Céu

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Also known as

Maria do Céu Whitaker Poças

Genres

MPB, pop, contemporary pop

Instruments

vocals

Biography

Céu, born Maria do Céu Whitaker Poças in São Paulo, is a prominent Brazilian singer and songwriter who emerged in the mid-2000s as a major force in contemporary MPB. Immersed in music from a young age due to her father, composer Edgard Poças, she later spent time in New York before returning to Brazil to record her critically acclaimed 2005 self-titled debut album. This first release achieved remarkable international reach, entering the Billboard 200 chart and earning her a Grammy nomination, accomplishments rarely attained by Brazilian artists at the time.

Over the years, Céu continued to expand her artistic boundaries with celebrated releases such as Vagarosa in 2009 and the multi-Latin Grammy-winning Tropix in 2016. Known for blending traditional Brazilian rhythms with electronic and pop elements, she has also collaborated with legendary icons like Gilberto Gil during the Refavela 40 tour. Her distinctive vocal style and innovative production choices have secured her enduring status as one of the most influential figures in modern Brazilian popular music.

Maintaining a prolific career into the 2020s, Céu released subsequent projects including APKÁ in 2019 and Novela in 2024, the latter of which received high praise from the São Paulo Association of Art Critics (APCA). Her contributions to soundtracks, television, and global stages have continuously reinforced her legacy. Alongside her musical journey, she remains closely tied to the Brazilian artistic community, collaborating with producers like Beto Villares and Antonio Pinto.

Discography

• Céu (2005)
• Concrete Jungle (2006)
• Vagarosa (2009)
• Caravana Sereia Bloom (2012)
• Ao Vivo (2014)
• Céu Live (2015)
• Tropix (2016)
• Apká! (2019)
• Tropix - Instrumental (2019)
• Acustico (2021)
• Um Gosto de Sol (2021)
• Novela (2024)