8tracks write up on Thrillist

"A good mixtape can say so many things -- you've got a powerful radar for unknown bands, you've got a powerful radar for hair metal, you want to make out -- but the message is always undermined by an awkward exchange that leaves the giftee thinking you want to make out. Send a link instead, with 8tracks."   -- thrillist

This morning 8tracks was mentioned in Thrillist. Our team worked hard to meet this first push of invites.

Remember, drop me a line (caetano -at- gmail.com) if you want a prelaunch invite.

Jazz Born Again

What is 8tracks?

I'm excited to post a little bit about a project I'm working on:

8tracks is a simple way for people to share and discover music through an online mix — a short playlist containing at least 30 minutes, roughly 8 tracks, of music.

People can do 2 things on 8tracks: listen to a mix, or create a mix. Listeners can search for a mix by artist or genre, stream it in a legal, radio-style manner, and follow others who make compelling mixes. DJs upload MP3s or select tracks from the 8tracks library to craft a playlist, add context with description and art, and publish their mix on 8tracks.com and a personal webpage.

Read more from the 8tracks blog

Jazz Band

The Korsgaden's and I played at my cousin's wedding back in June. It turned out really well. I hope to play more of these.

More time in Brazil

I want to spend more time here. MUCH more time.

With a virtual office I think that might be possible. Using tools like Skype this becomes a reality. Luckily, I've been working and conversing with clients from abroad.

I've posted more pictures at: http://arsy.tumblr.com (RSS)

Tijuca, Rio De Janerio, Brazil

It's something like cool spring day in California.

I arrived in Brazil last week and took the first few days to soak it up before blogging about it. There's a way here that I can't quite explain. But's different than any other place I've been.

It's a beautiful city with a vibrant heart beat. The people are very warm of course. You'll notice that as strangers will tend to converse given any opportunity. But you won't find any of them fooled. They are always looking to make a move or prevent one.

I'm staying with my cousins. They are established in the area and very in tune to what's going on (pun intended). My "tia" is a travel guide for corporate visitors from America and my cousin is a software development manager for EDS Brazil.

Some cool things on the agenda in addition to a few sites include a visit to EDS Brazil and a bossa nova lesson from a musician who was part of the movement.

The first day I arrived, in true Portugese style, we had a feast. About 20 people showed up. After the meal the living room turned into a music studio with instruments galore. We played all kinds of crazy stuff, bossa novas, sambas, american rock? Later in the night my cousin Terza took me out for drinks.

I want to write about the Carioca (person from Rio) style of living but I don't have all the ideas formulated yet. This is it for now.

8tracks mix: jazz born again

A mix of today's artists playing great jazz and reviving it from the death-by-smooth-jazz status it was once at.