Biography
Andreia Dias (sometimes credited as Andréia Dias) is a Brazilian singer, songwriter, and composer associated with São Paulo’s vibrant alternative music scene. Born on 2 March 1973, sources differ on whether her birthplace is the city of São Paulo or the coastal city of Santos, though other profiles describe her as coming from the poor neighborhood of Grajaú on the outskirts of São Paulo.[1][3][4] Raised in an evangelical family, she came into conflict with her parents over her desire to go out at night to rock shows, and at age 17 she ran away from home to pursue her own artistic path.[1][5] She later formalized her training by studying popular singing at the Universidade Livre de Música Tom Jobim, graduating in 1994, which grounded her experimental approach in solid vocal technique and Brazilian popular music traditions.[1]
Through the 1990s and 2000s, Dias became a key figure in cutting‑edge São Paulo collectives that blended samba, rock, MPB, and avant‑garde experimentation. She was part of the first lineup of the group Farofa Carioca, known for its mix of samba‑funk, pop, and socially conscious lyrics.[1] In 2001 she co‑founded the band DonaZica with Iara Rennó and Anelis Assumpção, recording the albums "Composição" (2003) and "Filme Brasileiro" (2005), works associated with the so‑called pós‑vanguarda paulista (post‑vanguard of São Paulo).[1] From 2003 she also joined Banda Glória, with whom she recorded "Passarinho" (2005) and "Banda Glória convida Cristina Buarque" (2008), deepening her links to samba and choro traditions through collaborations with figures like Cristina Buarque.[1]
Dias launched her solo career in 2008 with the album "Vol. 1," produced by drummer Guilherme Kastrup and featuring members of Banda Glória; she described this record as the beginning of a personal "Trilogia da minha cabeça" (“Trilogy of my head”).[1][3][4] The follow‑up "Vol. 2" appeared in 2010 on the independent label Scubidu Records, produced by Ricardo Prado and featuring guest appearances by Iara Rennó and Luque Barros, while "Pelos Trópicos" (2013) emerged from a research and travel project through ten Brazilian capitals, absorbing diverse regional sounds.[1] In 2015 she released "Prisioneira do Amor," revisiting and reinterpreting ten early‑1970s songs first recorded by Rita Lee, and in 2019 she completed her TPMramental trilogy with "Vol. 3," combining her own compositions with a musical setting of a poem by Mário Quintana.[1] Parallel to her solo work she has been closely associated with the legendary experimentalist Tom Zé, joining his band in 2017, singing on his album "Sem Você Não A" and the live/educational project "Estudando Tom Zé" at Sesc Pinheiros, and later contributing vocals to his 2022 album "Língua Brasileira".[1] Through these projects Dias has forged a reputation as a distinctive, avant‑garde voice who bridges samba, MPB, rock, and poetic experimentation in contemporary Brazilian music.[1][3][4]
Fun Facts
- Dias left home at age 17, running away from her evangelical parents because they would not allow her to go out at night to rock concerts, a decisive act that pushed her fully into a musical life.[1][5]
- She studied popular singing at the Universidade Livre de Música Tom Jobim, graduating in 1994; this formal training underpins her often experimental, avant‑garde vocal approach.[1]
- Her three solo albums titled "Vol. 1," "Vol. 2," and "Vol. 3" form what she herself calls the "Trilogia da minha cabeça" ("Trilogy of my head"), a long‑term conceptual project spanning more than a decade.[1]
- The album "Pelos Trópicos" (2013) came out of a research trip through ten Brazilian capitals, during which she gathered musical impressions and regional influences that she then wove into the record.[1]
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Tom Zé - Senior avant‑garde MPB composer whose band Dias joined; his experimentally minded songcraft and conceptual albums provide a clear aesthetic framework and reference point for her later work. (Band vocalist and guest on Tom Zé’s albums "Sem Você Não A" (2017) and "Língua Brasileira" (2022), plus live project "Estudando Tom Zé" at Sesc Pinheiros.) [2017–2022 and beyond]
- Rita Lee - Iconic Brazilian rock and pop singer‑songwriter whose early‑1970s repertoire Dias re‑interpreted in depth, treating Lee’s work as a songbook to study and reframe. (Album "Prisioneira do Amor" (2015), featuring ten songs originally recorded by Rita Lee in the early 1970s.) [Repertoire focus around 2015]
Key Collaborators
- Iara Rennó - Co‑founder of the experimental group DonaZica and recurring guest in Dias’s solo work, sharing roots in São Paulo’s post‑vanguard scene. (Co‑founded DonaZica; albums "Composição" (2003) and "Filme Brasileiro" (2005); guest vocal/composer on the track "Cadência" from Dias’s solo album "Vol. 2" (2010).) [From 2001 (DonaZica formation) through at least 2010]
- Anelis Assumpção - Singer‑songwriter and daughter of cult artist Itamar Assumpção; co‑founded DonaZica with Dias, contributing to its blend of samba, rock, and experimental MPB. (Bandmate in DonaZica on the albums "Composição" (2003) and "Filme Brasileiro" (2005).) [From 2001 through mid‑2000s]
- Guilherme Kastrup - Drummer and producer who helped shape Dias’s debut solo sound with a percussive, textural approach that bridges samba, jazz, and experimental pop. (Producer and drummer on the solo album "Vol. 1" (2008), performing alongside fellow Banda Glória musicians.) [Around 2008]
- Ricardo Prado - Producer who collaborated with Dias on her second solo album, helping develop the next phase of her "Trilogia da minha cabeça." (Producer of "Vol. 2" (2010), released on the independent label Scubidu Records.) [Around 2010]
- Luque Barros - Guest collaborator contributing to Dias’s expansion of her solo palette on "Vol. 2." (Featured on the track "Nós Dois" from the album "Vol. 2" (2010).) [Around 2010]
- Cristina Buarque - Renowned interpreter of traditional samba who appeared with Dias’s group Banda Glória, linking Dias to a lineage of classic samba singers. (Guest of honor on the album "Banda Glória convida Cristina Buarque" (2008), recorded with Dias as a member of Banda Glória.) [Mid‑2000s, especially 2008]
- Zeca Baleiro - Popular Brazilian singer‑songwriter with whom Dias collaborated as a guest vocalist, connecting her to a broader MPB audience. (Duet/feature on the track "Meu amigo Enock" from Zeca Baleiro’s album "O disco do ano" (2012).) [Around 2012]
- Farofa Carioca (band) - Early group project combining samba‑funk, pop, and socially engaged lyrics; Dias was part of the first lineup, gaining ensemble and stage experience. (First formation of Farofa Carioca (live performances and early work referenced in her biographies).) [1990s (exact years not specified)]
- Banda Glória - Group blending samba, choro, and contemporary arrangements; Dias was a core singer, using the band as a laboratory for her voice and arrangements. (Albums "Passarinho" (2005) and "Banda Glória convida Cristina Buarque" (2008).) [From 2003 through at least 2008]
Artists Influenced
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Connection Network
Discography
Top Tracks
- Mandu Sarará (Macunaíma Ópera Tupi)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Andreia Dias has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 13, 2025 | 14:10 | Seu Retrato | Tudo Bem (Brazilian)w/ Dean Ellis |