Pitty

Pitty is the stage name of Priscilla Novaes Leone, a Brazilian rock singer, songwriter, and musician born in Salvador, Bahia, on October 7, 1977. Before becoming a solo artist, she performed in the Salvador underground scene with the bands Inkoma and Shes. Her work emerged at a time when Brazilian mainstream rock had relatively few women occupying the role of frontwoman, and her direct vocal style, distorted guitar arrangements, and lyrics about identity, pressure, relationships, and social expectations made her a major figure in 2000s Brazilian rock.

Her first solo album, Admirável Chip Novo, was released in 2003. Its title refers to Aldous Huxley’s novel Brave New World, published in Portuguese as Admirável Mundo Novo. The record included “Máscara,” “Equalize,” and the title track, and it established Pitty nationally. “Máscara” became one of her signature songs, while “Equalize” revealed a more melodic and intimate side of her songwriting. The album received strong commercial attention in Brazil and helped make Pitty a regular presence on radio, television, and major festival stages.

In 2005, she released Anacrônico, whose title translates roughly as “anachronistic.” The album continued her collaboration with guitarist Martin Mendonça and included songs such as “Memórias,” “Déjà Vu,” and “Na Sua Estante.” “Na Sua Estante” became especially enduring, later remaining one of the most recognized songs in her catalog. Her third studio album, Chiaroscuro, arrived in 2009. Named after the visual-art term for contrasts of light and darkness, it featured “Me Adora” and “Fracasso,” songs that reinforced her ability to combine rock instrumentation with memorable pop structures.

Pitty also issued the live project A Trupe Delirante no Circo Voador in 2011, recorded at Rio de Janeiro’s historic Circo Voador venue. In 2014, she returned with Setevidas, a studio album that included “Setevidas,” “Serpente,” and “Boca Aberta.” The title track was used in the Brazilian television series Sete Vidas, increasing its public visibility.

After a longer interval between studio albums, she released Matriz in 2019. The album’s title reflects an interest in roots, origin, and creative source material, and its repertoire included collaborations with Brazilian artists including Emicida, Larissa Luz, and Nação Zumbi. Pitty has also worked as a television presenter, notably on the Brazilian music program Saia Justa. Across her career, she has received multiple MTV Video Music Brasil awards and has remained associated with Brazilian rock while incorporating elements of pop, Brazilian rhythms, and electronic production.