Luiza Brina’s Cosmic Prayers at the Tiny Desk

Luiza Brina brings her delicate, cosmic folk to NPR’s Tiny Desk as part of the ‘El Tiny’ Latinidad takeover. Drawing on a decade of writing “orações” (prayers born from panic attacks), she delivers five meditative pieces from her acclaimed album Prece, blending Música Popular Brasileira, Tropicália vibes and psychedelia into chamber-size arrangements. Armed with a seven-string nylon guitar, effects pedals and a voice that’s both bright and grounding, she reminds us that “God and happiness” are one.

Backing Brina is a tight-knit ensemble—Lucas Ferrari on keys and electronics, Guilherme Kastrup on drums and percussion, Patrícia Garcia on oboe and Ester Muniz on bassoon—under producer Lars Gotrich’s Tiny Desk helm. The result is a whimsical yet profound set of orações that feel like soul-searching prayers for our time.

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