Nara Couto

Origin

Salvador, BA

Years Active

2009

Genres

afro-brazilian jazz, axé music, música popular brasileira, afrobeat

Instruments

voice

Biography

Nara Couto is a Brazilian singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and artistic director born in Salvador, Bahia, on July 4, 1984. Her artistic journey began in dance, influenced by the rhythms of the afro block Ilê Aiyê. Between the ages of 17 and 23, she was a member of the Balé Folclórico da Bahia, where she had the opportunity to work with renowned artists such as Gilberto Gil, Margareth Menezes, Ivete Sangalo, and Daniela Mercury.

In music, Nara Couto started her career as a backing vocalist, accompanying names like Daniela Mercury and Mateus Aleluia. In 2009, she was one of the co-founders of the Orquestra Afrosinfônica, performing as a mezzo-soprano until 2018. Her solo career debut took place in 2017 with the release of the single "Linda e Preta", which quickly became an anthem celebrating Black female beauty in Brazil. In 2022, she released her first album, "Retinta", followed by "Ori" in 2024, both acclaimed by critics and the public alike.

Her original work is marked by the fusion of Afro-Brazilian and African rhythms with elements of jazz, exploring the cultural richness of her roots. Nara Couto is also the creator of the project "Outras Áfricas", which seeks to strengthen ties between Brazil and Portuguese-speaking African countries, and the show "Águas", which reveres the forces of nature and the feminine. Her art is a celebration of identity, ancestry, and Afro-Brazilian culture.

Discography

• Retinta (2022)
• Ori (2024)
• Travessia, Vol. 1 (2026)