Today Anitta made history. “Envolver” is the first solo song by a Latin and Brazilian artist to peak at the top spot on the global Spotify chart. However, her story started way before this TikTok dance challenge became viral worldwide.
Larissa de Macedo Machado’s dream was to be a star. Since then, she has paved the way to achieving her goals. Larissa took dance classes as a child and English as a foreign language in her adolescence. Additionally, at the age of eight, she sang in the choir of the Church of Santa Luzia in the Honório Gurgel neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro. One of her influences was her maternal grandfather who was a multi-instrumentalist and played in the church.
“Growing up, my father would say, ‘We’re poor, you can’t study the arts,’” Larissa added. “He thought I’d need a plan B.” Before concentrating on music, she studied business and worked in the mining company Vale do Rio Doce and did a side hustle. Moreover, she practised Spanish. In the meantime, she had a YouTube channel where she posted songs and choreographies.
In 2010, her cover of “A Parada É Essa” by Priscila Nocetti attracted Batutinha's attention, who until then was the producer of the indie label Furacão 2000. The most famous producer and record label of Carioca funk during the noughties. Carioca funk is a music genre originated from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. An expression of their reality full of social issues ignored by the privilege groups and empowered individuals. Simultaneously, it was her baptism into the spotlight, the moment she chose her stage name Anitta. Named after the protagonist of the Rede Globo miniseries Presença de Anita. According to Anitta: "[the character can be] sexy without being vulgar–a girl and woman at the same time.”
As a result, she became well-known in Rio de Janeiro for her singles. She innovated the musical scenario by mixing the popular style (Carioca funk) with the mainstream (pop music). In 2012, Kamilla Fialho was captivated by Anitta’s talent and removed her from the Furacão 2000. Therefore, Kamilla was her manager and transformed her into a pop diva. This new persona is notable in the music video for “Meiga e Abusada”. The following year, Warner Music Brazil hired Anitta. It was the launch of her career on Brazilian soil through the hit “Show das Poderosas.”
Since then, all of her songs have been hits in Brazil, dominating the country's charts and she has become a star on a national scale. It broke cliques, preconceived and aporophobic prejudices regarding Carioca Funk. Anitta turned it into a popular genre outside the favelas and in every corner of Brazil with iconic dance steps created by herself. Additionally, she changed the genre through her lyrics. Instead of women being victims of objectification, she gave them the subject role. Additionally, an opportunity to openly discuss their desires and rights. Besides, the representation of people with a similar background. However, there were, and still are conservative views on it.
In 2014, Anitta became her own manager and took the first step toward an international career. Her album “Ritmo Perfeito” had a mix of “Zen” in Spanish featuring Rasel. Additionally, she was nominated for best Latin American artist at the EMA andbest Brazilian song at the Latin Grammys.
In 2015, her song “Deixa Ele Sofrer” became the first Brazilian artist to achieve the number one spot on the Brazilian “Top 50 Songs” on Spotify. In the same year, she released “Bang” which had Giovanni Bianco as the creative director-who collaborated with the Queen of Pop.
In the following year, Anitta won two categories in the EMA, the best Brazilian artist and Latin artist. She was planning her career abroad, studying the market, strategy, and trends on foreign soil. Thus, the feats era began with countless Latin artists introducing and popularizing reggaeton in Brazil, a year before "Despacito" became viral. Additionally, she performed at the Olympics opening in Rio de Janeiro.
In 2017, Anitta had her first hit with an international star, the Australian singer Iggy Azalea; that was the year their single “Switch” was released. Additionally, they performed on the American talk show The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon; she was the first Brazilian to perform on this stage. Anitta released her first song, "Paradinha" in the same year, targeting a foreign audience. Her song "Sua Cara" with Major Lazer and Pablo Vittar was in the top 100 on Spotify globally, and it appeared five weeks in a row on Billboard's Hot Dance Electronic Songs chart. Besides these, her reggaeton jam featuring J Balvin, “Downtown”, was the 19th on the Top 50 Global charts from Spotify. It was nominated for the Latin Grammy. It was her first step toward an overseas career. Additionally, her song "Vai Malandra" was released at the end of the year and represents her roots through the Carioca funk rhythm mentioned previously and shows the favela culture in the music video. This hit was also part of Spotify's global charts.
