IN CONVERSATION WITH LUÍSA SONZA

interview by LEANDRO DA SILVA

Brazilian superstar Luísa Sonza is entering one of the most fascinating chapters of her career. Fresh from the release of Brutal Paraíso and her highly anticipated Coachella debut, the singer-songwriter has surprised audiences with Bossa Sempre Nova, a collaborative project alongside two of the most revered figures in Brazilian music history, Roberto Menescal and Toquinho. Blending timeless Bossa Nova classics with a new original composition, Um Pouco de Mim, the album creates a bridge between generations, celebrating one of Brazil’s most influential cultural exports while introducing it to a new global audience. For Luísa, the project represents both a tribute to Brazil’s musical heritage and a statement about the enduring relevance of Bossa Nova in the modern world.

Brutal Paraíso holds tenderness and intensity in the same breath. What does that duality reveal about who you are today, both personally and creatively?

I think it reveals that I’ve finally stopped trying to separate those things. For a long time, I felt like I had to choose between being strong or vulnerable. Today I understand that both can exist at the same time. Brutal Paraíso was born from that realisation. Life isn’t one thing or the other, and neither am I.

Your new project feels deeply immersive visually and emotionally. When you begin building a new era, what usually comes first for you: the sound, the image, or the feeling?

Different from my previous albums, where I would define the concept of the era before making the music, this one was different. The sound came first, and I just let it flow. Of course, the feeling comes along with it, because I write about what I’m living through as well, so that has a huge influence on the process.

bralette, stole and shoes ERMANNO SCERVINO
jewelry SAZINGG

After building such a strong presence in pop, your recent connection with Bossa Nova feels like a beautiful return to a different side of Brazilian musical culture. What drew you toward that sound at this moment in your journey?

Bossa Nova has always been part of my life. Growing up, I listened to a lot of Brazilian music at home, and I used to sing it at weddings and parties with the band that I was part of as a child, and those songs stayed with me.

Recording Bossa Sempre Nova with Toquinho and Roberto Menescal introduced your voice into conversation with one of Brazil’s most timeless musical traditions. How did that experience reshape your relationship with Brazilian music?

Being in the studio with artists who helped build that legacy was incredibly special. It made me feel even more connected to Brazilian music as a whole. It wasn’t just about singing those songs, but about understanding how they came to be, the stories behind them, what they represent, and how they continue to inspire new generations. Bossa Sempre Nova is a project I deeply love, and I was truly happy to be part of it.

leather skirt GIVENCHY
shoes CHLOÉ
jewelry SAZINGG

Your visual identity has always felt incredibly intentional. What role does fashionplay in how you express yourself beyond music?

Fashion is another language for me. I love how clothing can tell a story, create a mood, or even challenge people’s expectations. It’s a part of the same creative process. The way I dress is often connected to what I’m feeling artistically at that moment.

When you step on stage, what shifts inside you?

When I step on stage, Luísa Sonza takes over. I like to joke about that because in my everyday life I’m actually a shy person. But when I’m working, I become fearless, and of course, I always want to give my best to the audience.

blazer GIORGIO ARMANI
lace bodysuit THE ATTICO
shoes TOM FORD

Performing Brutal Paraíso live at Coachella marked a powerful new chapter in your career. What did that moment represent to you personally and artistically?

It represented trust. Trust in my vision, my team, my art, and the path I’ve chosen. Coachella is a stage that carries a lot of symbolism for artists around the world, but for me the most meaningful part was being able to present a project that felt so personal on such a global stage. It was a reminder that passion, truth, and authenticity can travel much further than we sometimes imagine.

Your public image is constantly seen, interpreted, discussed, and projected onto. How do you protect the parts of yourself that still belong only to you?

I’ve learned that privacy isn’t necessarily about hiding. It’s about choosing what deserves to be shared. There are parts of my life that exist only for me and the people I love, and I’ve become much more protective of those spaces. They’re important because they keep me connected to who I am beyond the public version of myself.

pants, bralette and belt ERMANNO SCERVINO
shoes TOM FORD

What has remained unchanged in you through every reinvention?

My curiosity. I think that’s what drives everything I do. I’ve never been interested in staying in the same place creatively. I’m always asking questions, exploring new references, discovering new ways of expressing myself. That desire to keep evolving has been with me since the beginning.

When you think about time and legacy, what do you hope remains from your work long after a project is released?

I hope people feel something real when they revisit it. Music has been a companion to me in so many moments of my life, and if my work can do that for someone else, that’s already a beautiful legacy. More than numbers or achievements, I care about creating something that continues to resonate emotionally over time.

dress VERSACE
shoes DOLCE & GABBANA

After many reinventions, performances, and artistic eras, what does freedom mean to you today?

I think freedom means being able to create without fear. Without fear of judgment, expectations, or the need to fit into a certain mould.

You’ve already reached milestones many artists spend a lifetime dreaming about. What still excites you about what’s ahead?

The unknown, I think. I genuinely feel like I’m just getting started. There are still so many things I want to explore, places I want to perform, collaborations I dream about, stories I haven’t told yet. The possibility of surprising myself creatively is what excites me the most. As long as I feel challenged and inspired, I’ll keep moving forward.

Brutal Paraíso is out now.

TEAM CREDITS:

talent LUÍSA SONZA
photography PAM MARTINS
styling ESTER GATTUSO
makeup and hair WELIDA SOUZA
styling assistant ARICIA MAYORGA
retouching TREVO
videographer WILLIAM PEREZ
location 5020 STUDIO
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial director JANA LETONJA
interview LEANDRO DA SILVA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN