Though based in London, the trip-hop trio Smoke City created music with a distinctively Brazilian, bossa nova-influenced sound --nosurprise given
thatvocalist Nina Miranda's childhood was divided between the UK and South America. Miranda formed Smoke Citywithformer schoolmate Mark Brown,
withwhom she shared an affection not only for the music of Santana and Gilberto Gil but alsoclassic'70s funk; rounding out the line-up with guitarist
ChrisFranck, formerly of the Brighton-based Brazilian percussion groupBatu, thegroup issued a handful of indie-label singles before signing to Jive
Records inthe fall of 1995.
