Maali Midian

Maali Midian formed in 2004 around songwriter and vocalist Marcos Almeida, with guitarist Daniel Motta as a consistent presence. The band's name references the biblical figure of Midian, though their music leaned toward rock with electronic and ambient touches rather than traditional worship styles. Their debut album that year was called 'Desperta Igreja,' which included the title track of the same name.

That first album established their approach, and they followed it with several others over the next decade, including 'Retrato de um Herói' in 2007, 'Cidade dos Sonhos' in 2010, and 'Dia da Vitória' in 2014. The lineup sometimes included other musicians like drummer Leandro Oliveira and bassist Anderson Maia, but Almeida and Motta remained at the center.

Their straightforward rock sound and lyrical focus on faith drew some criticism from more traditional corners, but they kept recording and performing through the 2010s. The music wasn't trying to fit neatly into existing categories, which gave it a particular directness that connected with listeners looking for something different in Christian music.