OTLC 16-CÉU

Name: Céu

Locality: São Paulo, Brazil

Crayon Color: Skye: because her name means "the heavens and the cosmos surrounding it," and her music is on a cool out vibe (aka the equator’s central air).

The Story: Maria do Céu Whitaker Poças was born into quite a hell of a musical family. Her father was a composer, arranger, and a musicologist, to say the least. She grew up listening to Brazilian classics, crafted by Heitor Villa-Lobos, Ernesto Lazereth and Orlando Silva. Instead of going to a university, she studied musical theory and the art of the violão (guitar).

Céu moved to the Big Apple, and was further led by the musical experience of Billie Holiday and Erykah Badu. Yet it wasn’t until she met City Of God composer Anthony Pinto that things really started to take off. He and Beto Villares helped produce her first self titled CD in 2005 on Urban Jungle Records. Six Degrees later licensed the album, which earned her a Latin Grammy Nomination in 2006.  Following that, she was recognized as with a US Grammy nod for “Best Contemporary World Music Album” in 2007. International acclaim led to a Starbucks deal for their Hear Music Series, and the sweet sounds of Céu serenading java enthusiasts worldwide.

Released in April, her latest creation is Caravana Sereia Bloom; it debuted at #1 on the Brazilian iTunes charts. It features Brazilian and Caribbean beats, with singing in Portuguese and English. In the playful island sound of “You Won’t Regret It,” the soft-sung singer promises satisfaction upon pursuit of her. Yet one can flip the coin with the pensive and solemn “Palhaço,” where a clown laments on not being loved. Céu attempts to cheer the clown up by wiping her tears and saying “A clown is not supposed to cry! (Um palhaço não deve chorar!)” In “Sereia,” she personifies the character of a mermaid and asks the mermaid to share her secrets of the sea, promising confidentiality (Sereia do mar/Me conta o teu segredo/Do teu canto tão bonito/Prometo não espalhar).

Céu is embarking on a 13-city US tour next month, stopping in New York City at Highline Ballroom on June 10.

www.ceumusic.com

Coloring Outside The Lines Because: Céu provides the stillness of the islands through the speakers, with light tempered vocals and enjoyable tracks; it’s accompanied by authentic instrumentation. Primarily based on samba and bossa nova, one can now find Tropicália and cumbia styles in her songs.

Think: a duel, 60’s Caribbean, sitting on a blanket staring up at the constellations at night, passenger on a Moped, the boardwalk, local shopping haven, party on the sand with colored luau patio lights, Ariel (The Little Mermaid), Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants; dancing.

Propers: MiM Theater, Spotify, Amazon