Euro-Brazilian trio Zuco 103 in Tinkoff

Zuco 103 is currently one of the best live bands on the Dutch scene. This magical union is the result of the collaboration between drummer Stefan Kruger, keyboardist Stefan Schmid, and Brazilian singer Lilian Vieira. Inspired by their collaborative sound, the trio decided to create the project Zuco 103.

The Brazilian vocalist Lilian Vieira moved to the Netherlands in 1989. She studied vocals at the Rotterdam Conservatory. During this period, her knowledge of Brazilian culture and traditions deepened even more as she primarily performed with musicians who grew up on Brazilian music. But where does the influence of tradition end and the interpretation of the performer begin? Lilian Vieira began to explore the possibilities provided by other musical styles: "I don’t want to get stuck in one musical tradition. Moreover, ZUCO 103 is also a European product. Of course, my background inspires me, but mainly on a rhythmic level."

Stefan Kruger plays drums in the bands SfeQ and the New Cool Collective and is also in demand as a studio musician: "I realized a long time ago that there is no such thing as a musical style. Music is not just jazz, funk, bossa nova, or drum’n’bass... The music we make is a mix of everything that exists, and our perspective on these things. We leave the musical background behind, at least in terms of sound. We are constantly discovering new sounds and new grooves. Of course, to a greater extent, the groove is defined by Lilian’s vocal rhythm."

Stefan Schmid was born in Munich and has lived in Amsterdam for 10 years. He also played with the New Cool Collective. "I started as a jazz pianist, but during my work with ZUCO 103, I decided to stop playing the piano. I want to move as far away from what I did before as possible,” says Stefan.

Zuco 103 has three different backgrounds, three different starting points. The compositions that Zuco 103 records during their live sessions are later refined in the studio. It’s a journey during which they align melody, sound, and rhythm, listening, polishing, and reworking the songs until they find a balance between these three components. Zuco 103 is constantly in search of new structures.

Stefan Schmid: "We record samples, see what they are all about, and then play with them."

Lilian: "The lyrics I write for Zuco 103 are based on my personal experiences and impressions. I write, read, think, and try to see things in their true light. And then the melody comes automatically."

Feeling undoubtedly very comfortable on stage during live performances, the group is capable of everything from acoustic jazz ballads to techno tracks that filter popular Brazilian rhythms. Zuco 103 ignites dance floors wherever they perform!" - Coda (F) Dec. 2003.

"Zuco 103 plays an energetic mix of samba, bossa, hip-hop, and electronics, and their live performances are remarkable," - Liberation (F) Nov. 2003.

"Thanks to her magnetism and gentle voice, Vieira appears funky and sexy on stage during dance parties - on samba," - Brett Milano, Boston Herald September 2002.

"The Euro-Brazilian trio Zuco 103 mixes traditional styles with unptempo electronics. Their pride is the charismatic front woman Lilian Vieira, whose vocals are particularly striking and captivating in the composition 'Zabumba no mar'. Zuco 103 recently received a sea of applause during the Barbican’s Batmacumba festival when they transitioned from fantastic folklore to trembling beats in the style of Kraftwerk," - Time Out London.

December 15, Tinkoff restaurant
Guest gathering at 21:00
Concert start at 22:00