BaianaSystem are from Bahia, the state with the strongest African cultural heritage in the country and a motherlode for Brazilian music. BaianaSystem manifest and champion the sound of the Black Atlantic, deep and future connections between Africa, Brazil and the Caribbean, from the roots of samba to global bass culture. The group was founded in 2009 by guitarist Roberto Barreto, vocalist Russo Passapusso , bassist Marcelo Seco and visual artist Filipe Cartaxo . Centre stage is the guitarra baiana – the mini electric guitar invented in the 1940s by Salvador carnival kings Dodô and Osmar - Barreto revives classic Bahian sounds and mashes in rock reverbs and swirling melodic lines wired to his love of vintage Congolese rumba. Russo Passapusso brings conscious lyrics and quickfire vocals in a flow that ricochets between dancehall, rap, dub and samba duro. Marcelo Seco is the master cook on beats and bass fusing Bahia’s syncopated rhythms with digital dub. The group’s visual identity comes courtesy of designer/photographer Cartaxo - from the masks handed out to BaianaSystem’s fan-tribe to live VJ mixes - visuals are a core dimension of all their shows.

The group operates as an independent DIY collective – that collaborative, open energy resonates in their music and their attitudes and is pivotal to how they’ve become the phenomenal cultural force they are today. 2016 saw the release of their second critically acclaimed album, Duas Cidades (Two Cities), produced by sought-after studio don Daniel Ganjaman (Criolo, Instituto, Sabotage). Duas Cidades is a defining moment in the group's career, one that catches them perfecting their genre-defying sonic mix. The single ‘Playsom’ was included on the FIFA 2016 soundtrack and the video now has over 2 million plays. The album also features the hit and fan favorite "Lucro: Descomprimindo". The group also won the 2016 Brazilian Music Awards for Best New Artist and Best
Group; and the APCA Trophy (São Paulo Art Critics Association) for Best Show. "Duas Cidades" is released on a partnership between the group's own label Máquina de Louco and Polysom.