Aricia Mess

Biography

Arícia Mess was born in Niterói, Brazil, and emerged as a singer in the vibrant underground music scene of Rio de Janeiro during the 1990s. She quickly gained success in nightclubs and on stages with a 9-piece band, blending pop, funk, soul, and Afro-Brazilian rhythms, establishing herself as a dynamic performer known for singing, dancing, and touring.[7][4][1] Today based in São Paulo, her early career laid the foundation for a distinctive style celebrating Afro-Brazilian womanhood, black pride, and connections between Africa, Brazil, and the Caribbean.

Throughout her career, Arícia Mess has composed, produced, and released multiple albums, including her third full-length 'Versos do Mundo' on Koro Koro Music, recorded while traveling between São Paulo, London, and Lisbon. This period of global movement inspired themes of encounters, losses, dreams, and creative freedom, fusing elements like samba de roda from Bahia, coco de roda from Pernambuco, ijexá from Candomblé, Jamaican bass lines, and Angolan kizomba. She hosts an internet radio program and has toured extensively in Europe, including Berlin, Paris, Portugal, and London, while releasing over 13 projects on Bandcamp.[1][2][3]

Described as the 'Queen of psyco-quilombolas, radical batuques...Afro-shock-chic,' Arícia's powerful, refined voice recreates cultural links with a focus on the natural forces of womanhood. Her work has appeared in international compilations, and despite pandemic delays, her music continues to roam freely, emphasizing fantasy, praise for music's power, and cross-cultural unity.[1][2][3]

Fun Facts

• Dona Onete spontaneously composed and sang melodies for 'Batuque é Reza Forte' during what was supposed to be an interview in London, turning it into an impromptu collaboration that Arícia used directly in the recording.
• Her album 'Versos do Mundo' features the voice of late poet Wally Salomão on 'Sem medo do mar,' with permission from his family.
• Arícia met poet Marco P. Cremasco during travels, describing the encounter as 'full of magic!' which inspired her work.
• She blends diverse rhythms like Bahian samba de roda, Pernambucan coco de roda, Candomblé ijexá, Jamaican bass, and Angolan kizomba in tracks praising music's power.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Dona Onete - Major inspiration and spontaneous co-composer who improvised melodies during an interview turned collaboration (Batuque é Reza Forte from Versos do Mundo) [late 2010s]

Key Collaborators

• Dona Onete - Featured singer and co-composer (Batuque é Reza Forte on Versos do Mundo) [late 2010s]
• Aleh Ferreira - Guitarist and composer (Batuque é Reza Forte on Versos do Mundo; frontman of Banda Black Rio) [late 2010s]
• Gabriel Muzak - Fellow musician who inspired her (Versos do Mundo) [late 2010s]
• Ricardo Dias Gomes - Fellow musician who inspired her (Versos do Mundo) [late 2010s]
• Chico César - Featured appearance (Versos do Mundo) [late 2010s]
• Maria Del Mar - Featured Anglo-Colombian poet and singer reciting poem (Versos do Mundo) [late 2010s]
• João Deogracias - Band member for recording (Versos do Mundo) [late 2010s]
• Samba Sam - Band member for recording (Versos do Mundo) [late 2010s]
• André Lima - Band member for recording (Versos do Mundo) [late 2010s]
• Loco Sosa - Band member for recording (Versos do Mundo) [late 2010s]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia