Aline Calixto

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years active

2007

Genres

samba, mpb

Instruments

voice

Biography

Aline Calixto de Oliveira was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1980 and moved in her childhood to Belo Horizonte, the city where she consolidated her artistic career and became one of the leading voices of contemporary samba. Graduating in geography from the Federal University of Viçosa, she gained national recognition in 2007 by winning the Novos Bambas do Velho Samba contest, held in Rio de Janeiro. From then on, she built a solid recording career marked by critically acclaimed albums, such as her self-titled debut album released by Warner Music, which received the Album of the Year award from APCA, and subsequent works Flor Morena, Meu Ziriguidum, and Serpente.

Throughout her career, Aline has had the opportunity to collaborate and share the stage with major exponents of Brazilian music, such as Zeca Pagodinho, Arlindo Cruz, and the group Casuarina, in addition to paying tribute to great references of the genre like Clara Nunes. Her discography also encompasses thematic projects aimed at children, such as the album Pontinhos de Amor, which addresses elements of African-derived religions. In addition to her work on stage and in the studio, the singer is a central figure in the revitalization of Belo Horizonte's street carnival, standing out at the helm of Bloco da Calixto and strengthening the samba scene outside the traditional Rio axis.

Part of a generation of women expanding female visibility in samba, Aline Calixto directly engages with the historical legacy left by artists like Clara Nunes, Beth Carvalho, Alcione, and Dona Ivone Lara. Her work moves with sensitivity between ancestry, Afro-Brazilian religiosity, and the identity of Minas Gerais, consolidating her as a fundamental interpreter of contemporary Brazilian popular music.