Leopold Nunan Turns Feliz Navidad Into a Summer Rave From Brazil

Leopold Nunan, known to Rio fans as Leo Rio’s kid, Leopold Nunan flips Feliz Navidad into a summer bash with his single set for release on December 19 across all streaming platforms. The Rio-based musician weaves José Feliciano’s evergreen hit Feliz Navidad into the sweltering Rio night and the buzz of the dance floor.

Growing up in Brazil and now producing beats in Los Angeles, Leopold knows what Christmas is all about. Christmas to him is all about sunshine, beach, endless possibilities, and endless nights of music. That’s what this remix is all about, as he replaces all the images of snow with the scorching heat of Rio.

Also produced in conjunction with Brazilian drum and bass musician RYLLE, Feliz Navidad is transformed into a frenetic electronic party track. The bass kicks and the breakbeats snap in this song, which is clearly intended to transport you to the dance floor and pulse to the excitement of a party that refuses to end, rather than to inspire reverent celebration.

Essentially, this release is a personal statement. Leopold Nunan asserts that he “is a club kid” who “is all about that dance floor,” and this version of “Feliz Navidad” reflects this preoccupation. This song weaves together elements of cultures, environments, and generations in a sense that takes a song deeply rooted in a Hispanic tradition and pushes that into a new style that could only be realized in a modern club setting.

With this change, Leopold Nunan delivers an bold, joyful mashup of Christmas. Festive, dynamic, and warm—Christmas, but in the summer instead! Christmas, but with the beat! Christmas from Rio, with love.