1. Jerusa Leão Bio 2016
Jerusa Leão is a Brazilian artist, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Originally
from Bahia, Jerusa Leão grew up around the semi-arid cities of this province, beginning her
artistic career in 1995. It comes as no surprise that later as she grew up she became deeply
connected and influenced by her local culture and the surrounding regions. This experience
created the foundation for her artistic expression. These childhood memories are present on
her music today and have helped to fuel her intense interest in the research of folk music and
folklore from the Northeast region of Brazil. Another major musical and artistic influence of
hers comes from the blues and North American folk music.
Over the course of a decade she has cultivated several impressive musical projects that
span two different continents. While living in the city of Salvador in Bahia she was involved and
participating in some great musical project from the alternative rock and roll scenario, having
multiple bands projects and as a solo artist (tell me here what you did in Bahia). Later, she
made her way to Toronto, Canada, where she developed some great musical projects that
showcased Brazilian music and culture. One such project is the half- Canadian, half-Brazilian
band Maria Bonita Band and The Band. Jerusa held the position of the artistic director, singer
and instrumentalist of the band. During this time she also co-founded the musical group
Maracatu Mar Aberto and acted as the singer and percussionist of the group. When she is not
founding bands she is working as a DJ under the names of Djerus and Jerus Nazdaq, as two
different segments, world ethnic music style and electronic music, promoting events, and
participating in cultural events and festivals throughout Brazil and Canada.
Currently, Jerusa resides in Brazil performing as a solo singer and researching Brazilian
culture during her travels. She has an ongoing audio visual research project called "It's Just a
Shot Away" (an exchange of cultural knowledge between Canada and Brazil) that is set to be
released in Canada in the summer of 2017.
In the past three years, Jerusa has dedicated her life to the work of cultural research
and documentation. She has traveled over many Brazilian states, including Goiás, Minas
Gerais, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Pernambuco, Santa Catarina, Paraná, Paraíba and Alagoas.
These excursions further improve her knowledge of popular culture. In fact, she recently
spend time studying under master teachers in the historical city of Cachoeira, Saubara and
Bom Jesus dos Pobres, and Forró Pé de Serra in the northeastern region of Brazil precisely
between Bahia, Pernambuco, Sergipe and Alagoas. In July of 2016, for the third consecutive
year, Jerusa will be participating as a resident artist for one of the most important cultural

2. meeting from Latina America, that happen at the village of São Jorge in Goias, Brazil, named as
Encontro de Culturas da Chapada dos Veadeiros.