Play Bianca Costa

In this week’s In the Spotlight we’re introducing Bianca Costa in a different way. We had the chance to talk to her, who’s a Franco-Brazilian artistfor an exclusive conversation about music, identity, creativity, and everything in between. From writing her first songs at just five years old to the three-year journey behind Gringa, Bianca opens up about finding her voice, representing Brazil in France, her relationship with her fans, and the challenges she has faced as a woman in the music industry. A conversation about staying true to yourself, dreaming big, and never losing that little bit of naivety that makes everything possible.

How did your relationship with music begin in the first place?
I've been making music since I was little, really since I was a child. I've always sung as a way of expressing myself, even before I could speak. I also played guitar, so it's true that it has always been inside me. I mean, it's not something I really thought about, it was just natural for me to use my voice to express myself.

And at what age did you start writing your own songs?
When I started writing, I think I was 5 years old. I still have all my notebooks, all my books with all my songs from when I was little. And I thought they were going to be international hits, like I was in Disney mode and they were missing out on their hits.

For your latest album, can you tell us about the creative process behind it? How long did it take you to write it, what were your inspirations, and how did you approach the album as a whole?
I worked on my latest album for over three years, or even a little longer. I think I really needed to be sure about what I wanted to offer. There was a certain pressure because it's the first album, and at the same time people already know me through EPs and singles. So I felt pressure to deliver what people expected from me. But at the same time, I wanted to surprise people and be honest about what I was going through at the time. And so it really took me a long time. But I think that was really the main idea. It was about managing to keep that sunny and very Brazilian side that I emphasized and that people know here, but also showing maybe a slightly colder, more pop side at times, and a little sadder too. And I think that was my real challenge with Gringa.

What is your favorite song on the album, and why?
Honestly, it's very hard because I love them all. But one of the songs that I find the most beautiful is “Mel” There is something about the melody and the lyrics that really touches me. I think it's a somewhat timeless song, that doesn't really have a style, that doesn't really have a framework or a genre. I think it can touch anyone. And for me, it's really one of the songs I enjoyed writing the most.

And which song was the most difficult? Was there one that took you a long time to write or that was particularly difficult to compose?
They all have their challenges because I'm very picky when it comes to mixing and sound production. And so there are a lot of tracks that had many versions. Because I always felt like either the kick didn't sound right, or the vocals weren't right. And so I would redo my vocals. We worked on it endlessly, only to eventually go back to one of the first versions. It had a thousand versions. And in the end I said, no guys, everything that was good was in the original version. Let's go back to that, and leave it there. Sometimes you need to try a lot of things to realize that what you had in the beginning was actually the best.

Do you prefer writing at home, in your own little world, or do you often write in the studio? How do you prefer to compose your songs?
I love writing at home. It's true that in the industry today, we get very used to meeting people in the studio, working in the studio and everything. And it's not always an easy exercise to open up when you're with people you don't necessarily know, or to create a vibe where you feel comfortable enough to write. So I think writing at home is always the best way for me because I'm in my bubble. Or being with people I really love, who I completely trust. And then I can let go. Or otherwise with strangers. Like people who speak English, who don't understand either Portuguese or French. And there I really feel so good. There’s no judgment because nobody is going to understand what I’m saying.. And that's when I write my best stuff because I feel completely free.

So, for Gringa, did you write most of it at home?
No, not for Gringa, because it was really a long process. But I think for my next album it will be more at home.

And have you already started working on your next album?
I've already started, yes.

Can you give us any little spoilers, or not at all?
Honestly, there aren't even any yet because I'm really at a pure creation stage. But I just can't wait to keep putting music out. I still need to bring Gringa to life on stage. Because it was so many years of work. But in any case, I don't stop, and I can't wait to keep going. In any case, to go further into this universe that Gringa is, and which for me really opened doors in terms of inspiration to go even further in this style.

Do you feel a difference when you sing or create in French compared to Portuguese?
Yes, of course. Portuguese is my native language, and it’s very different from French. It's much more vowel-based. It's much more open. It's simpler. Actually, in Portuguese, you can say very simple things in a very beautiful way more easily. And I find that French is a much harder language. It can quickly sound cliché, or otherwise it can literally sound too complicated. And so I think Portuguese will always be easier for me. But in French, it's a challenge that sometimes makes me write really cool things. Actually, I feel like in French there is more of a challenge to write well. And so a well-written text in French has a lot, a lot of value.

Speaking of France and Brazil, how are you preparing for your upcoming tour? How do you imagine the tour?
We're working really hard on the tour. We're going to see the festival season starting this summer, and then the indoor tour starts in September. And honestly, I can't wait. First of all, I have an incredible band on stage. The people who accompany me on stage are really, like... I can't wait for the audience to discover them. We've completely rearranged all the songs. We've worked on unreleased versions. Actually, I think people who loved the album are going to love it because they're going to find a lot of the new album in it. But they're also going to be surprised because there will be a lot of new sounds. And it will be very, very surprising compared to what you listen to on the platforms. So I'm also excited to see people's reactions to the new arrangements.

Do you think you might bring the tour to Brazil?
That’s my dream, honestly... I've always hoped that at some point the universe will make my music connect with people there. And that I can go there. But I know it will happen naturally. For now, I know that I still have a lot to accomplish here in France. And little by little, I hope I'll be able to return home and reach the people in my country. And be able to perform for them there.

