The Portuguese word patuá translates rough to “lucky charm,” and it’s a wonderful metaphor for DJ Paulão’s approach to selling records out of the shop of the same name he’s co-owned in São Paulo’s groovy Vila Madalena neighborhood since opening in 2015. The place exudes good vibes – Paulão wants the shop to feel like home, and he sees the act of selling records as a kind of ongoing conversation with his customers – and as you’d imagine his wares are infused with them. The shop has a reputation for stocking new records from the current generation of Brazilian artists, which Paulão describes as an especially rich one, even in a country known for producing incredibly creative music through the years. But inside Patuá Discos, you’ll find everything from rap to rock to soul, along with myriad Afro-Brazilian titles.
