Rafael Bittencourt

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Years active

1985

Genres

power metal, heavy metal, rock

Instruments

electric guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, flute

Biography

Rafael de Paula Souza Neto was born in São Paulo on October 22, 1971. Professionally known as Rafael Bittencourt, he is a renowned guitarist, singer, songwriter, and music producer, having achieved international notoriety as the co-founder of the iconic power metal band Angra. His musical journey began in childhood with flute and piano lessons, expanding to acoustic guitar with influences from bossa nova and Brazilian popular culture, before falling in love with the electric guitar inspired by global rock legends. Alongside musicians such as the late vocalist Andre Matos, he helped shape Angra's identity in the early 1990s, recording highly acclaimed albums such as Angels Cry and Holy Land, in addition to performing on prestigious stages like the Rock in Rio festival.

Alongside his well-established work with Angra, Bittencourt expanded his artistic versatility by creating the side project Bittencourt Project. With this initiative, he released works such as the album Brainworms I and the DVD Brainworms Live in Brazil, exploring sounds that blend rock, pop, and metal with the participation of several prominent instrumentalists and singers. In addition to his intense career on stage and in the studio, the guitarist also stood out as a communicator and businessman, hosting the Amplifica podcast and collaborating with various names from the Brazilian music scene, such as Carlinhos Brown, Toni Garrido, and MC Guimê.