Dubai's Underground Collective De Favela Knows How to Turn Up the Funk

At Sole DXB 2025, on the Groundwork stage powered by Power Horse, we caught up with Bianca Guedes of De Favela, a collective bringing the sound and spirit of Brazilian funk to the region.

Born from the energy of Brazil’s favelas, De Favela moves beyond music into experience, merging fashion, football, and sound into one shared culture. At the centre of their identity is Brazilian funk (funk carioca), a genre that emerged from Rio’s favelas and has since become a global force. Built on heavy, syncopated basslines, call-and-response vocals, and raw street-level storytelling, it’s a sound designed for movement, block parties, and communal release, constantly evolving as it travels beyond Brazil.

At its core, De Favela is about building community from the ground up, carrying the heat, colour, and authenticity of the favela wherever it goes.

This is episode two of SceneNoise x Groundwork, in collaboration with Power Horse, spotlighting the collectives shaping Dubai’s underground.