A Brazilian singer whose songs blend samba, soul, and rock, heard in Wes Anderson films and collaborations from Gilberto Gil to Beck.
For a quick sense of his range, put on 'Eu Sou Favela' and then 'Lady Stardust.' One's all Rio pavement, the other is a samba-fied Bowie cover that somehow feels just as honest.
He's the guy who made Portuguese-language Bowie covers sound perfectly natural in 'The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.' His own songs like 'Eu Sou Favela' have that same grounded, lived-in quality, samba and soul mixed with the sound of Rio's streets. When he works with people like Gilberto Gil or Beck, it never feels like a crossover stunt, just musicians finding common ground.
He grew up in Belford Roxo hearing samba, bossa nova, and soul, citing Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye as vocal influences. The 2004 album 'Cru' brought wider attention, and his song 'Amiga da Minha Mulher' in 'The Life Aquatic' opened doors internationally. Since then he's moved between Brazilian collaborators like Caetano Veloso and artists outside Brazil, including Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
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