Emillie Lapa

Origin

Salvador, BA

Years active

2007

Genres

samba, pagode, afro-brazilian music

Instruments

percussion, strings

Biography

Emillie Lapa is a multifaceted Brazilian artist hailing from Salvador, Bahia. She is recognized as a multi-instrumentalist, actress, singer, composer, and art educator. Her musicality is deeply rooted in ancestral sounds, particularly expressed through percussion, though she also commands string instruments. Lapa is also the founder and conductor of the "Grupo de Mulheres Negras com Pandeiro na Mão" (Group of Black Women with Pandeiro in Hand), an initiative she started in 2007. Her work often bridges music and theater, incorporating elements of poetry, storytelling, and visual arts, with a strong focus on anti-racist education.

Lapa's artistic endeavors extend to directing music for theatrical productions, where she also performs as an instrumentalist. Her projects frequently explore themes of Afro-Brazilian heritage and spirituality, as seen in her work "ONILÉ," which is described as a "VideoArte created by the soteropolitan artist Denissen." She has collaborated with other artists, including Natalyne Santos on the project "Onilé," and has been featured on tracks with artists like Lari Lima. Her music has also been recognized and re-recorded by established artists, such as Xande de Pilares, who included a rendition of her song "Banho de Folhas" (originally by Luedji Luna and Emillie Lapa) in his work.

Her artistic output includes various performances and recordings, such as "Ilá: um canto ancestral," "Guia de Oyá," and "Samba de Roda." Lapa's engagement with cultural and educational initiatives highlights her commitment to promoting Black culture and anti-racist discourse within Brazil. Her presence in the music scene is marked by a unique blend of traditional sounds and contemporary artistic expression, making her a significant voice in contemporary Brazilian music.