Down the Brazilian Music Rabbit Hole

Over the past few years, I’ve become completely obsessed with Brazilian music. Like most people, my journey started with the classics: albums by artists like Tim Maia, Arthur Verocai, Milton Nascimento, Marcos Valle, Azymuth, and countless others. But recently I’ve also been spending a lot of time digging into what’s happening there right now. There are so many incredible artists making music that pulls from Brazilian tradition while still sounding completely fresh.

A few days ago I also asked all of you over on Instagram to send me your favorite contemporary Brazilian albums. My inbox quickly filled up with recommendations, including plenty of records I’d never heard before. Between those suggestions and my own recent discoveries, it felt like the perfect excuse to put together this guide.

So rather than another list of essential Brazilian classics (there are already plenty of great ones), this is a collection of newer albums that I think deserve more attention. Some are my own discoveries, some came from you, and all of them have been on heavy rotation for me lately.

If you’re looking for a way into Brazil’s contemporary music scene, these are 10 albums I’d happily recommend.

And next week I’ll be following this up with Outer Frequencies: Brazil, a companion playlist featuring some of my favorite Brazilian songs, both old and new.

If you only listen to one instrumental album from this list, make it this one. Guitarist Fabiano do Nascimento’s gentle compositions and Vittor Santos’ gorgeous orchestral arrangements unite for a beautiful album that’s completely absorbing and a joy to listen to from start to finish.

One of the strongest debut albums I've heard this year. After years touring with artists like Nile Rodgers and Janelle Monáe, bassist Moyses Dos Santos returned to his northeastern Brazilian roots and made a joyful blend of jazz, funk, and samba that I just can’t get enough of.

This only came out about a week ago, but it’s already one of my favorite Brazilian releases of 2026. Rio de Janeiro-born singer Luiza Monteiro and German producer Dustin Braun mix MPB (Brazilian pop music), samba, and psychedelic disco into this year’s ultimate feel-good summer album.

Few newer Brazilian artists have grabbed my attention like Nyron Higor. His self-titled album is full of so many beautiful details, blending the regional sounds of northeastern Brazil with ambient music, folk, jazz and dream pop into one of my favorite records from last year.

Two decades into his career, London-based Brazilian artist Marcelo Frota (aka MOMO.) sounds as adventurous as ever. Tum Tum Tum brings together MPB, tropicalia, jazz, and guests like Marcos Valle and Nina Miranda for a record that's super fun and endlessly re-playable.

Best known as one of Brazil's great drummers and producers, Pupillo assembled an incredible guest lineup that includes Cut Chemist, Adrian Younge, and Gaslamp Killer for an album that fluidly moves between Brazilian grooves, jazz, psychedelic soul, and cinematic instrumentals. If you like albums that bring something a little unexpected at every turn, I definitely recommend checking this one out.

I've probably listened to Muito Sol more than any other album in this list. Longtime Caetano Veloso collaborator Ricardo Dias Gomes starts with the foundations of MPB but twists it into something hazier and more experimental that seems to reveal something new every time I put it on.

Sessa has become one of my favorite contemporary Brazilian artists, and this album is probably his best yet. Inspired by becoming a father, Pequena Vertigem de Amor expands his songwriting with warm, lush arrangements to sink into for 30 minutes.

Alongside his own fantastic records, Bruno Berle has become a central figure in a new generation of northeastern Brazilian musicians (along with frequent collaborator Nyron Higor). Sem Fronteiras perfectly captures his spirit of collaboration through a collection of warm songs that I’ve had on repeat since it came out earlier this month.

Born in São Paulo and now based in Brighton, Lau Ro makes music that feels like a conversation between two places. Blending bossa nova, tropicalia, orchestral pop, and psychedelic folk, Lau is a beautiful album that's been getting a lot of repeat plays around here.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you find a few new favorites!

Next week I’ll be sharing Outer Frequencies: Brazil, a companion playlist that expands on this list with some of my favorite Brazilian songs.

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