Brazilian Artists We're Listening To

Brazilian music often gets pigeonholed as samba or bossa nova, but the artists pushing things forward right now are mixing in jazz, pop, and experimental vibe to create something totally new. I've been diving into this new wave of Brazilian music a lot lately, and these 8 artists have caught my ear for how they blend tradition with fresh ideas. Each one brings a unique backstory and sound worth diving into. Here's a rundown on who they are, what sets their music apart, and a solid starting point to check out for each of them. 

Bruno Berle

Splitting time between Maceió in Northeastern Brazil and São Paulo, Bruno Berle is a young songwriter and multi-instrumentalist crafting tunes at the sweet spot of dreamy indie-pop and MPB. What draws me in is his simple approach, with basic guitar lines and easy beats that give his voice plenty of room to stand out, making the songs feel close and personal, like he's chatting right to you with a mix of bossa nova calm and folk warmth. It's straightforward stuff that gets you swaying, with lyrics that hit on real emotions without any fuss.

No Reino dos Afetos (2022) serves as a strong introduction, featuring tracks like "Quero Dizer" and "O Nome Do Meu Amor" that show off his no-frills style and direct vocals. The 2024 sequel, No Reino dos Afetos 2, adds a few more sounds and details, keeping things simple while trying out some new ideas. With releases like this, it's no wonder he's been lighting up festivals like Brick Lane Jazz in 2025.

Nyron Higor

Fellow Maceió native Nyron Higor pulls from Northeastern Brazilian rhythms like frevo and ciranda, weaving in MPB's classic warmth with modern production. It's the kind of Brazilian music that keeps things grounded, mixing in global sounds with old-school MPB, resulting in tracks that feel familiar but with a modern twist. His path from local demos to the São Paulo scene gives it that real, hands-on energy.

His self-titled debut Nyron Higor (2025) is where to start. Opening track "Ciranda" puts frevo beats together with warm guitar, and "São Só Palavras" (featuring Alici Sol and Bruno Berle) squeezes a lot of emotion into a short song. This one's got a quiet strength, mixing old roots with new touches, and it's already getting good buzz for how it handles those blends.

Dora Morelenbaum

From Rio de Janeiro, Dora Morelenbaum carries a rich lineage as granddaughter of renowned composer Jaques Morelenbaum and daughter of cellist-vocalist Paula Morelenbaum, with ties to the Latin Grammy-winning quartet Bala Desejo, a trailblazing group opening Brazilian music to global audiences. Her solo output fuses MPB, jazz, and soul, with her voice leading the way through arrangements that are lush but easy to get into, adding brass and pop elements to keep things lively. Coming from that family background, she's picked up sharp vocal skills and turned them into something current and engaging.

Pique (2024) showcases this range, shifting between full band setups and simpler beats. "Essa Confusão" mixes steady rhythms with voice tweaks, and "VW Blue" brings in jazz through strings and wind instruments, making for a solid mix of tracks. It's the album that's got her shining at spots like Oslo Jazz Festival in 2025.

Lau Ro

São Paulo native Lau Ro's path - relocating to Europe as a teen, settling in Italy and then Brighton, UK - infuses their work with themes of displacement and reimagined heritage as a non-binary artist reconnecting musically and spiritually with Brazil. The resulting sound merges ambient folk, fuzzy tropicalia, MPB, psychedelia, strings, and electronics into straightforward stories - think British folk mixed with 60s/70s Brazilian tunes for a relaxed, thoughtful listen.

Their debut album Cabana (2024) encapsulates this hybrid approach, with bilingual lyrics in English and Portuguese weaving personal memories with social commentary. Tracks build up slowly, adding fuzzy effects and background sounds for a unique spin on Brazilian music. It's the kind of record that feels like a gentle nudge to think about home, and critics are calling it a standout.

Sessa

Sessa's music underscores a sound defined by elegance and restraint: ambient jazz undertones, MPB phrasing, and instrumentation that leaves space for emotional weight. The focus remains on his beautiful vocals, allowing melodies and subtle percussion to come through clearly, mixing American influences with Brazilian elements in basic setups that highlight optimism and simple joys. His shift from band work to solo stuff celebrates everyday themes like love in a fresh way.

2022’s Estrela Acesa (which translates to "Burning Star") offers an accessible entry with its gentle lines and lingering harmonies. The album's sparse setup highlights how less can mean more, making it a benchmark for introspective Brazilian music.

Zé Ibarra

São Paulo's Zé Ibarra kicked things off with the band Dônica before taking tradition and running with it in his solo work, which blend MPB, jazz, pop, and prog rock. Also tied to the group Bala Desejo (with Dora Morelenbaum) and known for experimental vocal practices and orchestration, he's a multi-instrumentalist whose gigs with legend Milton Nascimento show off on-the-spot playing that keeps things lively and positive.

His second album AFIM (2025) is the perfect dive-in point: "Transe" mixes classic guitar with shiny synths, and "Essa Confusão" (co-written with Dora Morelenbaum) brings in full strings and build-ups. It's Brazilian music that's daring and fresh - his first big solo push after lots of praise, mixing big sounds with real heart.

Nina Maia

Originally from Minas Gerais and now in São Paulo, 22-year-old Nina Maia is a singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, and producer who draws from MPB, jazz, ambient, and global influences and merges them into her own unique left-field pop sound. Her compositions feel innovative yet grounded, with a knack for blending familiarity and originality. Already soundtracking six films and earning a "Breakthrough Artist" nomination, her sound pulls in prog rock, blues, and Brazilian folk in a way that's easy to connect with.

Her latest 2025 album INTEIRA introduces her breadth, showcasing vocal range and interpretive depth. It's the debut that's got BBC 6 Music buzzing, proving she's redefining Brazilian music.

Alvaro Lancellotti

With songwriting credits for icons like Marcos Valle and Maria Rita, Alvaro Lancellotti delves into Afro-Brazilian spirituality and experimental forms with his solo music. His work reflects deep roots, using traditional terreiro rhythms with steady beats to create tracks that feel shared and meaningful.

Arruda, Alfazema e Guiné (2024) is the album to start with, led by single "Maneira de Ver," which fuses terreiro rhythms with quiet intensity. His third studio album, it's a spiritual journey that's landed on best-of lists worldwide.

These 10 Brazilian music artists illustrate the genre's evolving landscape, merging the country's musical tradition with bold new styles. From Bruno Berle's minimal sound to Nina Maia's fresh mix of genres and styles, they expand what Brazilian music can encompass. Dive in and explore how these releases redefine what Brazilian music can sound like. You'll be hooked.