Bianca Fachel
Bianca Fachel, a Brazilian artist based in Ireland and owner of Birdland Music Studio, is a versatile force in music, film, and entrepreneurship. Pioneering the fusion of music with the regenerative economy, she focuses on original compositions, collaborations, and educational programs, solidifying her impact in the creative sphere.
Bianca has performed and won awards for her compositions on stages in Porto Alegre, Ireland, and internationally, captivating audiences at renowned festivals such as Montreux Jazz Festival, Sligo Jazz Festival, and Bray Jazz Festival. Her original songs “Keep on Moving” and “The Way Back Home” were selected for inclusion in the Irish feature film Writing Home, earning recognition at the 29th Galway Film Fleadh Cinema Festival.
Pursuing her passion for music, Bianca studied Sound Engineering and Music Festival Management at Sound Training College in Dublin and attended a songwriting course at Berklee College of Music. Her musical compositions blend influences from Samba, Bossa Nova, MPB, Brazilian Soul Music, Tropicália, Folk, Jazz, African rhythms, and Irish Traditional Music, creating a distinctive and rich style.
As a passionate educator and tutor, Bianca shares her expertise in songwriting and music production through workshops at Transition Longford, Permaculture Ireland, facilitating workshops with other artists in programs with Music Network and various events across the country. Her workshops aim to empower participants by helping them unlock their creative potential, explore sustainability in the arts, and develop skills in songwriting, music arrangement, and recording techniques.
In March 2021, Bianca became the first independent artist to produce and launch online shows featuring her original songs, receiving acclaim for “Land of Dreams – A Journey to Inspiration Vol. 1” and “Timeless River – A Wrinkle in Time Vol. 2.” In 2022, she expanded her creative reach with “Music in the Forest,” an environmentally conscious hybrid music festival, and appeared on the Cúltír TV Programme, representing County Roscommon.
In 2023, Bianca released two captivating singles: “Journey to Milky Way,” a song inspired by ancient civilizations and history, and “Forever Green,” a song to Ireland. These releases showcase Bianca’s ability to weave profound themes with her signature musical style.
Towards the end of 2022, Bianca received an Arts Council grant to collaborate with women from diverse backgrounds on the “Bean Feasa” project, recording and producing 10 songs at her Birdland Music Studio. In March 2024, Bianca’s collaborative project was selected for funding by Coimisiún na Meán to produce and record the radio documentary “Ethnic Echoes,” with two other collaborators, presenter Vanda Brady and Daniela Rana which explores diverse cultural music traditions and their intersections.
In May 2024, Bianca was honoured with the Runner-Up Award for the Digital Sustainability Award from .ie Digital Towns for producing and hosting the low-environmental-impact Music in the Forest Hybrid Festival in Knockcroghery, Co. Roscommon.
Set for release in September 2024, Bianca’s highly anticipated album “Time Machine”—awarded by the Roscommon Arts Council and Creative Ireland —reflects her dedication to crafting original compositions. The album features collaborations with musicians from Ireland and abroad and was recorded at her Birdland Music Studio. “Time Machine” promises to take listeners on a transformative journey through time, sound, and emotion.
Bianca is also the creator and host of the “See You in the Music” podcast, where she engages with her audience, showing how she makes songs, talking about songs for movies, creativity, sustainability, and innovation. Her podcast serves as a platform for meaningful conversations about the evolving landscape of music and art.
In addition, Bianca has been invited to participate in the “Mayo Roscommon Care & Creativity in Context” project, funded under the Creative Health and Wellbeing strand of the Creative Ireland Programme. This initiative, a collaboration between Roscommon County Council, Mayo County Council, and the Irish Hospice Foundation, focuses on integrating art and creativity into end-of-life and bereavement care settings.
To support Bianca’s groundbreaking work, you can purchase her album “Time Machine” directly from her website. Your support fuels her mission to inspire and create through music and art.
Djâmen
Djâmen, a Latin Grammy Award co-winner, is an arranger, composer and multi- instrumentalist.
Citing Milton Nascimento , Black Rio amongst his earliest Brazilian influences, his music is also inspired by international black music artists such as Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis and Esperanza Spalding. Having grown up in an artistic and musical family, he was blessed to learn from pioneers of samba rock and black southern Brazilian music (afro-gaúcha) like Bedeu, Luis Vagner, Marco Farias and Giba Giba – rhythms later brought to the world stage by Sérgio Mendes. In 2018 as a co-producer and arranger he won the Latin Grammy awards as the best album in Portuguese language.
Djâmen blends it all into a unique form of contemporary avant-garde Brazilian music that is extensively informed by, but also deeply conscious of its role in, the Brazilian Afrofuturism Movement. He brings strong messages on themes such as racism, black empowerment, gender equality, self-development and immigration, all of which are entrenched in his journey.
Moved by his belief in the decolonisation of sound and ideas, Djâmen challenges single- gender approaches to music and mixes together elements of jazz, neo soul and traditional Brazilian music. He uses his art as a way to deconstruct pre-established rules that create separation, in favour of bringing people together and honouring all forms of expression. Djâmen’s music is finely tuned and rich in personal experience, vast musical knowledge and social consciousness. Both penetrating and elevating, it is a delicate but fierce step towards his envisioned future.
In recently years Djamen has been touring Europe playing with diverse artists.
Djâmen also will be producing and recording with Bianca Fachel in her debut Album “Time Machine” in 2024.
Zeh Netto
Guitarist, composer, producer, arranger, mentor and speaker.
For nearly three decades, Zeh Netto has been a prominent figure in the music industry, specializing in producing and creating music for audiovisual media. As the owner of PLANETA ZEN, an artistic production company, Zeh has collaborated with major advertising agencies and clients both in Brazil and internationally. His extensive portfolio includes producing music for TV, cinema, and theatre, as well as arranging for various singers and instrumentalists.
Zeh has showcased his original work as a guitarist at prestigious events such as the Montreux Jazz Festival and Zelt Musik Festival.
He has recorded with renowned artists like Georges Moustaki in Paris and released two solo albums. Additionally, he formed a trio with Sebastião Tapajós and Robertinho Silva and accompanied artists such as Fátima Guedes and Sueli Costa.
Zeh Netto is a current producer at Niterói Discs, Zeh has significantly influenced the music production landscape.
Zeh holds a degree in Arranging from UNIRIO and has completed courses in “Composing for Film and TV” from Berklee, as well as a music for cinema course with David Tygel.
His recent work includes the feature-length animation “BRUXARIAS,” a Brazil/Spain co-production that won an award at Rio Cine.
Zeh has served as the President of Musimagem Brasil, an association of audiovisual composers, and is a speaker and professor of Music Production and Technology in various formats.
Zeh has created music for notable brands like AMIL and DuLoren and was invited to compose for Renault’s 100th anniversary in Paris.
Zeh is one of the organizers of this unique soundtrack festival, the only one in the Americas and globally organized by composers.
He has provided musical direction assistance for acclaimed shows like “MAGAL EU TE AMO” and “CLARA, UMA DECLARAÇÃO DE AMOR,” directed by Francisco Nery and musically directed by Nico Rezende.
Zeh collaborates with the collective at Birdland music studio in Ireland, alongside Bianca Fachel.
Zeh continues to focus on his original compositions and solo guitar performances, both as a solo artist and with a band.
Zeh performed a solo concert at tMusic in the Forest Hybrid festival in Ireland.
-He also delivered a solo concert at Teatro Sala Nelson dos Santos, renowned venue in Niterói, RJ.
Zeh Netto’s multifaceted career and diverse collaborations underscore his significant contribution to the music industry, making him a revered artist and producer both locally and internationally.
Zeh Netto also will be producing and recording with Bianca Fachel in her debut Album “Time Machine” in 2024.
Flávio Santos
Flávio Santos has been a professional drummer and percussionist for 27 years, known for his versatility.
He began his studies at the Centro Musical de Arte Livre (CEMARLI) in São Gonçalo, studied theory and musical perception at Unirio (TEPEM), and trained in snare drum under Professor André “Buchecha” at CEIM, affiliated with UFF in Niterói.
Flávio’s expertise spans from Samba to Jazz, Rock to Bossa Nova, making him highly sought after by artists and producers of various styles. He toured Europe with singer Sabrina Malheiros for her album “Equilibria,” alongside Fernando Moraes on piano and Alex Malheiros from Azimuth on bass. He recorded albums such as “The Wave Alex Malheiros and Banda Utopia,” “The Monsters,” arranged by Arthur Verocai, and Sabrina Malheiros’ “Dreaming,” all under the English label Four Out.
Flávio has performed with renowned musicians like Nivaldo Ornellas, Arthur Maia, Armando Marçal, Sergio Chiavazolli, Jessé Sadoc, Zé Canuto, Jorjão Barreto, Fábio Lessa, Marcelo Martins, Márvio Ciribelli, Marcos Nimrichter, Yura Ranevisk, Márcio Mallard, Mazinho Ventura, Renato Franco, Silvério Pontes, André Vasconcellos, and Nilze Carvalho.
He recorded the CD “No Meu Filme” and the DVD “Feriado ao Vivo” with Celso Fonseca, featuring Gilberto Gil, Roberta Sá, and Ana Carolina. Flávio joined the orchestra for Marcos Valle and Celso Fonseca on the “Página Central” album launch. He recorded the Grammy-winning CD “Mart’nalia canta Vinícius de Moraes,” produced by Celso Fonseca and Arthur Maia. He also participated in the 30th anniversary DVD of Sandra de Sá’s career with João Donato, Elba Ramalho, and Alcione, and recorded Celso Fonseca’s CD “Like Nice,” nominated for four Latin Grammys in 2016.
Flávio has been part of bands for Nico Rezende, Fátima Regina, Macau, Shirley Carvalhais (gospel), Mart’nália, Rosa Maria Collin, Maria Creuza, and substituted for Ivan Conte “o Mamão” of Azimuth in London. He is currently in the trio Mafuá Instrumental with Fábio Lessa and Sérgio Chiavazolli, and holds a degree in Music Education from UFRJ.
Flavio will be recording with Bianca Fachel in her debut Album “Time Machine” in 2024.
Binho Manenti
Binho Manenti is a Brazilian musician, producer, publicist and multi-instrumentalist composer.
Besides producing artists and bands, Binho has been producing soundtracks and sound design for radio, commercials and TV shows and also making online record sessions worldwide. He started in music when he was only 13 years old, taking classical piano lessons and then he started to play other instruments, such as the bass and drums. He also worked as a musician and record producer during his time in Ireland, playing with a variety musicians from all parts of the world and in 2019 he had played and co-produced some soul/jazz, R&B, blues and gospel bands while living in the United States, including the groups Honey Monsoon, The DayNites, and others.
His latest productions and works include the soundtrack and sound design for the TV show “Crisálida”, available on Netflix Brazil and Netflix Portugal, his composition “Um Dia Pra Esquecer” released as a single by the artist Kariel, the album Brazil’ejru by the Italian artist and singer Rohmanelli and more.
His influences are very wide, from classical music to 70s artists to reggae, rock and world music.
Maikon Varela
Maikon Varela is a musician, actor, teacher and activist.
Influenced by various styles, the artist develops across different genres and has made seven albums throughout his career. Maikon also lends his talent to projects by other artists and in this new solo phase he presents original work in partnership with poets and musicians from other states in Brazil and internationally.