Céu on Brazilian Music: A National Asset

More than 20 years after her debut, Céu reflects on a career that has aged with grace. The singer recently celebrated the anniversary of her self-titled first album, a project that introduced her unique blend of MPB, alternative music, and electronica.

During a recent conversation, she looked back at the work that launched her into the Brazilian music scene. She views the album as a timeless piece that captured a shift in the country's musical landscape.

The disk became an antenna, capturing a change in Brazilian music that I see in the new generations.

Her journey has been defined by a refusal to be boxed in, both by genre and by expectation.

Despite being the daughter of Edgard Poças, the maestro and composer behind the band Balão Mágico, Céu does not identify as a nepobaby. She explained that she needed to distance herself from her family's legacy to find her own artistic identity.

Her father initially resisted her musical ambitions, but she credits her time in New York with helping her understand who she was as an artist.

• She needed distance to find her own voice.
• She views her lineage as musically distinct from her father's.
• She believes her father deserves more recognition.

While she acknowledges having access to culture, she maintains that she did not receive the typical privileges associated with being a 'nepobaby' in the industry.

Céu has spent her career pushing against the limitations of musical labels. She argues that while genres serve a market purpose, they ultimately restrict artistic expression.

Throughout her trajectory, she has maintained a petulância—a bold insistence—on keeping her work in Portuguese and circulating it within Brazil. She believes the country often fails to recognize the power of its own output.

Brazilian music is very powerful, it is an asset, it is PIB nacional [national GDP].

She criticized the outdated World Music category, questioning who exactly determines what is considered 'world' music. To her, the label should be applied elsewhere, not to Brazilian artists.

The singer admits that adapting to the digital age has been a struggle. The modern requirement for artists to be constant content creators and self-promoters clashes with her dedication to the craft.

She finds it difficult to accept that making an album is no longer enough on its own.

• Self-promotion is a major hurdle for her.
• She questions the necessity of constant content creation.
• The market has become significantly harsher over time.

Despite these challenges, she continues to collaborate with legends like Caetano Veloso, who wrote the song 'Pardo' for her album Apká!.

As a mother of two, Céu faced significant hurdles when she first became pregnant. She recalls a lack of support regarding how to maintain her career while raising a family.

However, she views motherhood not as a setback, but as a source of light and confidence.

For me, having my children only enlarged me.

She notes that the industry is slowly improving, particularly behind the scenes. She sees a new generation of women fostering a more supportive environment, though she emphasizes that significant change is still in the early stages.

Céu's reflections offer a snapshot of an artist who has remained true to her roots while navigating a changing industry. Her insistence on the value of Brazilian music serves as a reminder of its global potential.

Looking ahead, she remains committed to her unique sound and the lessons learned from her personal and professional evolution.

• Artistic integrity requires resisting easy labels.
• Domestic recognition of local culture is vital.
• Personal growth fuels professional longevity.