MOMO. Celebrates the Top 10 Brazilian Records that Defined His Sound

With Brazilian multi-instrumentalist MOMO. preparing to release his eighth studio album, Tum Tum Tum, and celebrating the rich musical traditions that continue to shape his songwriting, there has rarely been a better time to revisit the records that laid the foundations for Brazil’s extraordinary musical legacy. To mark the occasion, MOMO. shares the Brazilian albums that have had the greatest influence on his life and music, offering a personal journey through the artists and recordings that helped shape his creative voice.

Spanning more than five decades, his selections reflect the extraordinary breadth of Brazil’s musical heritage, from the pioneering sounds of bossa nova and MPB to landmark recordings that continue to inspire artists around the world. Featuring visionary works by the likes of João Gilberto, Milton Nascimento, Caetano Veloso and Gal Costa, this Top 10 is both an introduction to Brazil’s rich musical history and a window into the influences behind Tum Tum Tum.

1. Milton Nascimento & Lô Borges – Clube da Esquina (1972)

“An ambitious watershed moment for MPB. It’s a mystifying, cinematic double album that elevates its diverse influences into something angelic and profoundly human.”

2. Antônio Carlos Jobim – Urubu (1976)

“A sophisticated masterclass in arrangement. It captures the transition from bossa nova to a lush, orchestral soundscape that feels both grounded and ethereal.”

3. Caetano Veloso – Transa (1972)

“A career highlight recorded during exile in London. A restless, bilingual fusion of rock and reggae that remains a visceral statement of longing.”

4. João Gilberto – Chega de Saudade (1959)

“The revolutionary spark of Bossa Nova. A lesson in restraint and the immense power found in a quiet, precise whisper.”

momo. – Tum Tum Tum Album Artwork

5. Jorge Ben – A Tábua de Esmeralda (1974)

“Cosmic alchemy meets transcendental samba. A unique blend of hermetic philosophy and infectious, effortless grooves.”

6. Dorival Caymmi – Canções Praieiras (1954)

“Bahia in its purest form. Just a voice and a guitar capturing the raw, sacred essence of the sea.”

7. Gilberto Gil – Gil Luminoso (2006)

“A spiritual re-encounter with his own songbook. Stripped back, geometric, and perfectly clear.”

8. Nara Leão – Dez Anos Depois (1971)

“A delicate retrospective recorded in Paris. The “muse of Bossa Nova” at her most mature and reflective.”

9. Gal Costa – Índia (1973)

“Folk-psychedelia and visceral vocals. A bold, sensuous statement of absolute artistic freedom.”

10. Clementina de Jesus – Clementina de Jesus (1966)

“The deep root. Ancestral strength and the raw power of the Afro-Brazilian voice.”