Medio Grave by JLZ & GG

Emerging from the rural heartlands of Northeast Brazil, forró’ is a vibrant musical genre that has been the soundtrack of the region's social gatherings and festivities since the 1930s. Traditionally characterized by the rhythmic interplay of the accordion, zabumba, and triangle, forró has evolved over the decades, giving rise to various subgenres, including the contemporary piseiro—a keyboard-driven electronic offshoot that transforms traditional instrumentation into infectious, looped grooves.

Enter MÉDIO GRAVE, a groundbreaking mixtape that seeks to challenge and redefine perceptions of forró, integrating it into the musical ecosystem of sound systems and the Black diaspora. Selected and mixed by DJ and producer JLZ and music critic and researcher GG Albuquerque, the mixtape delves into the unique sonic characteristics of the genre, particularly emphasizing the mid and high frequencies that blasts in the "paredões". Through their curation and mixing, JLZ and GG Albuquerque present a fresh perspective on genre, highlighting its unorthodox approach on explosive, noisy, and fast-paced sound, capturing the raw energy of the street parties where forró thrives.

The title MÉDIO GRAVE—translating to "mid-bass"—is a nod to the unique texture of forró sound systems. Unlike many of music cultures that often emphasize deep bass frequencies, forró prioritize crisp mid and piercing high frequencies, offering a distinct auditory experience that reflects the region's sonic preferences.

MÉDIO GRAVE offers an immersive introduction to the landscape of the genre and its contemporary innovations. It's an invitation to experience the pulsating rhythms and evolving soundscapes of a neglected facet of Brazilian music, reimagined through a modern lens.

Tracklist

1.	Side A	15:00

2.	Side B	14:11

Credits

released August 20, 2025

Mastered at Declared Sound

License