Born and raised in the Nilopolis district of Rio de Janeiro, Rosalia de Souza has lived in Italy as a singer since 1988, building her CV with a series of single recordings with groups like Les Hommes and Quintetto X before meeting with label mate Nicola Conte in 1994. Eventually their collaborations expanded to include a brace of Bossa-tinged tracks for the "Break and Bossa" compilation series.

These prototype sessions helped to lay the framework for Garota Moderna as her debut release.  Together they have released the album “Novo Esquema De Bossa” and in 2003 released her first solo album, “Garota Moderna”.