Born in Rio de Janeiro, singer, composer, and music producer Maria Luiza Jobim’s style sails between Brazilian sounds and more conventional modern pop. Rosa No Céu, her third studio record, builds on her highly praised 2023 release Azul, moving closer to a dream pop sound without abandoning her trademark bossa nova sensibilities.
Singing in English more often than in previous records, Jobim opens with the pop confection “Go, Go, Go”, highlighting her skill with melody. With chiming guitars and intricate percussion, her smooth voice floating, this track is a departure that will certainly win her some new friends. Following, also in English, “Portugal” returns to familiar Ipanema sounds. The song is about relocating to Portugal. “Take me to the place where I belong,” she exhorts, “I will bring the summer in this song.” Continuing, “We can live in love and carnival.” The song’s lovely tune is coloured throughout by a swaying acoustic guitar.
Daughter of the legendary Antônio Carlos Jobim, Maria Luiza has travelled far from her first recording, singing with her father at age seven, and her accomplished solo works have fully removed her from her father’s shadow. As a teenager, she played in Rio rock bands, relocating to New York to work in electronic music. Her solo career began with the synthesizer and drum machine-heavy Casa Branca in 2019. Turning to acoustic instruments and recorded back in Rio de Janeiro, the polished Azul marked yet another turn.
Rosa No Céu was produced by Marcelo Camelo, who also started his career as a Rio rocker with the influential band Los Hermanos. This collection has less complex arrangements and fewer twists and turns than Azul. There is more space in the production and a more radio-ready international sound. Jobim also seems more confident with her voice, which is more naturally recorded with fewer of the supporting voices she used previously. This makes these very personal songs sound much more intimate.
Besides Maria Luiza Jobim’s fresh, breezy singing, the record is endowed with wonderfully melodic songs that, with one interesting exception, were written by some combination of Jobim, Camelo, and his wife, singer-songwriter Mallu Magalhães. One of her collaborations, the sentimental “We Are Young”, is not my favourite, but it has delightful images: “We are made of fire from the stars.” It is further redeemed by a muted horn riff reminiscent of Dionne Warwick’s recordings. Indeed, Jobin’s effortless-sounding vocal delivery echoes that of the legendary singer.
Another highlight for me, “Sinais” (signs), talks about seeing proof of the work of fate all around, especially when a relationship seems meant to be. In her unexpected and charming duet with countryman Chico Chico, the pair sing in French to cover Serge Gainsbourg‘s 1968 hit “La Javanaise”. Their voices mix flawlessly and glide effortlessly through the key change on the last chorus.
Like a mojito laced with absinthe, the sweet mixture packs a kick, reflecting the understated sophistication of this eight-song, 24-minute set of tunes. This is best heard on the title track, which ends the record. Surrounded by lush strings, Maria Luiza Jobim sings about the pink-hued sky of her new Lisbon home. Highlighting the power of music to transport, Rosa No Céu is a vacation. Rich with melody and intoxicating rhythms, the record cruises along and, like a tropical cocktail, invites us to take another sip.