Brazilian Contemporary MARISA MONTE Marching to the Beat of Her Own Drum Marisa Monte has been captivating audiences with her unique sounds that combine traditional Brazilian music styles, like samba and bossa nova, with rock and pop influences. Her poetic and socially conscious lyrics have made her a voice for change around the globe, but she remains deeply entrenched in the sounds of her homeland. “There’s no disassociating my personality from Brazil’s unique culture, and it’s hard to talk about Brazilian culture without talking about diversity, variety and a mix of different elements,” Monte notes. Her choice of instruments itself diversifies her music through an unexpected assortment of drums, ukulele, chord zither and xylophone. “I’m not afraid of losing my personality by mixing together different things, because that is the personality of Brazilian music.” ILLUSTRATION ISTOCK; PREVIOUS SPREAD: CAMILA PINHEIRO 38
It is a bold approach, and one that has hit all the right notes with listeners and critics spanning continents and generations. Monte has sold 15 million albums worldwide, scooped up four Latin Grammy awards and has two albums cited by Rolling Stone as being among the 100 best Brazilian albums ever. Unlike many musicians, who have only found international fame after moving abroad, Monte has been able to accomplish her dreams while remaining in her native Rio de Janeiro. “I’m very happy with what I’ve achieved with my work, living in Brazil and singing in Portuguese,” she says, “And I like to be challenged in meeting people who have never watched me live before, going to cities where there are not just Brazilians in the audience.” It helps, of course, that her eclectic taste – which caught the ear of the record industry back when she was just 21 – is underpinned by a pristine, caressing, opera-inflected voice, and enhanced by her spectacular stage shows. “I have this kind of fame for being very cool on stage,” she laughs. Monte’s influence goes beyond her music. She has been an outspoken advocate for social and environmental causes, including the protection of the Amazon rainforest and promoting education and cultural diversity in Brazil. “I’ve been working with music for 35 years as a female protagonist within a mostly male field,” she points out. “I hope my example can inspire other women to take charge of their own lives and choices in environments where they are a minority. I have always taken a personal interest in the forces that we have to deal with in order to be in the world artistically. I have tried to create my own way.” COURTESY OF Living FOR MORE INFORMATION ON LOCATIONS AND TO BOOK, SCAN THE QR CODE 39
