A native of Salvador in the Brazilian state of Bahia, the singer-songwriter Aline Melo is a natural heir to the great traditions of Brazilian music—the subtlety of bossa nova, the earthy elegance of samba, the unfettered imagination of tropicalia, and the African undercurrents that are pronounced in the Bahia region. Economic conditions and lack of opportunity at home led Aline to become a solo world traveler at the age of 17, first to New York City, later to Asia and the Middle East, and most recently to her current residence in Paris.

The prolific young songwriter has begun fusing the disparate elements of her experience into a heady hybrid of acoustic folk and international urban energy. In the Seals and Croft radio staple “Summer Breeze,” Aline uncovers a natural bossa nova pop song. In “Captain of My Life,” Aline alternates between spoken word poetry and exquisite sung melodies over an immersive, lush arrangement of strings, multiple guitars and percussion. A collaboration with fellow Ziq Street Records artist Synacure and percussionist Baba Don Balatunde, the track “Faze Azé” runs Aline’s gentle melodies and understated singing through a gauntlet of edgy west African rhythms, electric textures, and an exhilarating climax that reveals Aline’s true range and versatility as a vocalist.