Zélia Duncan

Zélia Duncan, born Zélia Cristina Gonçalves Moreira on October 28, 1964, in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, is a a Brazilian singer-songwriter. She began her music career at 16 when she won a contest organized by the Fundação Nacional de Artes, performing her first show in Brasília. In 1987, she moved back to Niterói, where she worked various jobs, including being a backing vocalist and a radio announcer. Zélia Duncan's breakthrough came after recording Outra Luz in 1990, leading to two Sharp Award nominations. In 1991, she spent five months performing in the United Arab Emirates, gaining exposure to diverse musical influences. She adopted the stage name Zélia Duncan in 1992, using her mother's maiden name, and released her self-titled album in 1994. This album included hits like "Lá Vou Eu," "Nos Lençóis Desse Reggae," and "Catedral," which became a major success after being featured in a Brazilian soap opera. In 1996, she released Intimidade, an album featuring production by Os Mutantes' Liminha. It was followed by successful tours in Brazil, Portugal, Spain, and Japan. Zélia Duncan continued to release popular albums, including Sortimento (2001) and Pré-Pós-Tudo-Bossa-Band (2005). In 2006, she joined the legendary Brazilian band Os Mutantes for a reunion tour, but she left in 2007 to focus on her solo career. She collaborated with Simone on the live album Amigo é Casa in 2008. Her 2015 album Antes do Mundo Acabar marked a return to samba, earning critical acclaim and multiple awards. Zélia Duncan's work continued to receive recognition, with her album Tudo É Um being nominated for the Latin Grammy Award for Best MPB Album in 2019. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, she kept performing and recording on a steady schedule, releasing the albums Minha Voz Fica and Pelespírito in 2021.