Raquel Carpenter

Raquel Carpenter came up singing in her local church choir in Fortaleza, a city in northeastern Brazil. Her music draws from the traditional forró sounds of that region, though she's primarily known for gospel recordings. In 2016, she released her debut album 'Sangue de Jesus,' and the title track became something of a viral moment in Brazil.

Her songs like 'Entra Jesus,' 'Por Tuas Chagas,' and 'Colo de Mãe' are straightforward expressions of Christian faith, delivered with a clear, emotive vocal style. She's faced some criticism for being openly religious in her music, but she's kept at it, releasing albums every couple of years since that first one.

She works with a small band that includes her husband, David Carpenter, as musical director. There's not much drama or grand narrative to her story, just a singer from Fortaleza making gospel music that connects with a certain audience in Brazil.