Luli & Lucina

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years active

1972–1998

Genres

MPB, folk, rock, indie, samba, rock rural, rock and roll, pop rock, progressive rock

Instruments

vocals, acoustic guitar, viola, percussion, ocarina, zabumba, tan-tan

Biography

Luli & Lucina was a Brazilian musical duo formed by singer-songwriters Heloisa "Luli" Orosco Borges da Fonseca (1945-2018) and Lucia Helena "Lucina" Carvalho e Silva (born 1950). The duo was active from 1972 to 1998 and became known for their prolific songwriting, having composed over 800 songs. Their music blended elements of MPB, folk, and rock, with lyrics that often explored themes of nature, love, and social commentary.

Their career began in 1971 when they reached the finals of the VI Festival Internacional da Canção with the song "Flor Lilás." This led to the release of a double single and their first LP, "Luli e Lucinha," in 1979. Throughout their career, they released seven LPs and toured extensively, including a notable tour of 30 cities in France and Switzerland in 1993. Their work was recognized for its innovative sound and poetic lyrics, and they were influential in the independent music scene in Brazil. They also founded the Movimento de Música Independente in the 1980s.

Luli & Lucina's compositions were recorded by numerous prominent Brazilian artists, most notably Ney Matogrosso, who featured at least one of their songs on almost every album. Other artists who recorded their work include Secos & Molhados, Gilberto Gil, Zélia Duncan, and Nana Caymmi. After the duo disbanded in 1998, both artists pursued solo careers, continuing to contribute significantly to Brazilian music. Luli, who later adopted the artistic name Luhli, passed away in 2018, while Lucina continues her solo work, often collaborating with Zélia Duncan.