Samantha & Adrian: When Rio Meets LA Soul

Two artists met at the perfect moment in their creative journeys and something extraordinary happened: they captured magic. Samantha e Adrian is more than just an album—it’s the story of a profound artistic connection between Brazilian actress-singer Samantha Schmütz and American composer Adrian Younge.

Recorded entirely on analog tape at Younge’s Linear Labs studio, the record is a lush, orchestral bridge between Brazil’s MPB tradition and the elegance of 1970s LA soul. Sweeping string arrangements, rich harmonies, and deep, irresistible grooves give the music the feeling of a lost classic—yet one that speaks entirely in the present tense.

For Samantha, stepping into the role of recording artist was an act of courage. Though best known for her acting career, music has been her deepest passion since childhood, when she would sing along to her father’s vinyl records. For Adrian—whose work with Brazilian icons like Marcos Valle, Joyce, and João Donato has cemented him as a master of cross-cultural musical conversation—this collaboration offered the chance to create something that lived at the meeting point of Rio’s romanticism and Los Angeles’ soul sophistication.

The result is an album that feels like the two cities shaking hands: delicate yet powerful, intimate yet cinematic. Tracks like “Nossa Cor” and “Feitiço” tap into themes of identity, ancestry, and spirituality, while “More Than Love” channels the exuberance of disco’s golden age. “Samba Canção” captures the lighthearted magic of Brazilian life, and “Quando o Sol Chegar” glows with the warmth of a shared African heritage that unites both their worlds.

We caught up with Samantha and Adrian to talk about how this collaboration unfolded, the emotional stakes of the project, and why analog recording was the only way to capture its soul.

This album is clearly a personal milestone for both of you. What was the moment you knew this collaboration was more than just a project, but something deeply transformative?

Adrian: I knew it would be something different when we recorded the demos. I hired musicians, and we played and recorded everything live. It just felt classic from the start. I knew Samantha’s voice was going to take the music to an entirely new level—she more than exceeded my expectations.

Samantha, you’ve had a remarkable career as an actress. How did stepping into the studio as a recording artist challenge or liberate you in ways acting never has?

Adrian: She also challenged me because I’d never worked with a voice like hers. It’s powerful yet soft. It was amazing to watch her maneuver so delicately through the chords and drum breaks. She is special.

Adrian, you’ve worked with many Brazilian legends before. What made Samantha’s voice and presence feel like the perfect vessel for bridging MPB and ’70s LA soul?

Adrian: I saw a video of her singing live alongside the Brazilian artist Criolo, and she reminded me of classic singers like Elis Regina and Claudia. I wanted to create something they might have loved in the ‘60s or ‘70s. I also wanted to approach it as if Quincy Jones or Arthur Verocai were producing a Brazilian album in the US—you feel the Black soul, but you also feel that classic Brazilian MPB.

You recorded this all-analog at Linear Labs. Why was that important for the emotional and sonic texture of the album?

Adrian: I’ve never recorded an album digitally. There are no computers in my process because analog is my sound. My music only works when I record this way—it’s been that way since the ‘90s, and I can’t imagine changing.

Tracks like “Nossa Cor” and “Feitiço” touch on identity, ancestry, and spirituality. How did your cultural backgrounds inform the emotional palette of this record?

Adrian: Honestly, it’s both of us tapping into classic records. She’s Brazilian, I’m from Los Angeles—different upbringings, but we’re so spiritually connected. We love the same music and share a lot of the same ideas. It was just synergy. Working with Samantha was a dream come true, and I’ve never created anything like this with another vocalist.