DEBUT ALBUM AVAILABLE NOW
“Book of Colors sounds like that elf you meet way out in the woods strumming a harp made of dreams and rainbows. And his band is a tough gang of unicorns high on Gummi juice.” -Artlantis
“…a well-arranged album rife with interesting tones, rhythms and instrumentation.” -ArtsAtl
read the full ArtsAtl review here.
“Book of Colors is one of Atlanta’s best kept secrets, but that might just change with the arrival of its debut record.” -Creative Loafing
read the full Creative Loafing interview here.
“However you choose to label them, Book of Colors is André’s way of leveraging our talented community, and this debut album is the gift he’s given back.” -OpenEars Music
read the full OpenEars article here.
Book of Colors is a band that constantly skirts the edge between torn-open soulfulness and delicate restraint. Their melodies are dreamy and hypnotic, and lead singer André Paraguassu’s distinctively warm, crooning voice carries them with an easygoing authority that captivates audiences.
The lineup of musicians involved is somewhat loose, the band name functioning more as a moniker for Paraguassu’s musical endeavors than as a static group. Live shows typically feature four to six band members with lush arrangements and layered harmonies, but his solo performances are just as engaging, showcasing the rich, sultry fullness of his voice.
André’s list of songwriting influences is long and eclectic, but the majority of artists and albums he mentions growing up on are from the sixties and early seventies, with a heavy slant toward music made in the UK, Brazil, France, and the southern United States during that time period. As such, traces of Nick Drake, Otis Redding, Harry Nilsson, and Sam Cooke can all be heard in his vocal delivery, with dark raspy low notes and a soaring, bell-like upper register. Psychedelic elements that bring Broadcast, Pink Floyd, and Caetano Veloso to mind mix with introspective lyrics and symphonic orchestration in Paraguassu’s often complex song structures.
“Lyrically, I’m very inspired by Trish Keenan (of Broadcast), and the mystic poet Rumi. Specifically the way that both of them sometimes shift between a traditional first-person perspective and omnipotence without much indication of which voice is which. It creates space for all of these competing possibilities. There’s endless depth to their work because (like the Tao Te Ching) it can mean something different to each person, and the meanings grow and change as the reader/listener grows and changes. I really love playing with that concept.”
Book of Colors released their first full-length album on Deer Bear Wolf Records in 2016. They have played alongside national and international acts that include Kishi Bashi, Bright Black Morning Light, Johanna Warren, Little Tybee, Horse Feathers, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, and Streets of Laredo. They’ve also performed in numerous festivals and events in and around Atlanta and the United States.
André relocated to Portland, Oregon in late 2017 and has been performing regularly since his arrival with a new lineup of talented musicians. Paraguassu is set to release a new Book of Colors single (recorded in Atlanta, Ga. at Studilaroche) and accompanying music video this fall on Spirit House Records.
“…a well-arranged album rife with interesting tones, rhythms and instrumentation.” -ArtsAtl
read the full ArtsAtl review here.
“Book of Colors is one of Atlanta’s best kept secrets, but that might just change with the arrival of its debut record.” -Creative Loafing
read the full Creative Loafing interview here.
“However you choose to label them, Book of Colors is André’s way of leveraging our talented community, and this debut album is the gift he’s given back.” -OpenEars Music
read the full OpenEars article here.
Book of Colors is a band that constantly skirts the edge between torn-open soulfulness and delicate restraint. Their melodies are dreamy and hypnotic, and lead singer André Paraguassu’s distinctively warm, crooning voice carries them with an easygoing authority that captivates audiences.
The lineup of musicians involved is somewhat loose, the band name functioning more as a moniker for Paraguassu’s musical endeavors than as a static group. Live shows typically feature four to six band members with lush arrangements and layered harmonies, but his solo performances are just as engaging, showcasing the rich, sultry fullness of his voice.
André’s list of songwriting influences is long and eclectic, but the majority of artists and albums he mentions growing up on are from the sixties and early seventies, with a heavy slant toward music made in the UK, Brazil, France, and the southern United States during that time period. As such, traces of Nick Drake, Otis Redding, Harry Nilsson, and Sam Cooke can all be heard in his vocal delivery, with dark raspy low notes and a soaring, bell-like upper register. Psychedelic elements that bring Broadcast, Pink Floyd, and Caetano Veloso to mind mix with introspective lyrics and symphonic orchestration in Paraguassu’s often complex song structures.
“Lyrically, I’m very inspired by Trish Keenan (of Broadcast), and the mystic poet Rumi. Specifically the way that both of them sometimes shift between a traditional first-person perspective and omnipotence without much indication of which voice is which. It creates space for all of these competing possibilities. There’s endless depth to their work because (like the Tao Te Ching) it can mean something different to each person, and the meanings grow and change as the reader/listener grows and changes. I really love playing with that concept.”
Book of Colors released their first full-length album on Deer Bear Wolf Records in 2016. They have played alongside national and international acts that include Kishi Bashi, Bright Black Morning Light, Johanna Warren, Little Tybee, Horse Feathers, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, and Streets of Laredo. They’ve also performed in numerous festivals and events in and around Atlanta and the United States.
André relocated to Portland, Oregon in late 2017 and has been performing regularly since his arrival with a new lineup of talented musicians. Paraguassu is set to release a new Book of Colors single (recorded in Atlanta, Ga. at Studilaroche) and accompanying music video this fall on Spirit House Records.