Recommended Brazilian artists: Popular international singers and singer-songwriters

ZeroLiniker

Liniker – Zero

Liniker is a singer-songwriter from Brazil, active in genres such as MPB, neo-soul, and psychedelic soul.

She debuted in July 2015 and gained attention leading the band Liniker e os Caramelows.

In 2019, she won a Latin Grammy for her solo album Indigo Borboleta Anil.

Her unique style blends lyrics in Portuguese and English and incorporates elements of Caribbean and African music.

She is also known as a trans woman and has become an iconic figure within Brazil’s LGBTQ+ community.

She’s an artist I recommend to music fans who value diversity and inclusion.

ZiguiriguidumMC 2K

MC 2K – Ziguiriguidum (KondZilla – 2013)

A group popular with young people in funk music.

Funk is a music genre that originated in the 2000s in the favelas—slums—of Rio de Janeiro.

Today, it’s played from speakers as a part of everyday life and is more familiar and beloved by young people than traditional samba or bossa nova.

OceanoDjavan

Djavan – Oceano (Ao Vivo)

In his childhood, he was a poor young man who admired Paul McCartney of the Beatles, but with Flor de Lis he produced record-breaking hits and became widely known.

His high, soaring vocals pair exquisitely with his laid-back melodies.

A hallmark of his work is the abundance of atmospheric songs reminiscent of Djavan.

Não EncheCaetano Veloso

Caetano Veloso – Não Enche

Caetano Veloso, a singer-songwriter who was even whispered about as the heir to João Gilberto.

However, as he entered his later period, his style shifted toward a psychedelic blend of Brazilian popular music and rock.

Under the military regime, his music took on a social purpose, and he was even imprisoned.

XIRLEYGABY AMARANTOS

Gaby Amarantos – Xirley

Techno-brega music, which originated in Belém, the largest city in Pará in northern Brazil.

It’s a genre that mixes brega—a form of pop incorporating indigenous traditional songs like Trinidad do Baco—with remixed club culture sounds.

She calls herself the “Beyoncé of Pará,” and her momentum shows no sign of stopping.

DinorahIvan Lins

Ivan Lins – Dinorah, Dinorah Full Version

His music overflows with passion.

His songs have a romantic and gentle vibe.

Ivan Lins’s name spread among Western musicians, captivating artists like Stevie Wonder and Quincy Jones.

During the military regime, he was a singer who spoke on behalf of the people.

Terra do solDANI & DEBORA GURGEL QUARTETO

Terra do sol / Dani & Debora Gurgel Quarteto

An artist attracting attention in São Paulo as a new-generation MPB figure, with multifaceted talents as a singer, photographer, and designer.

The group was formed around a daughter who had been active as a singer-songwriter and her mother, a piano instructor.

Their overall sound is urban, and their performance skills are highly regarded.