NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� The lights are low in Studio 8H. All eyes 鈥� and all cameras, of which there are at least half a dozen 鈥� are on The Brazilian superstar stands in the center, flanked by dancers and a small band lining the stage. It’s quiet enough to hear a pin drop. A stand-in announces, 鈥淟adies and Gentlemen, Anitta,鈥� before a flash of red light fills the room. And just like that, it’s show time.
This is the famed set at New York City’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza, and Anitta is running through two new songs 鈥� 鈥淐hoka Choka鈥� and 鈥淰arias Quejas,鈥� a Spanish-language version of an Olodum classic, a cultural group from Bahia, Brazil 鈥� during rehearsal last week.
Both songs are standouts from her forthcoming album, 鈥淓quilibrium,鈥� an eclectic mix of Brazilian funk, samba, bossa nova, semba, reggae, electronic pop, Portuguese, Spanish and English 鈥� the kind of release that could only be made mainstream by Brazil鈥檚 most globally popular musician since Astrud Gilberto sang 鈥淭he Girl From Ipanema鈥� over six decades ago.
鈥淚 think this is the most Brazilian thing I’ve ever, ever done on television in America,鈥� Anitta told The Associated Press in the NBC offices shortly thereafter.
And 鈥淓quilibrium?鈥� 鈥�100% my most Brazilian album,鈥� the artist born Larissa de Macedo Machado says. 鈥淚 really wanted to do an album honoring my roots.鈥�
An evolving sound
鈥淓quilibrium鈥� is a sonic jump from her last release, That was a full-on tribute to Brazilian funk 鈥� what is frequently referred to as funk carioca or baile funk and is heard in working-class neighborhoods known as favelas around Rio de Janeiro. It’s a combination of Brazilian rhythms, African and electronic music and rap that has been stigmatized like hip-hop and reggaet贸n before it. The genre still exists on 鈥淓quilibrium,鈥� but so does a myriad sounds 鈥� and beliefs 鈥� from her homeland.
鈥淪ome of the songs are honoring some entities from Yoruba culture, from Orishas,鈥� she says, referring to the religion that originated in West Africa and its divine spirits, like on the track 鈥淣an茫.鈥� 鈥淥ne of the songs talks about God and how do I see God in life.鈥�
It should come as no surprise to Anitta fans: In 2024, for the song 鈥淎ceita,鈥� which featured a video depicting rituals of the Afro-Brazilian faith Candombl茅, sparking controversy in a country where Elevating marginalized populations, religious groups and also women, residents of favelas, LGBTQ+ and Black people has always been a core feature of Anitta’s public persona.
Going global by going home
Naturally, 鈥淓quilibrium鈥� is also a full-on embrace of community. The album is stacked with Brazilian collaborators, like the rising songwriter Melly, samba rock-and-then-some, the Brazilian reggae band Ponto de Equil铆brio and countless others. Even 鈥淐hoka Choka,鈥� the assertive single with is a love letter to Anitta’s culture: The 鈥淪he Wolf鈥� singer performs in Portuguese.
鈥淎nitta wanted to create something for Brazil, but with an international touch,鈥� said 鈥淐hoka Choka鈥� co-producer Daramola in a press statement. Its Brazilian funk percussion 鈥渉as a lot of energy, a lot of intensity. And who better to represent that sound than Anitta and Shakira?鈥�
The song, like the rest of 鈥淓quilibrium,鈥� seeks to deliver a universal message with regional sounds. Where she could’ve leaned into conventional, commercial music trends, she doubled down on what makes Anitta, Anitta instead. Clearly the world 鈥� and 鈥淪aturday Night Live鈥� 鈥� are paying attention.
In the past, 鈥淚f I wanted to reach certain audience, I would do more English or Spanish or whatever,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd I just think 鈥� I don’t know if people are accepting better. I don鈥檛 care that much as I used to.鈥�
She still sings in three languages, but Portuguese takes a front seat. That may be because this is the freest Anitta has sounded on record. Consider a song like the syrupy 鈥淰ai Dar Ca么鈥� featuring rapper Ebony and producer Papatinho, with its sample of DJ Mandrake and MC Tik茫o’s 鈥淎 Pedido,鈥� built over a late-night-at-the-club interpolation of Art of Noise’s 1984 New Age classic 鈥淢oments In Love.鈥� Anitta’s raps are earned show boasts, something that doesn’t feel out of place next to the nylon-string classical guitars of a softer song, like 鈥淭ernura.鈥�
On 鈥淓quilibrium,鈥� specificity and storytelling is key. 鈥淭he last song, we also bring a mantra from the God Tara, which is a female God, from another type of religion,鈥� she says.
Anitta is referring to 鈥淥uro,鈥� a collaboration with the Brazilian duo Emanazul who describe their work as medicine music. She calls the song a 鈥渕editation.鈥�
鈥淚 don鈥檛 want people to think this is one type of thinking, one direction. I like to join forces,” she says. “I think that鈥檚 what this album is about: honoring everything that I think can make us feel elevated.鈥�
If she sounds self-actualized, that’s because it is her ambition for the album. 鈥淚 think the main message is, like, we are all one. We live in a planet, It鈥檚 our home. We鈥檙e supposed to just live in harmony with each other, respect each other鈥檚 flavors, decisions, ways of communicating. We should be just, like, admiring our differences,鈥� she says.
It’s a deep message but one delivered in a pop package. 鈥淚 think the album brings a lot of fun instruments, percussions, all that, but also brings like moments for us to 鈥� find the balance, the middle term, the middle way of doing things,鈥� she smiles. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the secret.鈥�
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