F ebruary is the month of Brazilian Fever. With a mixture of different music like Bossa Nova, Samba

and Reggae one of the busiest cities in the world, Rio De Janerio will host the party of the year. Carnival is the most famous holi-day in Brazil. It is not about a big moment in history or about a fa-mous person, but it is important for the people because it's a time of camaraderie, freedom, and almost a whole week without work. As it’s another year of party and fever as Rio prepares you for the best events you’ve ever seen and heard of. With famous celebrities like Jenifer-Lopez and Tom cruise in the street party of Salvador, Bra-zil becomes the busiest city in the world in the month of February. Carnival 2013 starts officially on February 12nd. Nevertheless, a lot of joy and fun is already run-ning since three weeks before, not only with the technical re-hearsals of the Samba Schools from the Special Group, but also with the rehearsals of street bands and carnival groups that already prepare themselves for the very expected and traditional "street carnival" in Rio and Salva-dor. Samba is possibly the most fa-mous form of music from Brazil and this is evident during carni-val. However, Bossa nova be-came very popular around the world with such famous artists and composers as Antonio Carlos Jobim and João Gilberto. The song “The Girl from Ipanema”is the biggest Brazilian international hit song.

W e recently spoke to Paula, a new coming artist who is currently preparing for her trip to

Brazil in preparation for carnival after being sponsored by the beer ‘Brahma’. She talks to us in the rainy Regents park but in lights us with the hot Brazilian fever. IM: Paula, it’s good to see you again after a year preparing for Brazil big-gest musical party. How do you feel this year will be different to others and what’s made you once again join Rio De Janeiro Carnival? Paula: It’s good to be warming up for such a thrilling event; I could never miss out on carni-val... It’s a week of crazy music and exhilarating people. I think the reason it will be so different is because not only are Brazil hosting the world cup but their also hosting the Olympics so this is really there time to show to the world how excellent Brazilian music is. IM: I completely agree and Paula what do you think about the music at carnival, should it be promoted to other audiences or just maintained in Brazil? Paula: It should defiantly be shown to everyone how amazing it actually is and the adrenaline you receive when watching carnival is crazy! Personally I was very influenced by the South American music being Latina but a lot of it came from Brazil. The fast tempo, upbeat music defiantly helped me to choose the pathway of type of music I wanted to do. IM: And Paula, music has always been a huge part of the Brazilian cul-ture but since 2010 the Brazilian Hip-pop has become a lot more dominate than Bossa Nova and samba. Why do you think this has happened and what will the Brazilian people do, to show the new generation the best music?

Paula: I completely agree with you, that Bossa nova and the traditional Brazilian music is the best. Since a young age I’ve alwayed listen to the best artists which really sing to moti-vate and change the Brazilian socie-ties perspectives and passion. I feel that with all this new school music which is gripping the young genera-tion is such a shame. Although there is this new genre in the country I feel that with the fans of bossa nova and samba will always maintain the true culture ground of Brazilian music. IM: Paula as you’re a new coming

international artist, tell us how if feels to be known in places such as South Ameri-can, United states and of course your home town, London? Paula: In one word I’d say

overwhelming because every things happened so fast in such short time. Travelling, recording, performing is all so fun. These trips like to Brazil and these exciting new things like spon-sors is all overwhelming. I love travel-ling, and learning about music and their different cultures but it can also be extremely exhausting. IM: Thank you Paula and good luck for the future.