Xênia Érica Estrela França, widely known as Xênia França, is a Brazilian singer-songwriter born on 27 February 1986. Hailing from Bahia, home state to Brazilian MPB icons such as Caetano Veloso and Gal Costa, her unique style seamlessly blends the sounds of the African diaspora in Brazil with modern genres like electronica, jazz, and R&B. Her journey began in Recôncavo Baiano, and during her teenage years, she moved to Camaçari. In 2004, she relocated to São Paulo, where she initially worked as a model. Her passion for music soon led her to perform in local bars and venues, where she got in contact with renowned Brazilian rap artist Emicida. Their collaboration on his EP Sua Mina Ouve Meu Rep Tamém and the album Emicídio in 2010 marked Xenia França's entry into the professional music scene. Shortly after, she joined the band Aláfia, sharing the stage with talents like Pipo Pegoraro and Lucas Cirillo. 2017 was a milestone year for Xenia França as she ventured into a solo career with her debut album Xenia, which earned her a nomination for the 2018 Latin Grammy Awards in two categories: Best Contemporary Pop Album and Best Portuguese-Language Song for "Pra Que Me Chamas?" In 2019, Xenia França broke new ground by becoming the first Brazilian artist to perform on the renowned COLORS YouTube channel, a testament to her growing international acclaim. Continuing her musical evolution, she released Em Nome da Estrela in 2022. This self-published album saw her reunite with her former Aláfia bandmates and won the Latin Grammy for Best Portuguese Language Contemporary Pop Album at the 2023 Latin Grammy Awards.
