PREMIERE: Rafa Pabön & Rawayana Take on Rio de Janeiro in ‘Aiwo (Remix)’
Photo by Andres Vela.
Rafa Pabön is elevating his global sounds. On Oct. 24, the Puerto Rican artist revealed the visuals for “Aiwo (Remix)” with Venezuelan group Rawayana, premiering exclusively on Remezcla. The result? An authentic visual invitation to Brazil’s enticing beach life – churrasco and futebol included.
Pabön’s original music video for “Aiwo,” released in February, celebrated Ugandan culture. He specifically included the region’s wild animals, featured the Ugandan dance group Triplets Ghetto Kids, and took the viewer through the East African country’s spacious grasslands. This time, he adds a Latine twist by taking the viewer to the Cidade Maravilhosa – or the Marvelous City – in Brazil.
Sonically, the remix remains in the same vein, only adding Rawayana’s distinctive vocals to the song. Pabön invited Rawayana to hop on the remix to give their “good energy” and the vocalist’s “different voice color,” which he says adds a lot to the new song. Originally recorded in Uganda, the track blends afrobeats on a pulsing bass line. The song also embraces rhythmic percussions, a lively electronic guitar, and xylophone-like sounds, which brings a global tinge to the overall production by the hands of NaisGai and Carlos Orlando Navarro Huertas.
But visually, it takes on a new culture from the original song’s African spotlight. The culture in question? Brazil. “The song takes me very much to the Brazilian culture, the joy, the beaches, the dances,” the Puerto Rican singer said about the song’s new remix direction. “I think that Brazil makes a nice pairing with the song.”
The new music video – directed by Pabön and Rawayana – highlights Brazilian culture as the artists enjoy what Rio de Janeiro authentically offers. In fact, the video’s budget was spent on their travel and having a good time, capturing what the city’s all about. Clips show them enjoying the beach, street vendors, sports, and the mundane, relaxing Brazilian life. Throughout the scenes, we see people enjoying futebol (soccer in Portuguese), juices, churrasco, taking advantage of the country’s rich beach life that looks both enticing and inviting. Other shots show the artists partying and dancing as they trade verses about having romantic feelings toward another person.
Although this remix shines a light on Brazil’s culture, Pabön isn’t done with Africa yet. Up next, he is set to get deeper into the country by making an album fully immersed in his findings. “The next thing is to continue working on the album where I want to get deeper into the African culture and highlight all those things that identify us and make us have the sound we have. This would go hand in hand with a documentary so that people can see what I’m seeing,” he says.
Check out the premiere of Pabön’s “Aiwo (Remix)” featuring Rawayana below.
