Working in the most vibrant music market in the world, Suely Mesquita sings, writes, and performs all over Brazil, and has produced more than 500 songs. Coming of age in 1970s Rio de Janeiro, Mesquita has written and recorded for such internationally known artists as Pedro Luís, Zeca Baleiro, Chico Cesar, Zélia Duncan, Celso Fonseca, Chico Saraiva, Fred Martins, Kátia B, Arícia Mess, Glauco Lourenço, Eugenio Dale, Kali C, Luís Capucho, Marcela Biasi, Ney Matogrosso, Fernanda Abreu, George Israel, Leoni, and Moska.

An exacting recording artist in her own right, Mesquita has released two albums, “Sexo Puro” (2002) and “Microswing” (2004), garnering universal critical acclaim. Writer and Brazilian music fan Bob Gaulke (“Embrace Your Insignificance” and “The Nervous Tourist,” both Future Tense Books) interviewed Mesquita over the summer of 2009 to create a multimedia package that serves as an introduction to Mesquita’s work for an international audience.

Working with Mesquita to select a CD’s worth of demos, live performances, and representative recordings, “Sexo Puro: A Life in Brazilian Song” presents a cross-section of songs, stories, and anecdotes that tell the story of an exemplary artist’s journey through music.

Format: Trade paperback 146 pp. + CD