How Lucas, from Fresno, organized a live broadcast that raised more than R$2 million for victims in RS | Pop & Art

On May 4, days after heavy rains began to hit Rio Grande do Sul, Lucas Silveira, lead singer of the band Fresno, announced that he was organizing a live broadcast to raise funds for flood victims in the region.

On Tuesday afternoon (7), three days after the initial idea for the live, Lucas managed to put all the logistics into practice and brought together dozens of artists in the studio where the PodPah podcast is recorded. The group of artists spent more than five hours, live, singing songs, talking and, most importantly, asking fans for donations.

Lucas ended the recording very emotional after playing the song “Porto Alegre”, by Fresno. Shortly before, he had announced that the value of donations had already exceeded R$2 million. The contribution link is still active.

“We had high expectations, we have an extremely dedicated fanbase and very aligned with us, but obviously we didn’t expect all of this”, said Lucas in an interview with g1 this Wednesday morning (8).

“The whole of Brazil is seeing what is happening. Many people are donating R$10, R$1, R$5. But also very large companies, like Kawaii, took it there and, without asking any questions, simply made a deposit of R$ $1 million.”

Seu Jorge, Emicida, Gustavo Mioto, Lucas Lima and Dinho Ouro Preto were some of the artists present. Singers Pitty and Ludmilla were also part of the project, participating via a live link. The afternoon featured several other artists, divided between in-person and virtual participation.

“Ninety percent of the artists who were there volunteered. We didn’t need to invite anyone. I even said: ‘man, I won’t be able to invite everyone, if you have my WhatsApp, call me, and we’ll put you there’ “, said Lucas.

“The guys were very ready. Obviously I called some others who would have been really cool to have been there, several were already involved in other things, they kind of didn’t see it and so on.”

“Now explaining the emotion of the business, seeing everyone coming together and our power there to vector so many people from different lives, different backgrounds, different musical styles and, through music, unite these people through a sad and tragic and urgent, making music for the rest of Brazil, trying to bring a little awareness of what is happening there in Rio Grande do Sul (…), it was a business that really caught our attention and made us very proud of what people are capable of doing.”

During the coronavirus pandemic, the Fresno band held QuarentEmo, a live event that raised 11,000 food baskets. It was from this experience that Lucas decided it was time to hold another event along these lines.

“It was a very big deal and it made me understand that we have great power in our hands. A power, a responsibility and an obligation, right?”

Lucas also explained that the idea came as a reflex caused by pain.

“We felt very compelled to do it. It wasn’t even thought of, it was a reflex, you know? When you get hit in the knee – oh! – and it hurts? That’s it. It was a reflex.”

“We saw this happen. I saw my neighborhood in Porto Alegre underwater, I saw my history, the regions I lived in, where I lived, where I was born. Basically it’s our history, and the history of Porto Alegre and the our State.”

Formed in 1999, the band Fresno was created in Porto Alegre. Although he was born in Ceará, Lucas was raised in the capital of Rio Grande do Sul.

After coming up with the idea for the live, Lucas says he got in touch with Igão and Mítica, PodPah presenters and, within 20 minutes, he received the approval for the live recording to take place in the studio. The two were present in the studio and also sang their voices during the live, performing with Lucas on the hit “Boa Sorte”, by Vanessa da Mata.

“And also, other people were willing to offer their spaces, their talents, everything.”

“The amount of people who wanted to work on it, we could have stayed on air for a week, if that was the case. So it was a really beautiful flow.”