PEDRO SAMPAIO: THE SOUND OF BRAZILIAN CHAOS

words and interview by LEANDRO DA SILVA

As his most ambitious international tour to date takes him across Europe and North America, Pedro Sampaio reflects on culture, connection and the global language of  Brazilian funk. 

Brazilian culture has long captivated audiences around the world through its music, movement and unmistakable sense of celebration. In recent years, another cultural force has begun to resonate far beyond the country's borders: Brazilian funk. 

Among the artists driving that movement is Pedro Sampaio. DJ, producer, songwriter and performer, he has spent the past decade shaping a new chapter for the genre, blending funk with pop, electronic music and Latin influences while introducing contemporary Brazilian music to an increasingly global audience. With billions of streams, collaborations with some of the biggest names in music, and performances on some of the world's biggest stages, his career reflects the growing global reach of  Brazilian funk. 

Yet numbers alone don't explain what is happening. 

Across Europe and North America, audiences who have never lived in Brazil are singing in Portuguese, dancing to rhythms born in Rio de Janeiro's communities and embracing a culture that feels both unfamiliar and instantly welcoming. It is a phenomenon Pedro Sampaio has watched unfold throughout the tour. 

That experience became the foundation of his most ambitious international project yet:  BRAZILIAN CHAOS.

For Sampaio, "chaos" takes on a different meaning. It reflects the emotional intensity of Carnival, the spontaneity of Brazilian celebrations and the collective joy that emerges when music becomes a shared language. Rather than simply exporting music, the tour invites audiences to experience a distinctly Brazilian way of celebrating life. 

Stretching across Europe and North America, the tour marks a defining chapter in Sampaio's international journey. More than performing abroad, he has embraced each destination as an opportunity for cultural exchange, weaving local musical influences into the unmistakable pulse of Brazilian funk. The result is a live experience where different cultures meet on the dance floor, proving that rhythm often communicates more powerfully than words. 

One of the defining moments of the Brazilian Chaos Tour unfolded at Rock in Rio Lisboa (June 20, 2026), where Pedro Sampaio performed on the festival's iconic World  Stage before an audience of more than 100,000 people. The show featured a surprise appearance by Brazilian singer Melody, marking her first international live performance in a moment that electrified the audience. As the evening reached its climax with Cavalinho, one of his biggest hits, the audience moved as one, transforming the festival grounds into a single living rhythm. More than a concert, the performance embodied the spirit of Brazilian Chaos, a celebration of Brazilian culture where music dissolved language barriers and transformed strangers into a shared collective experience. 

photo credit: STEFF LIMA

In conversation, Pedro Sampaio reflects on the meaning behind Brazilian Chaos, the global rise of Brazilian funk and why connection remains at the heart of everything he creates. 

LEANDRO DA SILVA:
The Brazilian Chaos Tour is one of the most ambitious international tours of your career so far, spanning Europe and North America.  What does this milestone represent for you at this point in your journey? 

PEDRO SAMPAIO:
I think the Brazilian Chaos Tour is really the first major step in my international expansion. It's incredibly rewarding to see Brazilian culture being celebrated wherever  I go. Beyond my own work and career, I feel a connection not only with Brazilians living abroad, but also with local audiences who want to be part of it, buying the green-and-yellow fan and singing the songs in Portuguese. That's something I've been seeing more often at this stage of my career. 

LEANDRO:
The name Brazilian Chaos suggests a mix of rhythms, influences and experiences that reflect Brazil's identity. How would you define that chaos from both a musical and cultural perspective? 

PEDRO: 

The idea came very naturally. When we looked at my music and my live show, we realised they were already chaotic, but in the happiest sense of the word. Carnival is the perfect example of that. It's a time when people let go, celebrate and experience life with complete freedom. My goal is to bring that joyful chaos to audiences everywhere while always keeping Brazilian culture and identity at the heart of everything I do.

LEANDRO:
Brazilian funk is reaching global audiences like never before. How does it feel to be part of this international moment for Brazilian music?

PEDRO: 

I feel like I'm an important piece of that movement. I'm part of a group of incredibly talented Brazilian artists who are helping make this happen. It's beautiful to see our music being heard and embraced around the world. My live show is very eclectic, and I like adapting it to every country by blending local music with Brazilian funk. In Mexico, for example, I mixed Mexican music with funk. I think that's what brings cultures, people and countries together, showing that funk can have a dialogue with every other musical genre. 

LEANDRO:
Several dates on this tour have already sold out. In your opinion,  what creates such a strong connection between your music and your audience? 

PEDRO: 

I think it's all about energy. People come to my shows because they want to dance and feel that energy. Since the very beginning of my career, everything has been about connection, hugging one another, dancing together and sharing that feeling. That's why there's such a strong link with Carnival. Brazilian music is warm. It's vibrant. At the centre of everything I do is creating that connection through energy. 

LEANDRO:
You've collaborated with artists such as Anitta, Marina Sena, J  Balvin and Pabllo Vittar. At this stage of your career, what do you look for in a collaboration? 

PEDRO: 

Originality. I love working with artists who have a strong sense of personality. Beyond talent, they bring something unique to the music. Whenever I collaborate with someone, I first think about the connection between us and then about how much of each person's identity will live inside the song. I like to think of every track as the child of that creative union, part of my identity, part of theirs. That's what makes a song feel authentic, fresh and interesting for both audiences. 

LEANDRO:
You're experiencing an important moment in your international career. What can audiences expect from your next steps as an artist? Is there anything you can already share?

PEDRO: 

For the first time, I'm balancing the beginning of my international career with everything that's already happening in Brazil. It's a huge challenge to serve both markets at the same time, but I enjoy challenging myself. I'm hoping to release a full Spanish-language funk album later this year to strengthen this international chapter. While I'm on tour, I make the most of every minute. I do interviews, perform, and whenever I connect with local artists, I head straight into the studio. That's exactly what happened in Mexico. The best songs come together naturally. Looking ahead, I see that Spanish-language album as the next big step internationally, while in Brazil, I'll continue releasing singles that will eventually become my next album, just not this year.