Pitty

Already through the release of her first solo album, Admirável Chip Novo, in 2003, Pitty established herself as one of Brazil's most successful rock stars. She grew up in the popular beach resort Porto Seguro in southern Bahia, famous for its vibrant axé and reggae scenes, as well as its wild parties and youth culture. From an early age, however, Pitty was drawn far more to rock than the more typical music styles of her city. Her father, a bar owner, often listened to the music of Brazil's most legendary rock poet, Raul Seixas, and it was his songs that first caught her attention. As a teenager she started listening to the likes of Faith No More, Nirvana, and Metallica. Pitty's real name is Priscila Leone and "Pitty" was in fact a nickname she gained at school because of her shortness in stature. Still as a teenager she helped form the hardcore band Inkoma in Salvador. Inkoma attracted attention as it was seen as something of a fresh breath of air in midst of the furious axé craze of the '90s. In 2000, Inkoma released their first official CD, with Pitty as the lead singer. Despite the relative success, Inkoma disbanded soon afterward, an event that led Pitty to start composing her own songs for the first time. She also learned to play guitar and began studying music at the federal university of Salvador, UFBA, and came in contact with producer Rafael Ramos. In 2003, Ramos made it possible for Pitty to release her first solo album, Admirável Chip Novo, where she mixed hardcore, punk, and metal with the melodic accessibility of modern hitlist pop. Participating at the recording of the album at a studio in Rio de Janeiro were also some of Salvador's best musicians, while guest appearances by respected artists as Moska, Liminha, and Jacques Morelenbaum added class to the album. The album got much attention nationwide and was an immediate commercial success. Pitty's second album, Anacrônico, from 2005 brought more of the same kind of music, with inspiration from Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana, among others, and confirmed her status as a very popular rock artist in Brazil.