A Parisian in Rio.
CARIOQUE-SE · [ka-ree-OH-kee-see] · verb, imperativeIn Portuguese, the tiny suffix -se turns a word into an invitation: become carioca. Let Rio win you over — its language, its rhythms, its way of life — without losing any of Paris.
CARIOQUESE is music made from real-life moments. Six songs, six moments lived between Paris and Rio — a breakup, a first baile, men who move too fast, a rebirth — turned into funk carioca, raggamuffin and samba tracks, in French and Portuguese.
CARIOQUESE was born from a broken heart and a ticket to Rio. A Parisian woman leaves alone, suitcase packed overnight, to stop thinking about him. Once there, the city rewrites everything: nights at the baile, first words of Portuguese, men who move way too fast, forró until dawn, and a way of letting go you can't learn anywhere else.
Each track is a chapter of that journey. True stories — or almost — told the way you tell your friends when you get home: with humour, nerve and a touch of bad faith.
Musically, CARIOQUESE blends funk carioca and its tamborzão beat, a raggamuffin flow, samba percussion and minimal electronic roots. French and Brazilian Portuguese answer each other in the same line, over rapid-fire verses and choruses made to be shouted.
« Je pensais manquer de toi. Que ironia…
Eu tava com saudade… de mim. »Tanto mais · I thought I missed you. Turns out I missed myself.
One trip, six chapters.
- 01
LeavingTanto mais
“I'd rather we stop here.” She cries outside, it's already dark. The next day, she flies to Brazil.
This is the story of a girl who drives 600 km for a guy who'd “rather stop here”…
600 kilometres to see him, one question — “Did you ever love me?” — and one answer: “I'd rather we stop here.” Bag packed, off to Brazil. He thought that far from him, she'd feel less.
She feels tanto mais — all the more: more desire, more life, no longer waiting for his texts. When he finally writes, she's stopped waiting. She's realised he was never the vibration — just one of a thousand ways to feel.
« T'étais une façon parmi mille de sentir. »“You were just one of a thousand ways to feel.”
Samba · Baile funk · 4:23
- 02
The codesQual foi
He says “meu amor” by the second kiss and talks marriage by the third. She quickly learns to decode carioca sweet talk.
This is the story of a girl who swore she was done with toxic relationships…
First kiss: boyfriend. Second: in love. Third: marriage. Three days in and he's already planning the Paris apartment. The proposal comes in a fast-food joint, in the rain, with a plastic ring and a Guaraná Jesus soda as a blessing.
Then it clicks: rewinding without the filter, the flowers had price tags and the kisses had visas. On the last day, bag packed, flight on time: not a text, not a “tchau”. Qual foi? — What's up with that?
« Même les red flags sont doux quand ils parlent brasileiro. »“Even red flags sound sweet when they speak Brazilian.”
Baile funk · Raggamuffin · 4:24
- 03
The changeParis dans la voix
Chanel red and salty skin. The gringa keeps her accent, but Rio gets under her skin.
This is the story of a girl who flies to Rio alone after getting dumped…
“Paris dans la voix” (Paris in her voice) captures the moment you land in Rio with your habits, your accent, your very Parisian bearings… and the city starts changing the rhythm. Chanel red and salty skin, past midnight in Copacabana, 2 a.m. at Pedra do Sal: nights, encounters and Portuguese words slowly take over.
The Parisian stays herself, but Rio gets under her skin. The chorus — “Paris dans la voix, Rio dans la peau” — sums up that contrast and became the signature of CARIOQUESE.
« Gringa? — Já fui. — E agora? — Carioca, pô. »“Gringa? — Not anymore. — So now? — Carioca, duh.”
Funk carioca · Urban pop · 3:42
- 04
The nightRocinha, quatro e meia
1 a.m., caipirinha in hand. By 4:30, the buttoned-up Parisian has let the bass take over.
This is the story of a girl who goes to her first baile funk in Rocinha…
1 a.m., caipirinha in hand: a perfectly put-together Parisian, crimson lips and a straight face, walks into a baile in Rocinha. Around her, girls drop to the floor with total confidence; she moves “só um pouquinho” — just a little.
Hour by hour, the bass wins: composed at one, uninhibited at two, soaked at three. By quatro e meia — half past four — she's the one leading the dance.
« Visage de sainte, mas o vício mora no quadril. »“A saint's face, but the vice lives in her hips.”
Baile funk · Tamborzão · 3:50
- 05
The voidCoração sem vibração
Dozens of forró partners, names flashing by… and a heart that won't respond.
This is the story of a girl who goes to Rio to get over a Brazilian guy…
“There are plenty of Brazilian guys. Dance, have fun, you'll find a better one.” So she dances. First forró, and the partners keep coming: Rafael, Matheus, Lucas, Pedro, then Chico, Ronaldo, Caio, João, Biel, Vini… One on Monday, two on Tuesday.
Arms, bodies, pegação — and still zero vibration. Even the one who was “a little different” changes nothing. Until the final confession: in every one of them, she was looking for him.
« Coração? Sem vibração. »“My heart? No vibration.”
Funk · Forró · 3:01
- 06
The powerCapricha, gostoso
This time, she sets the rules. And the ex back in Paris finally texts. Too late: she feels tanto mais.
This is the story of a girl who ends up in a Brazilian soap opera written under the influence of caipirinhas.
“Capricha, gostoso”: try harder, handsome. In the red heat of a party, she sets the rules: he's hot, she won't deny it, but a nice body alone won't win her over. He has to pace himself, slow down, keep her guessing.
He moves too fast, and she lets him know. So he changes the rhythm, speaks lower, takes his time. And she whispers the verdict: “Agora sim” — now we're talking.
« Quer entrar no meu tempo? Então aprende a acompanhar. »“Wanna get into my rhythm? Then learn to keep up.”
Raggamuffin · Baile funk · 3:32
Press kit
The full project kit and a one-page sheet for each track, as PDFs.
Written,
produced,
directed
CARIOQUESE writes every lyric, handles production and leads the project's entire art direction: music, videos, covers and social media. A world built from A to Z, from the first line to the last visual.
Tamborzão & a Parisian accent
Deep bass, the dry tamborzão of funk carioca, samba percussion and a fast, almost spoken raggamuffin flow. Hooks are simple and instant, verses fly by, silences and drops relaunch the dancefloor. Built for clubs, playlists and short-form video.
A travel diary
Fisheye selfies, hot-pink brush lettering, Rio beach signposts — Leme, Ipanema, Vidigal, “Saudade sempre”. Each cover is a diary page, with its heroine, its place and its little handwritten notes.
Listen now
Every play counts: put CARIOQUESE on your favourite platform, add the tracks to your playlists and share them.