Zé Ibarra

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years active

2010

Genres

mpb, pop, rock

Instruments

vocals, piano, drums

Biography

Zé Ibarra is a Brazilian singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and arranger born in Rio de Janeiro. Recognized for his soaring vocals and distinctive stage presence, he has drawn the praise of towering figures in Brazilian popular music such as Milton Nascimento, Gal Costa, and Ney Matogrosso. Growing up in a culturally rich environment with a Chilean event producer mother and a Bahian photographer father, he was immersed in music from an early age, absorbing influences ranging from Elis & Tom to Caetano Veloso.

His career took off in his youth when he co-founded the band Dônica alongside Tom Veloso, releasing the album Continuidade dos Parques. He later gained widespread acclaim as a member of the acclaimed supergroup Bala Desejo, formed during the pandemic alongside Dora Morelenbaum, Julia Mestre, and Lucas Nunes. With Bala Desejo, he won a Latin Grammy in 2022 for the album Sim Sim Sim, before launching into a notable solo career with albums like Marquês, 256 and AFIM.

Throughout his musical journey, Zé Ibarra has collaborated with and performed alongside numerous icons of Brazilian music. He participated in Milton Nascimento's historic Clube da Esquina tour and was invited by Gal Costa to record a duet for her album Nenhuma Dor. His continuous contributions to contemporary MPB highlight his versatility as both a solo artist and a collaborative force within the modern Brazilian music scene.