Júnior Freitas (MPB Alternativa)

Júnior Freitas works in what gets called alternative MPB, a space where Brazilian popular music meets something less traditional. He came up in Rio de Janeiro's Lapa district, a neighborhood known for its music, and his songs often feel grounded in that urban setting. His debut album from 2011 was titled 'Cansa', sharing its name with one of his better-known tracks.

That song 'Cansa' and others like 'Chorei de Amor Em Frente Ao Mar' and 'O Homem Que Inventou a Dúvida' give a sense of his writing, which tends toward the personal and sometimes the provocative. The material can spark debate, though the specifics of any controversies aren't the main point here. He followed the first album with another called 'A Vida Que Eu Quero' in 2014.

His music doesn't fit neatly into older MPB patterns, and that's essentially the alternative part. It's more about a certain directness in the lyrics and a sound that feels of its moment rather than a throwback. The songs are what stick, not a grand narrative about his career.