Luísa Maita
Encyclopedia
Luísa MaitaLuísa Maita (luˈizɐ is a Brazilian singer-songwriter
whose debut album was released in US and Europe by Cumbancha Discovery label in May 2010.
, Brazil
on April 27, 1982, into a musical family. Her father, Amado Maita, was a composer
and musician
and her mother, Myriam Taubkin, is a music producer.
The samba
was very present in Luisa's early days because of the experiences with her father in Bexiga
, a working class neighborhood in São Paulo
famous for its culture, food and music, and where Vai-Vai, São Paulo’s most traditional samba school
, is based.
Luisa starts singing her father's compositions and also classic sambas and bossa nova
. Her professional career begins at the age of seven, singing in some jingles.
Her main influences come from the personality and energy of western black music, notably the samba. The dance, the instruments, the melodies, the drumming, the body language in samba it’s a huge influence to Luisa's music as the pop music
from Michael Jackson
, Prince
and Stevie Wonder
. Luísa also has another passion: the bossa nova
that "has a certain silence that I love, sensuality and a certain expression of peace that I find quite clear in my music too".
In 1999, Luisa founded her first band called Urbanda (the group recorded an album in 2003), starts to sing with Daniel Taubkin and also as backing-vocal for Jair Rodrigues
. After that, Luisa collaborates with artists from her generation like Max de Castro, Mariana Aydar
, Ricardo Teté and Danilo Moraes, Ricardo Herz
, among others.
In 2006, the Brazilian singer Virgínia Rosa recorded two songs by Luisa in her album "Samba a Dois". The songs stand out in the CD and encouraged Luisa to compose more. In 2009, Mariana Aydar
released her second album with a composition of Luisa and Rodrigo Campos, "Beleza", one of the best songs of th year by Rolling Stone Brazil magazine. Luisa also appears in four songs of Rodrigo Campos debut album "São Materus Não É Um Lugar Assim Tão Longe" and as the singer of the promotional videos for Rio 2016 Olympic games directed by Fernando Meirelles
. Because of these works, Luisa had some great reviews in the Brazilian press without having yet released any solo album.
After the release in US, NPR's All Things Considered said that Luísa is "The New Voice of Brazil" and "if Maita keeps making records this good, she could well be on her way to international stardom".
On November 2010, Luísa made her first North America
tour, receiving great reviews from The New York Times
, The Washington Post
and Boston Globe. During the tour, she also appear on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert and KCWR's Morning Becomes Eclectic show.
In July 2011, Luísa received the award for Best New Artist in the twenty-second edition of the renowned Brazilian Music Award.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
whose debut album was released in US and Europe by Cumbancha Discovery label in May 2010.
Biography
Luisa was born in São PauloSão Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
on April 27, 1982, into a musical family. Her father, Amado Maita, was a composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and her mother, Myriam Taubkin, is a music producer.
The samba
Samba
Samba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival...
was very present in Luisa's early days because of the experiences with her father in Bexiga
Bela Vista
Bela Vista is one of the most traditional Italian neighborhoods in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. It belongs to the borough of Sé, and it has been a mixed neighborhood since its beginning, where free African-Brazilians and/or a mixture of Native-Brazilians, Blacks and Portuguese descendants lived...
, a working class neighborhood in São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
famous for its culture, food and music, and where Vai-Vai, São Paulo’s most traditional samba school
Samba school
A samba school is a club or dancing school. They practice and often perform in huge square-compounds devoted to practicing and exhibiting samba, an African-Brazilian dance. The schools are traditionally associated with a particular neighborhood, often shanty towns...
, is based.
Luisa starts singing her father's compositions and also classic sambas and bossa nova
Bossa nova
Bossa nova is a style of Brazilian music. Bossa nova acquired a large following in the 1960s, initially consisting of young musicians and college students...
. Her professional career begins at the age of seven, singing in some jingles.
Her main influences come from the personality and energy of western black music, notably the samba. The dance, the instruments, the melodies, the drumming, the body language in samba it’s a huge influence to Luisa's music as the pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
from Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
and Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
. Luísa also has another passion: the bossa nova
Bossa nova
Bossa nova is a style of Brazilian music. Bossa nova acquired a large following in the 1960s, initially consisting of young musicians and college students...
that "has a certain silence that I love, sensuality and a certain expression of peace that I find quite clear in my music too".
In 1999, Luisa founded her first band called Urbanda (the group recorded an album in 2003), starts to sing with Daniel Taubkin and also as backing-vocal for Jair Rodrigues
Jair Rodrigues
Jair Rodrigues de Oliveira is a Brazilian musician and singer, a pioneer of the funk in the country. He is the father of Luciana Mello and Jair Oliveira, who also followed in his footsteps and became musicians....
. After that, Luisa collaborates with artists from her generation like Max de Castro, Mariana Aydar
Mariana Aydar
Mariana Aydar is a Brazilian singer of MPB . She was born in São Paulo in 1980. She is married to band player Duani.-Singles:-References:...
, Ricardo Teté and Danilo Moraes, Ricardo Herz
Ricardo Herz
Ricardo Herz is a 28-year-old violinist from São Paulo, Brazil.Despite his young age, Herz already has plenty of experience as a classically-trained musician. He also received training in jazz from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. In France, he studied with Didier Lockwood, where...
, among others.
In 2006, the Brazilian singer Virgínia Rosa recorded two songs by Luisa in her album "Samba a Dois". The songs stand out in the CD and encouraged Luisa to compose more. In 2009, Mariana Aydar
Mariana Aydar
Mariana Aydar is a Brazilian singer of MPB . She was born in São Paulo in 1980. She is married to band player Duani.-Singles:-References:...
released her second album with a composition of Luisa and Rodrigo Campos, "Beleza", one of the best songs of th year by Rolling Stone Brazil magazine. Luisa also appears in four songs of Rodrigo Campos debut album "São Materus Não É Um Lugar Assim Tão Longe" and as the singer of the promotional videos for Rio 2016 Olympic games directed by Fernando Meirelles
Fernando Meirelles
Fernando Ferreira Meirelles is a Brazilian film director, producer and screenwriter.He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director in 2004 for his work in the Brazilian film City of God, released in 2002 in Brazil and in 2003 in the U.S. by Miramax Films...
. Because of these works, Luisa had some great reviews in the Brazilian press without having yet released any solo album.
After the release in US, NPR's All Things Considered said that Luísa is "The New Voice of Brazil" and "if Maita keeps making records this good, she could well be on her way to international stardom".
On November 2010, Luísa made her first North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
tour, receiving great reviews from The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
and Boston Globe. During the tour, she also appear on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert and KCWR's Morning Becomes Eclectic show.
In July 2011, Luísa received the award for Best New Artist in the twenty-second edition of the renowned Brazilian Music Award.
Awards
- 2011 - Best New Artist at the Brazilian Music Awards (the Brazilian equivalent of the Grammy)