Laura Finocchiaro
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Laura Finocchiaro is a Brazilian singer, composer, guitarist, music producer and art educator. Since 1982, she has been writing sound tracks and contemporary pop songs, composed in partnership with various Brazilian lyricists and poets.
Laura Finocchiaro left the state of Rio Grande do Sul in 1983 to conquer the world, and although a certain regional air flows from her fingertips as they run over the guitar strings, the true essence of her music is part of time itself.
Her career spans more than twenty years, and Laura has forged an unparalleled position within the Brazilian music scene transforming her life into musical expression as a singer, composer, guitarist, musical producer and art educator. Her talent has won the admiration of her musical partners, interpreters and loyal fans. Singers such as Cazuza, Ney Matogrosso, and Édson Cordeiro have all interpreted her compositions and Tom Zé, Caio Fernando Abreu, Glauco Mattoso, and the poet Leca Machado have all partnered her on various occasions.
During the 1980s, Laura began working in various alternative spaces around São Paulo. She has remained faithful to her creative spirit, and has always invested in experimentation. Her versatility and creativity to transform and renovate have determined her course.
In 1991, she appeared at “Rock in Rio II”, where she gained national press and public recognition, appearing before the presentations of such singers as Prince and Santana.
Her first CD, “Laura Finocchiaro” (1992), is a combination of electronic beats and pre-programmed percussion and acoustic synthesisers with Afro-Brazilian rhythms. The dance arrangements pick up oriental and African scales in both singing and harmonies.
Her flirtation with electronic dance music is accentuated in her second CD “Ecoglitter” (1998), with the collaboration of DJs and producers Mad Zoo, Mau Mau, Franco Jr. and Binho Effe. Here she also created a mixture with instruments such as the cavaquinho, guitar, drums and tambourines.
In 2001, Laura’s musical arrangements overwhelmed once again on the CD “Tashi Delê Mantras de Roda” of Tibetan mantras transcribed by Lama Gangchen Rimpoche.
“Oi”, her fourth CD, launched in 2003 on her own label, Sorte Produções, together with Trama, is a synthesis of her career. She received national acclaim for mixing classics and electronic beats and for bringing new energy to Brazilian music. Laura imposed her own vocal identity on pop, rock, samba, funk or bossa nova. This CD is currently distributed by Tratore.
Laura Finocchiaro is also present on various collections such as “A Gema do Novo 2”,“Global Pride Club Mix 2001” and “SP Fahion Week”, in Brazil; and international projects such as “Bati Macumba”, for the Japanese label Bad News, and the Norwegian “The Power of Life”, distributed in Norway, Thailand, South Africa and Brazil.
During the 90s Laura was responsible for composing songs for the children’s TV Globo programme TV Colosso. These children’s songs contained fun, intelligent lyrics, influenced by electronic dance music.
However, her most revolutionary work was in 2001 for the reality show “Casa dos Artistas”, on SBT TV. She also composed the sound track for the DVD “Casa dos Artistas 1”, launched by the magazine Caras, as well as the music for two CDs of “Casa dos Artistas 1”, launched by WEA / SBT and the CD “Casa dos Artistas 2”, launched by EMI / SBT. Further work on SBT includes “Conquistador do Fim do Mundo”, produced in Argentina, “Protagonista de Novela”, and “Casamento à Moda Antiga”. With her various sound tracks she has proved that this type of work does not need to repeat old formulas. Sensitivity, courage and good taste are sufficient. This area of Laura’s work also extends to theatre, cinema, advertising, video-art, institutional plays and fashion shows.
In the area of fashion she has worked alongside Lino Villaventura, G, Reinaldo Lourenço, Sommer, Rosa Chá, and Marúzia Fernandes. Her theatre productions include “Sobre o Amor e a Amizade”, directed by William Pereira; and “Os Sertões”, directed by Zé Celso Martinez Correa. In the cinema she has composed for “Onda Nova”, in 1983, “Super Colosso”, in 1995, as well as selecting and editing the music for the feature film “Contra Todos”, in 2005.
Laura Finocchiaro’s versatility stretches across many fields of work. Her charisma touches all her audiences, whether it is a million people at Gay Pride, São Paulo, or a group of children with cancer at the Paediatric Oncology Institute. She also works as an art educator with adolescents, people with special needs and senior citizens.
Since 2004 she has been one of the 50 councillors of DNA Brasil – a forum that unites professionals from various areas, in order to discuss Brazil during the near future. Laura was selected to represent Brazilian independent music.
