Reggae emerged in Jamaica more than five decades ago and spread to Brazil, a continental country where music has always been a strong cultural expression of its people's identity. In the south of the country, the Jamaican rhythm found a voice through artists such as Luís Vagner and Produto Nacional, paving the way for new generations to showcase their musicality and ideals — a strong trait in Reggae.
Mateus Rasta is an artist who keeps the roots of Reggae but allows himself to experiment and innovate, introducing modern timbres not only from contemporary Reggae but from other styles such as "World Music". His musical journey began in 1999 when he founded the band "Rasta Blues" in Santo Ângelo/RS. In it, Mateus developed his skills as vocalist, drummer, producer and composer, remaining active in the group until 2013. This period yielded the album "De volta à criação" (2010), followed by other releases in his solo career. In parallel, Mateus also pursued a degree in Music Production, which opened new paths. The album "O Amor me Ensinou" (2019) achieved good results and led to a European tour with performances in Paris, London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Rome, Palermo, Venice and Barcelona.
Besides having performed alongside major names in National and International Reggae, Mateus produced songs with renowned artists from various countries. Among them: Amlak Tafari (England), bassist of Steel Pulse on the track "Encontrar Nossa Paz", which yielded a music video filmed in Peru; Tiano Bless (Chile), on "Nada nos Detendrá" with a video produced by the Pulso Reggae festival team; and Jr. Dread (USA), on the track "Reggae Pon di Bone" produced in the USA with dancehall elements that boosted shows in New York and New Jersey.
Currently Mateus Rasta is preparing for the release of "Viva se quiser viver", a music video filmed in the USA and scheduled for September 2020. Another 2020 highlight is the online festival "Ascende tuas Raices", presented by Mateus Rasta with confirmed appearances by major names such as Fauzi Beydoun (Tribo de Jah), Ras Bernardo (one of the founders of Cidade Negra) and Solano Jacob (Leões de Israel). All paths point to the massification of his work on the national scene and the expansion of an international career that has already taken Mateus to seven countries