“A salute to popular culture”. That is how “Notícias de Puglia“, Leo Middea’s sixth album, opens—an ode and celebration driven by the mission of carrying Brazilian culture out into the world. Living in Europe for nine years and with a career increasingly consolidated outside Brazil, the singer‑songwriter releases an album that transforms longing into movement, rhythm, and celebration. The record arrives as a love letter to Brazil written from afar—sunny, danceable, and threaded with memory — reaffirming Leo as an ambassador of Brazilian music on stages around the globe. The album receives a dual international release via LOCO Records (Brazil & Worldwide) and Agogo Records (Europe).
“Notícias de Puglia” is born from physical distance and symbolic closeness. It is Brazil remembered in the details: in the sound of drums, in the sway of the body, in affective and cultural references that cross generations. On “Atabaque” Leo returns to childhood and ancestry— “Could the atabaque be me?” —linking identity, faith, and body as one.
The album balances celebration and introspection, heat and shade, party and rest. Produced by Breno Virícimo, with mixes by Tó Brandileone and Guigo Berger and mastering by Felipe Tichauer, it builds a concise, diverse sonic palette—Brazilian at its core yet open to the world. It invites international listeners to discover Brazil’s groove while offering Brazilians an immediate sense of recognition, whether through açaí, Milton Nascimento, Djavan, or the memory of “Praia Vermelha do Sul”.
With “Notícias de Puglia“, Leo Middea consolidates a new phase of his international career. After understanding his music as World Music BR, the artist has moved through world‑renowned festivals, sold‑out venues, and diverse audiences—always carrying popular culture as a point of departure. Following the release, Leo embarks on a European tour, continuing on to Canada, the United States, and Mexico. In Brazil, he returns for a special run of shows while further expanding his international presence in 2026. “Notícias de Puglia” reframes a stage of a crossing: the story of someone who saw the world, remembered home, and understood that Brazilian music — when carried with truth — speaks every language.
