Island intersections : music and tourism on Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

This article examines the intersections between musical practices and tourism on the island of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil, and draws on field research undertaken by the authors in 2012 and 2014. Tourism currently represents the major source of income for island residents, and musical activity is largely oriented towards the tourism industry. Complex patterns of interconnectivity become apparent when one traces specific links between tourism and musical activity in relation to areas such as ‘covers’ versus original music, musical genre selection, live performance practices and recorded music. The research suggests that while the island’s largely self-contained musical environment fosters and rewards musical versatility, the tourism industry acts as a continuing impediment to the development of original music. This posits a conundrum to the island’s musicians, who need to find their own musical identity within a space that at the same time nurtures and curbs their musical development.