Bala Desejo’s Julia Mestre is ready to release her LP ‘Maravilhosamente Bem’ on Mr Bongo this May and the comparison to a Latin Sade are strong.
God, that sun feels good, doesn’t it? Whether you’re getting your vitamin D fix with a negroni in hand or looking longingly at the window from your desk (maybe even both), you need the perfect soundtrack. This delectable long player from Julia Mestre is exactly that.
‘Maravilhosamente Bem,’ loosely translated as wonderfully well, is the third album from the Bala Desejo member. The title track is glorious, an infectious slab of string-laden Brazilian disco, with a similar vibe elsewhere on ‘Marinou, Limou’. ‘Veneno da Serpente’ is almost housey, ‘Sou Fera’ and ‘Vampira’ come off all Yacht rock with softer, downbeat moments courtesy of ‘Seu Romance’.
The star of the show is Mestre’s vocals. Unless you’re fluent in Portuguese, the lyrical content may mean little to you, but it’s impossible not to be entranced by the breathy, sultry delivery that glides over every production. It’s a lazy comparison, but like a samba Sade, Mestre keeps you captivated with her effortless and ethereal voice.
The ‘Maravilhosamente Bem’ LP by Julia Mestre is out on Mr Bongo from May 8th, 2025. Pre order here.
