Psirico Essentials

As one of Bahia’s finest percussionists, Márcio Victor backed MPB stars such as Caetano Veloso. But when he decided to front his own pagode crew, Psirico, he took his career to new heights. With hits like “Lepo Lepo”—featuring Pitbull—the band became carnival staples. In “Meia Lua Inteira”, Psirico infuses a refrain popularised by Veloso with pop twists and exuberant percussion. The Bahian dynamos also excel at baile funk bangers like the fiery “Beat do Psirico”, while major collabs with sertanejo duo Jorge & Mateus and axé megastar Ivete Sangalo push them to experiment with fresh sounds.