Blaya Essentials

The rise of Karla Rodrigues simmered slowly at first, beginning when she joined the electronic dance outfit Buraka Som Sistema in 2008. She was initially a dancer, but so irrepressible was her musical talent that she was among the group’s lead vocalists by the time they went on hiatus in 2016. She then turned her focus to her solo career, performing as Blaya, and found global success with her ferociously vibrant smash “Faz Gostoso”, which has been covered by Madonna. Born in Brazil, Blaya brings elements of her country’s funk carioca, as well as Angola’s kuduro, to her intoxicating blend of modern R&B and hip-hop.