Four years on from Elza Soares‘ death in January 2022, today’s Daily Discovery centres on Belo Horizonte singer and songwriter Nobat and his track “Me Deixa Sambar” from the album MESTIÇO, recorded with Elza and BNegão in March 2021. Written by Nobat, it is one of Elza’s final studio sessions and a moment where his writing meets two major voices in Brazilian music. The title line “me deixa sambar” works both as “let me samba” and “let me live”, and Nobat has described the song as speaking about working-class lives, social and political pressure and the wish to be left in peace.
The arrangement keeps samba at the core. Cavaco, drums and guitar carry a traditional samba line, while a brass section cuts short phrases around the three voices. Nobat and BNegão use phrasing shaped by Brazilian hip-hop and rock, and Elza brings the grain and timing built across seven decades of recording.
The video, directed by Natacha Vassou and Lucas Espeto and filmed in 2022, follows dancer Raquel Cabeneco through the streets of Belo Horizonte. Her choreography is staged as protest, linking “me deixa sambar” to who is allowed to work, dance and move in public space. Within MESTIÇO, which also includes tracks linked to congado, maracatu and electronic production, “Me Deixa Sambar” is the most straight-ahead samba on the record and was released as the album’s second single.
Listen and stream the single HERE, and purchase your copy of the album through THIS LINK