Rodrigo Amarante
A Brazilian musical alchemist who blends bossa nova's quiet ache with indie rock intimacy, crafting songs that feel like whispered secrets.
Born 1976 (age 50)·Brazilian guitarist, bassist, singer, songwriter and arranger·Birthday: September 6·Generation X
Biography
Rodrigo Amarante operates in the spaces between—between Brazil and the world, between lush orchestration and stark minimalism, between celebration and melancholy. He first gained attention as a member of the seminal Brazilian rock band Los Hermanos, whose poetic lyrics and intricate melodies defined a generation. Seeking new textures, he helped form the carnivalesque big band Orquestra Imperial and the breezy indie trio Little Joy with Fabrizio Moretti of The Strokes. His solo work, however, reveals the core of his artistry: a voice of remarkable tenderness floating over delicate guitar and subtle arrangements. His international profile soared when his haunting lullaby 'Tuyo' became the theme for 'Narcos,' its old-world romanticism providing a stark, ironic counterpoint to the show's violence. Amarante is a translator of feeling, rendering complex, often nostalgic emotion into music of disarming and beautiful simplicity.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Rodrigo was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rodrigo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Rodrigo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Wrote and performed 'Tuyo,' the Spanish-language theme song for the Netflix series 'Narcos,' which became a globally recognized piece of music.
- Was a key member of the influential Brazilian rock band Los Hermanos, whose albums like 'Ventura' are considered classics.
- Co-founded the international indie supergroup Little Joy with Fabrizio Moretti (The Strokes) and Binki Shapiro.
- Released his acclaimed solo debut 'Cavalo' in 2014, showcasing his songwriting in Portuguese, English, French, and Spanish.
Did You Know?
He is a multi-instrumentalist, proficient on guitar, bass, cavaco, keyboards, and percussion.
Before music, he studied journalism and worked briefly as a reporter.
He composed the score for the 2018 film 'Entebbe,' directed by José Padilha.
The name of his solo album 'Cavalo' means 'horse' in Portuguese.
“A song should hold both the sunlight and the shadow of a street.”
