Becoming successful or simply getting noticed in the music industry can be extremely challenging. Building a name in the fertile land of thousands of the best recording artists in the world can be even more difficult.

But São Paulo native Luísa Maita has succeeded in finding the perfect balance between roots music from Brazil, alternative pop, electronica and R&B to stand out as a powerful and promising creative force in her country. She makes her Chicago debut Nov. 13 at the Logan Square Auditorium.

I had an opportunity to interview Maita briefly over the phone as she was crossing the Canadian border for a show in Vancouver. When I listened to her music, I found myself completely drawn to her soulful modern sound. Maita is the product of a family, a city and a country that breathes music.

She describes music as a dream.

“All of life’s harmonies fit into one song. Music is a place to communicate your love for people, for your listeners. Music for me is sensuality, samba, ‘Brazil-ness’. The things I love. I believe this first solo album brings all of that together”.

How did you become involved in music?
I started singing when I was a child. I grew up in a musical house where almost everyone was involved in music. My father was a singer, songwriter and guitar player. He was a “sambista”.

I started singing professionally at the age of 18. First, I tried to stay as close to music as possible by taking all kinds of jobs. I sang at parties, weddings [and] bars. I did jingles for promotion, wrote songs for other artists… I basically did all the jobs that are possible to do in music.

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