Edinnardo Monteiro

Edinnardo Monteiro came up in Salvador, Bahia, where the local sounds of samba and axé were part of the air. He started working with guitarist Carlinhos Brown early on, and his first album came out in 2007. That self-titled record included 'Bela,' a song that caught on and helped build his name.

His music pulls from those Brazilian roots but also touches on jazz and folk. He's put out albums like 'Faroeste Caboclo' in 2011 and 'Guitarra Baiana' in 2015. Other tracks like 'Boas Vindas' and 'Vou Mudar' show his range, built around his guitar work and vocals that lean into feeling.

In 2015, there was some noise about 'Bela' and questions of plagiarism, though Monteiro stood by the song as his own. He's played with different musicians over time, including guitarist Chico Gomes and drummer Nino Oliveira. The music doesn't try to be flashy; it's more about the space between the notes and the words.