When it comes to your artistic identity, which artists inspire you the most?
Honestly, there are so many who have inspired me. I grew up with... First of all, when I was little, it's funny, but everything from Disney Channel, Shakira... It's really the pop artists of the 2000s who really brought that very... First of all, the crazy shows, the DVDs, that really showcased the glamorous side of being a pop star. So I grew up with that. But then, as a woman too, I identify a lot with everything I listened to in Brazil. Whether it's Marisa Monte, Adriana Calcanhotto, Rita Lee... I think we have so many incredible women in Brazil, and ther work has aged well. I think that's something that inspires me a lot about Brazil too. It's how the older generations managed to build bridges with the new ones. And I think Rita Lee speaks just as much to a 17-year-old girl today as she did to a 17-year-old girl back then. And I find that, for example, in France, we have much less of this intergenerational bridge. And I think that in Brazil it's so beautiful, and it inspires me a lot to see how artists... Like even Gal Costa, until the last minute of her life, she was still connected with new artists. And I think that also inspires me to be a woman and to grow older peacefully. And not be afraid of being surpassed or anything. Because I tell myself that music is a journey, and that inspires me a lot.

Is there a Brazilian artist you dream of collaborating with?
Well, recently I met Bin through a show we did together. And honestly, he's adorable, his whole team is so sweet and everything. And he's an artist I already love, I was so happy to see his show. So why not Bin, it would be such a beautiful collaboration.

Is there an artistic dream you haven't achieved yet?
A dream I haven't achieved yet? Yes. Uh... Yeah, I have a lot. Well, I think first of all, to have my Trianon sold out at the end of the year. To be able to celebrate my album in a Parisian venue. Because it's true that my only concert in Paris under my own name was La Cigale. And it was amazing, but that was already two years ago. So I can't wait to experience this Paris date. So I think when I finally get on that stage, at the Trianon, it’ll really feel like I’m achieving a dream.

What is your relationship with your fans?
Well, I'm lucky to be very connected to them. I think I've met most of them... Well, I feel like my main fan base is people who discovered me at concerts and who I was able to see in real life, who I was really able to see discovering me. And so I love this connection we have, where we see each other at every concert, we see each other at every festival. We always take the time to talk, we always talk to each other on social media. I think I'm lucky to have very funny fans who make really funny posts and everything. So, honestly, I'm very connected to them. There are some really cool women who follow me too. So that's always something I'm proud of, seeing that you attract people who are a little bit like you in terms of energy. So I love them, I'm so, so lucky.

For someone who doesn't know you or your music, how would you describe your music in five words?
I think the first word people always tell me is “solaire”. I think it's soft and also quite strong, I would say. In the sense that there is still a lot of strength coming out of it. It's rhythmic and it's melancholic, I would say.

And, still speaking about Brazil, what does it mean to you to represent Brazil within such a diverse music scene as the French one?
I think it's so cool. I've now been doing this for about five years. I arrived at a time when it was much less easy and Brazil wasn't everywhere like it is now. So today it's really a pleasure because there’s so much interest in Brazilian culture now, from brands and from people in general. But it's true that it was a whole challenge to get into this, to find music partners who would support me in this, to believe in it and everything. And I'm happy that today there is really this general interest, and that it has also paid off after spending all these years wearing the Brazil jersey at festivals, teaching people to sing the Baile Funk rhythm at festivals. It took time but it connects well with what is happening in the world at the same time. So I'm very happy that I started this early and that I continue to represent it. And also with more peace of mind, because today I tell myself, I've already shown the Brazilian side well. Now I can also breathe and just focus on showing who I am and what I want to show of myself, and not have the weight of also having to carry Brazil on my shoulders and represent Brazil all the time. So it's also nice to finally be able to start letting go of that and be as much myself as possible.

What would Bianca, the child who arrived in France, say to Bianca, the adult who makes music and sings everywhere?
Ah, I love it. What would she say? She would really be like... “Wake up queen, okay.” Don't forget who you are, actually. I think little me really had no idea about the limitations of life. I thought I could really sell out Bercy in three days. I thought I was going to explode worldwide with three songs. I was really living in an imaginary world. And actually, today I'm so jealous of how naive I was. And I tell myself that this naivety is still what allowed me to be here today. I may not be where I dreamed of being, but it allowed me to open so many doors that really weren't meant for me. So I think sometimes I really try to reconnect with my younger self. f

And how do you see yourself artistically and personally five years from now?
In five years, I hope first of all that I don't lose anything. I don't really have many demands personally. I'm lucky to be very happy in my life, I have my family, I have my loved ones. I don't need much more. And professionally, that I can continue singing, that maybe I’ll be traveling to Brazil more often and having more collaborations. I hope that I can travel as much as possible with my music, connect with as many people as possible, and always be inspired and as sincere as possible in my creative process.

What has been the biggest challenge you've faced in the music industry?
I think the biggest challenge is managing to earn respect. Especially as a woman in this industry. It's something I've unfortunately heard from a lot of artist friends. I think there's this side of things where, when you start quite young and quickly find yourself in big studios with big producers, it's very easy to make yourself smaller, actually. And even in music history, we come from something where women are really considered performers and poster girls, but not songwriters, not artists who have things to say. And I think that was my biggest challenge. Knowing my personality, which can be very strong and explosive, but where I can also be very much in my own corner and accept things because I'm afraid of bothering people, afraid of asserting myself. So it was a real process to understand how to assert myself, how to say no, how to do what I want, and to earn the respect of people even if I don't necessarily have more hits than them or more experience than them. But to be able to say no, this is my music, this is my project, this is my life, I'm the one who will be in control. And that was a whole process. But today, I know that I have complete control over my art, and that's really important. And I think that's the biggest piece of advice I can give to other girls: really believe in yourselves as songwriters and as artists.