iLESSi

Born in Campo Grande and raised in Jacarepaguá, neighborhoods in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Ilessi – a Yoruba name meaning “House of Being” – is a singer, songwriter, and music researcher. She has performed across Brazil and in countries such as France, Sweden, and England.

She has collaborated with renowned musicians including Alaíde Costa, André Mehmari, Clarice Assad, Esperanza Spalding, Guinga, and Toninho Horta. Ilessi is also a member of the group Selva Lirica, alongside Claudia Castelo Branco, Demarca, and Thiago Thiago de Mello, with their debut album expected in 2026.

A PhD in Music at UNICAMP, she holds a Master’s from PROEMUS – UNIRIO and a Bachelor’s in Music Education from UNIRIO. She will soon release her book The Reinvention of the Voice – Brazilian Vocal Improvisation, based on her Master’s research.

As a researcher, she regularly takes part in academic and public discussions on Body and Voice, Women in Music, Black Women in Music, Black Presence in Music, and Vocal Improvisation, in universities, cultural institutions, and digital platforms.

In 2019, she created the Brazilian Vocal Improvisation Course, held at CBM RJ, the Curitiba Music Workshop, and online via the “Vozes Itinerantes” project. The course introduces vocal improvisation with a focus on popular Brazilian music (MPB) and continues to be taught in various locations.