Silvia Machete

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Also known as

Silvia Gabriela de Lima Machado, Rhonda

Genres

mpb, pop, cabaret, rock

Instruments

vocals, hula hoop

Biography

Silvia Machete is a Brazilian singer, songwriter, performer, juggler, and trapezist born in Rio de Janeiro. She began her artistic career in Europe and the United States as a street performer and circus artist, training in circus arts in Paris and performing at major international festivals in countries like France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United States. Upon returning to Brazil in the mid-2000s, she established herself in the Rio de Janeiro music and theater scene, blending theatricality and cabaret elements into her musical performances alongside renowned artists such as Erasmo Carlos and Hyldon.

Throughout her career, she has released several albums and DVDs, earning critical acclaim and recognition such as the APCA award for best show in 2010. Her musical style initially traversed Brazilian popular music, tropical aesthetics, and retro cabaret sounds, collaborating with notable composers like Moraes Moreira, Jorge Mautner, and Eduardo Dussek. She has also maintained a strong performance presence internationally, including frequent tours in Portugal.

In more recent years, she adopted the alter ego Rhonda to explore distinct sonic territories, singing in English and stepping away from her earlier tropical imagery toward a more international aesthetic. Projects under this persona, such as the album Invisible Woman, garnered widespread acclaim, including recognition from the APCA and the Brazilian Music Award for Foreign Language Release. Through her eclectic body of work, Machete has cemented her status as a unique figure bridging theatrical performance art and diverse musical genres in Brazil.