxious. I use this pain to make myself stronger. I believe that when everything is too comfortable, we do not move. Discomfort pushes us to take action and have a proactive attitude.
How did Covid-19 change the terms of the music industry? How did it affect you?
Covid-19 was one of the most difficult times of my life. I was living in Turkey at the time, working as an international model for the past 10 years. I was there for a new contract of 3 months, and I had the opportunity to play and mix in some small clubs in Istanbul. However, when the pandemic hit, flights were canceled, social contact was restricted, and coming and going became impossible. I experienced great uncertainty without knowing the extent of the devastation caused by the virus. During this time, my professional commitments ceased to exist, and I had the opportunity to reflect on what I wanted to represent to the world and how I could use my talents to be happy and successful. I had always been in love with electronic music, and I was already playing in some clubs at the time. So, I started studying more, exploring different electronic styles, and eventually decided to produce my own music.
Do you have any advice for aspiring musicians?
Rely heavily on your intuition and try to learn the basics of any art and subject on your own. When we explore things on our own, we develop our own methods of execution and perception. Once you feel confident, seek out people who have more knowledge and whom you admire. Look for clubs, events, and festivals that inspire you. Immerse yourself in music.”