Fortuna

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Genres

mpb, world music, children's music, folk

Instruments

vocals

Biography

Fortuna is the artistic name of Fortunée Joyce Safdié, a Brazilian singer, songwriter, and researcher of Sephardic musical heritage. Born in São Paulo, she began her career in the 1980s acting in plays and composing a repertoire in partnership with poet Paulo Leminski. Her artistic direction shifted significantly following a trip to Israel in 1991, where she discovered Ladino songs and dedicated herself to recovering and rescuing medieval Judeo-Spanish musical traditions.

Throughout her career, Fortuna has released numerous acclaimed independent albums such as Mediterrâneo—which won the 10th Prêmio Sharp de Música as the best foreign-language album—as well as ventures into children's music featuring poetry by authors like Ruth Rocha and Tatiana Belinky, set to music by Hélio Ziskind. She has also collaborated with prominent Brazilian ensembles and artists, including Antônio Nóbrega, the Coro de Monges Beneditinos do Mosteiro de São Bento, and the Coro do Projeto Guri. Her intercultural projects seamlessly blend music, theater, and historical research, earning her international acclaim and multiple awards in the Brazilian music scene.