Brazilian band Oruã today shared ‘México Suite,’ the latest single from their new LP ‘Slacker,’ out October 24th via K.

The track was inspired by the unjust detention of guitarist and singer Lê Almeida while traveling to Mexico to play a festival. Almeida explains the origin of the song: “In December of 2023, after an Oruã US tour, I traveled to Cancún, Mexico, to accompany my partner Melanie Radford. Together we were going to perform a set of ambient music in a yoga session and Mel was also going to play with Built to Spill–it was all part of a huge Wilco festival in a big resort.

When we arrived, I was unfairly sent to a room at the airport where they claimed irregularities with my passport, but everything was OK. I was detained for a whole night in a room with several other immigrants (none of whom were white). The next day they sent me back to the United States and from there I took another flight to Brazil. The festival did absolutely nothing to help me and it’s quite possible that they didn’t realize how serious the situation was. A few months after the event, I wrote this song as an outburst, without any fear or remorse about reopening such a painful and intense wound.

“‘Mexico Suite’ is a questioning of some of the injustices that are so present and alive in the life of an artist traveling the world to spread his art. After developing a project for an artist’s residency in a peaceful and calm environment, the situation in Mexico hit hard and instigated even more struggles about racial and social equality. It is still extremely necessary to question white privilege. ‘Mexico Suite’ is about questioning, about self-respect and having courage.”

Oruã, composed of Almeida (guitar/vocals), João Casaes (synths), Bigu Medine (bass), and Ana Zumpano (drums) was formed during one of the most turbulent periods in recent Brazilian history–a period that saw a coup d’état, political imprisonment, and the rise of the extreme right. The band was idealized by Almeida, a cultural agitator in Rio de Janeiro’s independent scene, most known through his label Transfusão Noise Records. The band came together during improvisonal jam sessions they had at Escritório, an underground creative and community space they all frequented in Brazil.

Featuring former members of Built To Spill, the quartet creates an exciting, unique style of guitar music–they combine elements of 90s lo-fi indie rock, krautrock, noise, afrobeat, and Brazilian music, ranging from Luiz Gonzaga’s primal Pernambuco sound to classic Brazilian psych rock. ‘Slacker’ follows their 2024 LP ‘PASSE.’

In 2019, Oruã was discovered by indie rock legend Doug Martsch of Built to Spill, which led to him inviting Lê and João to become temporary members of the 90’s indie rock band. Later they recorded, co-produced, and co-mixed Built to Spill’s most recent album, ‘When the Wind Forgets Your Name,’ released in 2022 on Sub Pop Records.

‘México Suite’ by Oruã is out today. ‘Slacker’ is out October 24th via K Records.