As Bahias e a Cozinha Mineira

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Also known as

As Baías

Genres

mpb, pop, brazilian pop

Instruments

vocals, guitar

Biography

As Bahias e a Cozinha Mineira was a Brazilian musical trio formed in 2011 at the University of São Paulo by singers Raquel Virgínia and Assucena Assucena alongside guitarist Rafael Acerbi. The group emerged during their history studies at the university, initially coming together to perform a tribute after the passing of Amy Winehouse. Heavily inspired by iconic MPB artists such as Gal Costa and the legendary Clube da Esquina movement, the trio's musical identity centered on celebrating female expression and the unique perspectives of transgender women in Brazilian culture.

Throughout their decade-long career, the band released several critically acclaimed records, starting with their debut album Mulher in 2015, followed by Bixa in 2017. Their third album, Tarântula (2019), was released through Universal Music Brasil and marked a significant step in their professionalization, earning them a historic Latin Grammy nomination as the first transgender women ever nominated for the prestigious award. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they released the remote-recorded EP Enquanto Estamos Distantes (2020), which secured their second Latin Grammy nomination.

In late 2020, the trio shortened their name to As Baías and pivoted toward a more pop-oriented sound, collaborating with prominent Brazilian artists like Rincon Sapiência, MC Rebecca, and Linn da Quebrada. After ten years of groundbreaking work that left a lasting impact on contemporary Brazilian popular music, the members mutually decided to disband in September 2021 to pursue individual artistic paths.