Adriano Adewale: The Interview
English Dance and Song April 2026
This news item is based on articles in English Dance and Song, the magazine of the English Folk Dance and Song Society. The world’s oldest magazine for folk music and dance, EDS was first published in 1936 and is essential reading for anyone with a passion for folk arts.
We speak to the Brazilian virtuosic percussionist and composer, about his inspirations, charismatic performances and exploratory approach to music, and his upcoming EFDSS commission, Rooted and Rising.
How did you discover folk music?
I grew up with Brazilian popular music, which is different from folk/ traditional music. When I was 18, as part of a theatre production I was playing music in, I had to research different music genres: this was my first encounter with folk/traditional music. Brazil is a large country, and the different regions have diverse traditions. Maracatu, for example, from the northeast of Brazil, mixes music, song, dance and drums, and Bumba-Meu-Boi, which is an outdoor play (like a festival), brings people together through singing, dancing, playing and acting, demonstrating the power of the community. Traditional music is connected to the land and the people, which is something that touches my heart.
What was it about percussion that drew you to it?
I had a percussionn teacher, Mestre de Percussão Edilson, who would say, “It is not you who chooses the instrument; it is the
instrument that chooses you’’. And I am very honoured and happy to be a percussionist. There is a great tradition of percussionists in Brazil: Nana Vasconcelos, Airto Moreira, Mestre Dinho Nascimento, to name but a few. I love the freedom and the responsibility to work with sounds.
As a percussionist, we listen to the world as an instrument; all sounds can be part of a piece of music.
You have a wonderful cultural and musical heritage in Brazil, with diverse influences from Africa and Europe. How would you describe your sound and your music style?
I have a strong connection with the culture of Brazil and the ways Brazilian artists invent and experiment with sound. My sound comes from nature; I love organic instruments made from plants, trees, shakers with different grains inside them, and wood whistles. Percussion is an extension of my body, in which the heartbeat is the starting point of it all. But I also like the sounds of the city and how we can transform those sounds, combine them with nature and recreate different realities. I am always searching for how sound can create feelings and emotions.
You’re known for working with artists who bring a rich tapestry of musical traditions to your music. Your upcoming project, Rooted and Rising, is another fascinating cross-cultural collaboration. Tell us about it.
It is as you describe: musicians with their own rich backgrounds and musical experiences coming together to share their knowledge and create a piece which translates the moment we live in, the people we meet, the events which are shaping our everyday lives. This is an opportunity for artistically rooted individuals to show different ways a rising sun can shine through our lives. The creative
result will be something simple, subtle and sublime.
What is the new show inspired by?
It is inspired by different aspects of trees: the ways they connect to the land they are in and to each other; how they alert each other
of the dangers around them; how they can provide shelter and food; and how they can be a sacred space. Songs are like trees;
people gather to sing songs and to dance. They can be sacred, food for the soul, and they can help calm people’s emotions. These are related to musicians too, particularly traditional and folk musicians who can be deeply connected by the land. The songs live on these musicians, they are the channel, the sonic connection between the people and the land.
How did Rooted and Rising come about?
I have been collaborating with EFDSS for over ten years; the relationship has always been fantastic, and it is great to get closer to the culture of the country you live in. Katy Spicer approached me to do a project, so we discussed themes together.
The connection with nature and the symbolism of the trees across different cultures in the world, and particularly the oak tree in England, proved to be a natural theme. We invited artists to create something contemporary, and at the same time rooted and inspired by traditions.
Your performances are a joyous occasion for the audience. What emotions does playing bring to you when you perform?
What a great question. It is like inhabiting a playground, with people who you love and those that you are meeting for the first time. Everyone is in it together, regardless of their differences and backgrounds, so it is something special. It is a shared moment that brings us together as one united community, while still embracing our unique selves and enjoying one another’s company.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
Naná Vasconcelos, the great percussionist; André Pinto (my father, a percussionist); Maria João (Mozambican/Portuguese singer),
Dona Celma do Coco.
EFDSS Presents
Adriano Adewale and Friends: Rooted and Rising
An exciting new music collaboration led by acclaimed composer and percussionist Adriano Adewale. Inspired by the synergies between nature and folklore and folk music, and bringing musical heritage from England, Scotland, Brazil, Haiti, Colombia, the US and the Punjab, Adriano will be joined by musicians including Nancy Kerr, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne and Kuljit Bhamra to present this unique musical show.
Commissioned by the English Folk Dance and Song Society
Folk by the Oak: Sunday 19 July 2026
Sidmouth Folk Festival: Friday 31 July - Friday 7 August 2026 (date of show tbc)
Broadstairs Folk Week: Sunday 9 August 2026
Shrewsbury Folk Festival: Sunday 30 August 2026
Supported by Folk by the Oak and the Cockayne Foundation with the Reed Foundation
