Engenheiros do Hawaii
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1983 in Porto Alegre, Brazil |
| Founder | Humberto Gessinger, Carlos Maltz, Marcelo Pitz |
| Headquarters | Porto Alegre , Brazil |
Area served | Brazil |
Key people | Humberto Gessinger (vocalist and bassist) |
| Products | Music albums |
Engenheiros do Hawaii (translated as "Engineers from Hawaii") was a Brazilian rock group established in Porto Alegre in 1983. They gained recognition for their sharply ironic and socially conscious lyrics, often employing clever semantic wordplay. Humberto Gessinger, the vocalist and bassist, remained the only permanent member throughout the band's history.
Early period in the south
The band was initially formed by three architecture students from UFRGS: Humberto Gessinger (vocals, guitar), Carlos Maltz (drums), and Marcelo Pitz (bass). Their formation was for a university festival. After performing several shows around Porto Alegre and the rural areas of Rio Grande do Sul, they launched their first album, Longe Demais das Capitais (1986). This debut featured a New Wave style reminiscent of The Police and Os Paralamas do Sucesso, with notable tracks such as "Toda Forma de Poder" and "Sopa de Letrinhas."
Prior to recording their sophomore album, bassist Marcelo Pitz departed and was succeeded by guitarist Augusto Licks, formerly linked to Nei Lisboa. Gessinger transitioned to playing bass, and the band released A Revolta dos Dândis (1987), which marked a stylistic shift toward folk influences combined with intellectually charged lyrics that referenced philosophers like Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre. Popular songs from this album included "Infinita Highway," "Terra de Gigantes," and "Refrão de Bolero." Their national presence grew following performances at events like the Alternativa Nativa festival in June 1987.
The 1988 release Ouça o Que Eu Digo, Não Ouça Ninguém continued this artistic development with tracks such as "Somos Quem Podemos Ser," "Nunca Se Sabe," and the Pink Floyd-inspired "Variações Sobre o Mesmo Tema." During this era, the band relocated from Porto Alegre to Rio de Janeiro. In 1989, they issued Alívio Imediato, their first live album, which highlighted essential songs while introducing a more electronic sound evident in the title track and "Nau à Deriva."
Gessinger, Licks & Maltz
In 1990, the album O Papa É Pop further defined the band's evolving musical identity. The record's success was propelled by "Era Um Garoto Que Como Eu Amava os Beatles e os Rolling Stones", a reinterpretation of a 1960s Os Incríveis hit. This release embraced a progressive approach featuring Licks’s guitar solos alongside an electronic base composed of keyboards and drums. Licks contributed several key compositions including "O Exército de um Homem Só", "Pra Ser Sincero", "Perfeita Simetria", and the title track. Although critical opinions were mixed, Engenheiros do Hawaii made a significant impression at Rock in Rio II, receiving commendations from media such as The New York Times. Their 1991 follow-up album, Várias Variáveis, did not achieve comparable acclaim but contained fan favorites like "Piano Bar", "Muros & Grades", and "Herdeiro da Pampa Pobre".
The band’s 1992 release, Gessinger, Licks & Maltz, integrated elements of MPB, milonga, and progressive rock, with standout tracks including "Pampa no Walkman", "Ninguém = Ninguém", and "Parabólica," which was dedicated to Gessinger’s daughter Clara. In 1993, they presented Filmes de Guerra, Canções de Amor, a semi-acoustic live album recorded with the accompaniment of the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra and orchestrated by Wagner Tiso. This project featured sophisticated reinterpretations of classics like "Muros & Grades" along with new compositions such as "Mapas do Acaso" and "Realidade Virtual," underscoring Gessinger’s songwriting prowess.
Challenging Periods
In 1993, the group broadened their audience by touring in Japan and the United States. Nevertheless, internal disagreements resulted in Augusto Licks departing and a lengthy legal dispute over the rights to the “Engenheiros do Hawaii” name, which was eventually secured by Gessinger and Maltz. The band then underwent a reconstruction phase, welcoming guitarist Ricardo Horn, accordionist/keyboardist Paolo Casarin, and former RPM guitarist Fernando Deluqui. After a two-year break from recording, Engenheiros released Simples de Coração in late 1995, showcasing a heavier musical style enhanced by Casarin’s accordion. Notable tracks included "A Promessa", "Lance de Dados", and the album’s title track. Shortly after, Maltz’s departure sparked another period of instability for the band.