In the next year, Anitta started with the release of two songs in Spanish, “Machika” and “Indecente.” She participated in Rock in Rio-Lisboa, on the stage paying homage to the one and only Carmen Miranda. Carmen Miranda was a Portuguese-born Brazilian star from 1940s and 1950s Hollywood. Additionally, her clip “Medicina” won the favourite video category at the Latin American Music Awards.
There were more hits in 2019 for her beloved hometown. In March, “R.I.P” featuring Anitta, Sofia Reyes, and Rita Ora was on Top 50 Global on Spotify on 28th. In the same year, Anitta released “Faz Gostoso”, a hit with no other than Madonna. Moreover, it was the year Anitta was on Rock in Rio on its main stage. She paid tribute to her early days in the Furacão 2000.
Before the pandemic was declared, Anitta released a 2020 Carnaval hit “Rave da Favela”. Coronavirus interrupted her first international album production after signing her first international contract with Warner Music. The virus did not prevent her from releasing new songs, such as “Desce Pro Play”, “Tócame”, “Modo Turbo”, “Faking Love” and “Me Gusta”. When pandemic restrictions were less strict, she participated in famous American talk shows, like The Late Late Show with James Corden, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Anitta was not content with the American continent. She reached Europe too with “Paloma”, “Un Altro Ballo”, and “Mon Soleil” on the top charts of Italy and France. As always, she kept her origins in “Girl from Rio” which uses a sample from "Girl from Ipanema”, the most known Brazilian song worldwide and in its music video represents a part of carioca culture. Finally, but importantly, she released “Envolver”. Anitta is the first Brazilian at the VMAs and a guest of Miley Cyrus's new year's party.
2022 Anitta got off on the right foot with the release of her pop-punk hit “Boys Don’t Cry”. Finally, as a guest on Jimmy Fallon’s sofa and James Corden's Carpool Karaoke. Not only a performer, but also an interviewee. This year with the less restrictive measures regarding the Coronavirus, she could finally participate in the Lollapalooza Brazil and Coachella. In the second, she was the first Brazilian to perform there. On April 12th, 2022, she released her first international album entitled "Versions of Me". Moreover, she is the first Brazilian singer to have a statue at the reputed popular culture wax museum Madame Tussauds. Later the same year, she debuted at the VMAs in the category "Latin Video", her first nomination and the first Brazilian to win the award.
2023 has been a great year for her so far. She is still determined regarding her international career and still drops treats for her Brazilian fans. Anitta was nominated for 'new artist' in the Grammy Awards this year. Additionally, she was invited to glamorous events such as the Met Gala. However, her performance that is still on everyone's lips, although jaws were dropped, during the Champignons League 2023 opening last weekend. She did not let it lie, when she wore a top in honour of Brazilian footballer Vini Jr, who was a victim of racism in La Liga. At this year's VMA, Anitta won another award in the Latin Video category for "Funk Rave."
2024 marked the 40th anniversary from the Marquês of Sapucaí Sambódromo, this is where the famous Carnaval in Rio takes the place and the party was named "Apotheosis of Samba-40 Years." Its headline show was no other than Anitta. At the same year, she announced her first international tour, #BaileFunkExperience in Summer from May to June, Mexico to Ibiza. The same year, she got unfollowed by many due to her religion, which is African-rooted and considered "witchcraft" in Brazil, this is stigma is intertwined with racism. She used some elements in the mainstream through a music video.
In the United Kingdom, there is David Bowie; in Brazil there is Anitta. A national treasure for the countless reasons mentioned above, and even more, when she challenges the ex-crappy president, supports minorities, and helps the unprivileged. She is the Brazilian chameleon with multiple languages, musical genres and a collection of feats on Brazilian soil and worldwide. Above all, she united Brazil with the other Latin countries, and showing the other gringos what Brazil is really about.
This writing piece can be found in Outside Left: https://outsideleft.com/main.php?updateID=2732
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