Curumin

Born Luciano Nakata Albuquerque to Spanish and Japanese parents, Curumin spent his impressionable years in São Paulo, Brazil, listening to Jorge Ben, Tim Maia, and Bebeto. At eight he formed his first rock band, and by the time he was 16 he was a percussionist and keyboardist in top clubs around the city. Curumin later enrolled at Gaviões da Fiel, a prestigious Brazilian music school, where he was further introduced to MPB, and extracurricularly, Run-D.M.C. and the B-52's. With his band Zomba he toured the world, supporting internationally acclaimed Brazilian artists Arnaldo Antunes, Andrea Marquee, and SP Funk. These varied influences are certainly apparent on his record Achados e Perdidos (meaning "Found and Lost" in Portuguese), which debuted in the U.S. in September 2005 under the Quannum label.