Gessinger Trio
Returning to Porto Alegre, Gessinger established the Gessinger Trio alongside Luciano Granja (guitar) and Adal Fonseca (drums). Their 1996 release, Humberto Gessinger Trio, revisited earlier songs such as "Vida Real", "O Preço", and "A Ferro e Fogo". Gessinger described this work as “an album by Engenheiros without the name Engenheiros do Hawaii,” reinforcing their ongoing creative presence. In 1997, Granja, Fonseca, and Gessinger officially reclaimed the Engenheiros do Hawaii name.
Comeback
The 1997 album Minuano marked Engenheiros' resurgence with the addition of new keyboardist Lucio Dorfman. This record combined regional musical elements with Gessinger’s incisive lyrics, featuring popular tracks like "A Montanha", "Nuvem", and a rendition of MPB artist Belchior's "Alucinação". Their subsequent 1999 album, Tchau Radar!, demonstrated a more sophisticated sound and included fan favorites such as "Eu Que Não Amo Você" and "3 x 4", along with covers like Bob Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" under the title "Negro Amor" and "A Cruzada". They also released their third live album titled 10.000 Destinos ao Vivo, which was their twelfth overall.
Exploring their repertoire further, Gessinger composed new material including covers of "Rádio Pirata" and "Quando o Carnaval Chegar". Renato Borghetti made significant contributions to fresh arrangements of hits like "Toda Forma de Poder" and "Refrão de Bolero". Following their appearance at Rock in Rio III, Lucio, Adal, and Luciano left to establish Massa Crítica, leading to another lineup transformation for Engenheiros.
Surfando Karmas & DNA and Dançando no Campo Minado
Subsequently, Paulinho Galvão (rhythm guitar), Bernardo Fonseca (bass), and Gláucio Ayala (drums) joined the ensemble, introducing a sound that was simultaneously cleaner yet heavier. In 2002, the band embraced a nostalgic direction with Surfando Karmas & DNA, which featured former members such as Carlos Maltz on the track "E-stória". Prominent songs included "Esportes Radicais" and "Terceira do Plural". The following year’s album, Dançando no Campo Minado, maintained this style with brief compositions, dominant guitar riffs, and Gessinger’s sharp commentary on topics like globalization, warfare, and political disappointment; Maltz also participated in this project. The standout single was the catchy pop-rock tune "Até o Fim".
To celebrate their twentieth anniversary in 2004, Engenheiros do Hawaii released an MTV Unplugged album featuring guest musicians Fernando Aranha (acoustic guitar), Humberto Barros (Hammond organ), and Carlos Maltz. Gessinger offered new interpretations of classics such as "Infinita Highway" and "O Papa é Pop", alongside tracks like "Pose" featuring contributions from his daughter Clara. Additionally, songs from the Gessinger Trio period were incorporated into EngHaw’s official catalog.
Unplugged tour
After the success of their unplugged DVD, Humberto Gessinger reassembled the band following guitarist Paulinho Galvão's departure to pursue other ventures. The lineup was refreshed with Fernando Aranha on string instruments and the addition of the young keyboardist Pedro Augusto.
Since then, the group has concentrated on performing their hits from the late 1980s and early 1990s with only subtle modifications during live shows. This acoustic period represents one of their most notable recent achievements. By 2006, the band revealed intentions to release a new album scheduled for early 2007.
Studio albums
- (1986) Longe Demais das Capitais
- (1987) A Revolta dos Dândis
- (1988) Ouça o Que Eu Digo, Não Ouça Ninguém
- (1990) O Papa É Pop
- (1991) Várias Variáveis
- (1992) Gessinger, Licks & Maltz
- (1995) Simples de Coração
- (1996) Humberto Gessinger Trio
- (1997) Minuano
- (1999) Tchau Radar!
- (2002) Surfando Karmas & DNA
- (2003) Dançando no Campo Minado
Live albums
- (1989) Alívio Imediato
- (1993) Filmes de Guerra, Canções de Amor
- (2000) 10 Mil Destinos
- (2004) Acústico MTV
- (2007) Novos Horizontes