As Mercenarias are an all-female punk/funk post-punk group from Sao Paulo, Brasil. They
began their career over 25 years ago and this is their first ever
retrospective and first ever release outside of Brasil. With influences
as diverse as The Dead Kennedys, The Slits, Public Image Limited, The
Pop Group, Nina Hagen and many more, As Mercenarias manage to combine
the energy, rhythm and sensibilities of American and British Post-Punk
along with a uniquely Brazilian aesthetic. Today their music sits next
to the punk/dance attitude of strong female artists such as Peaches,
Mia, Chicks on Speed, Le Tigre and ESG. As Mercenarias are made up of
Sandra Coutinho on bass, Ana Maria Machado on guitar, Lou on drums and
Rosalia Munhoz on lead vocals. As Mercenarias were first featured on
Soul Jazz Records earlier "The Sexual Life of The Savages" - which told
the story of underground post-punk in Sao Paulo, and how As Mercenarias
led a musical movement in Brazil that included many other bands such as
Gang 90 and The Absurdettes, Smack, Fellini, Patife Band, Nau and Akira
S. These groups all took their influences from UK/USA groups such as
Joy Division, Gang Of Four, New Order, A Certain Ratio, Liquid Liquid
and mixed it all up into a new Brazilian sound that was a million miles
away from the traditional sounds of Brasil – Samba, Bossa Nova and MPB
(Musica Popular Brasil). As Mercenarias are alive and well in Sao
Paulo, Brasil. The group will be performing in the UK for the first
time ever at the end of the year. "From post-punk to kick arse
femme-punk with a savage beauty of their own" DJ "The all female As
Mercenarias are a mixture of New York punk-funkers ESG and British
icons The Slits. A must!" TIME OUT
