Ana Paula da Silva

Origin

Madeira, Portugal

Also known as

Ana Paula de Lima Pita da Silva

Years Active

1977–present

Genres

post-punk, indie-pop, electronic, samba, new MPB

Instruments

guitar, voice, percussion, acoustic guitar

Biography

Ana Paula da Silva is a musician, composer, and singer born on Madeira Island, Portugal. She is globally recognized as one of the founders of the influential post-punk band The Raincoats, formed in London in 1977 alongside Gina Birch. With The Raincoats, Ana Paula da Silva contributed to the music scene with work that challenged conventions, influencing generations with her feminist and DIY (Do It Yourself) approach within the punk context. Her lyrical poetry and innovative use of the guitar marked the group's sonic identity.

Following the hiatus of The Raincoats in 1984, Ana Paula da Silva continued her musical journey exploring different sonic territories. She collaborated with musicians such as Charles Hayward (This Heat) in the project Roseland and with composer Alegre Correa, with whom she released a collaborative album. She also dedicated herself to composing soundtracks for dance and choreography productions, in addition to exploring painting. Her solo career gained prominence starting in 2005, with the release of albums that explore electronic and indie-pop sounds, such as "The Lighthouse".

More recently, Ana Paula da Silva has collaborated with Japanese artist Phew, resulting in albums like "Island". In 2022, she presented the show "A Menina, a Mulher e a Crone" alongside her daughter Clara da Silva, exploring phases of the feminine through original compositions with voice, acoustic guitar, and percussion. Her artistic research also delves into themes of Afro-Brazilian culture, as evidenced in her project "Catumbi de Itapocu: Uma fonte de Criação Musical", which resulted in compositions for voice, acoustic guitar, and percussion based on the poetry of Catumbi, an Afro-Brazilian religious practice from Santa Catarina.

Discography

• Ana Paula da Silva & Alegre Corrêa – Por Causa do Samba (2006)
• Canto Negro (2006)
• Humberto Soares, Ana Paula da Silva – Contos em Cantos (2008)
• Pé de Crioula (2010)
• Aos de Casa (2010)
• Canto da Cigarra (2017)
• REMANSO (2023)
• A Menina a Mulher e a Anciã (2025)
• Raiz Forte