Son of a pastor from Ipanema, João Selva immerged in art from an early age and made his first guitar chords under the watchful eye of Wanda Sá, a living monument of bossa nova. Passionate about Capoeira and circus, he led very young a career as an itinerant artist presenting shows for children, from the quilombos of Bahia to the island of Gorée in Senegal, but also in Cape Verde and all over the Caribbean.
At ease with both codified traditions and mutant aesthetics, he masterfully reassembles all the pieces of his personal puzzle and launched his solo career in 2016, following his meeting with prolific French producer Bruno Patchworks. From the hills of the Croix Rousse in Lyon, they began their collaboration publishing a first album entitled “Natureza” in 2017.
Recognized as "one of the best ambassadors of Brazilian music", he became well known to all those listening to the new sounds of Brazil, blending magnetic vocals, funky grooves and elegant melodies at the service of beautifully arranged songs.
He starts to get international attention in 2021 with his second LP "Navegar", a true jewel of tropical pop widely broadcasted around the world, acclaimed by critics and supported by djs.
He collaborated with many artists (Chico César, Flavia Coelho, Lucas Santanna, Siba, Renata Rosa,...) in productions released by Favorite Recordings, Jarring Effects, Selo Sesc, Tru Thoughs, Razor n' Tape, Heavenly Sweetness or even France TV, FIP and Radio Nova.
On stage with his quintet, he captivates the audience with more than 200 performances throughout Europe: from the Nuits de Fourvière in Lyon to WOMEX in Lisbon, including the Amsterdam Roots Festival and the Paléo Festival in Switzerland.
A generous artist, at ease both on stage and in the studio, João Selva attaches great importance to transmission and develops numerous cultural projects. Invited by the Jazz à Vienne festival, his creation for young audiences was a great success in 2024. He is now touring his fourth solo album "ONDA" released in January 2025.