Having moved to Esperance only six months ago, Zai Pereira has really made his mark on the Esperance music front.
His weekly gigs at The Quarters, “Sundays with Zai”, offer audiences a taste of his Brazilian roots, but Pereira said he loved to mix it up and make every Sunday a surprise.
“I like to mix a lot of cultures,” he said.
“I am Brazilian living in Australia, so I bring some Portuguese songs like jazz and bossa nova.”
“We play some Spanish songs, Brazilian songs, English songs, nice covers, original songs as well.”
Pereira said his Esperance music journey began with a post to the Facebook community page before he had arrived.
His brief introduction and enquiry of potential venues for a Brazilian musician received dozens of responses from the Esperance community.
“A lot of people contacted me,” he said.
“It was amazing. I didn’t imagine how nice it could be.”
Since he had arrived in Esperance, Pereira said he had played gigs at most of the popular venues and performed at some private events.
He is also a member of the band “Clandestinos” with Argentinian musicians Lucas Fibiger, Simon Goni and Cookie.
Their gigs around town are especially popular with Esperance’s prominent Latin community.
“I think you have more people from Argentina than from Brazil, but I have been meeting many Brazilians just arriving now,” he said.
“We like some parties and love dancing and dance music.”
“We like cultural events and mixing new cultures.”
Pereira said his gigs were for everyone because as he put it, “everybody needs music”.
“It’s mental health you know.”
“It’s great for me and my mental health as well.”
With a background as history professor in Brazil, Pereira said he liked to use music as a way to combine his interests.
“I am actually a historian before I am a musician,” he said.
“I worked as a teacher and a professor in Brazil for seven years before I came to Australia.”
“I love to mix history and music in all my rehearsals.”
He said in the future he would love to feature Australia Aboriginal music as part of his set.
Performing with a special guest every week, Pereira said “Sundays with Zai” were a chill family friendly event, perfect to finish the weekend.
For those excited to immerse themselves in a little Latin culture, Lucky Bay Brewing will be hosting Latin Fiesta on March 29 that will feature music from Clandestinos.
