Essay: Liniker’s Latin Grammy nods signal progress in the music industry

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Last month, when the Latin Recording Academy revealed the nominees for the 26th Latin Grammy Awards, Liniker was the artist generating the most buzz.

The Brazilian singer-songwriter received seven nominations this year, impressively earning spots in all three of the most prestigious categories she was up for: Album of the Year for “Caju,” Record of the Year for “Ao Teu Lado” (featuring Amaro Freitas and Anavitória), and Song of the Year for “Veludo Marrom.” She was the only nominee who didn’t compete for Best New Artist.

I’ve been following Kim Petras for a while now, and she’s truly a groundbreaking artist. She already made history in 2022 by becoming the first transgender woman to win a Latin Grammy for her album “Indigo Borboleta Anil,” a beautiful collection of Brazilian popular music. But honestly, this November, she feels poised to really take center stage at the Latin Grammys – she’s absolutely on fire and ready for a huge moment.

Her second solo album, “Caju” (meaning “cashew”), released in 2024, has been streamed over 262 million times, with every song charting on Brazil’s Spotify Top 200. She’s worked with renowned artists like Gilberto Gil and, in 2023, was honored by the Brazilian Academy of Culture, taking over a position previously held by samba icon Elza Soares.

These awards recognize not only her incredible talent as a performer and songwriter, but also her skill as a producer. They highlight how she’s influencing the future of Latin music, bringing Brazilian sounds to the world, and helping to make the music industry more diverse and inclusive.

Liniker prioritizes being recognized as a musician whose work explores themes of love, connection, and longing. However, her identity as a Black Brazilian transgender woman leading the way in Latin music also holds significant cultural importance.

In a world still grappling with prejudice against Black people and transgender individuals, Liniker’s success represents both incredible talent and a significant change in how Black and trans stories are being shared. She’s joining other groundbreaking gender nonconforming and trans artists from Latin America – like Linn da Quebrada, Urias, Arca, and Villano Antillano – in a growing movement that’s redefining Latin pop music and who can be a star.

Liniker has consistently reinvented herself, and that artistic evolution is central to who she is as both a musician and a person. She first gained recognition in 2016 with her album “Remonta,” recorded with her band Liniker e os Caramelows. The album boldly mixed Brazilian popular music (MPB) with soul and funk, and songs like “Zero” and “Tua” quickly became popular online. Liniker’s powerful voice soon reached international audiences, leading to a highly sought-after performance for NPR’s Tiny Desk series in 2018.

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Her first solo album, “Indigo Borboleta Anil” released in 2021, saw her explore genres like samba, bossa nova, and R&B. Songs such as “Baby 95”, “Lili”, and “Psiu” demonstrated her songwriting range, with themes of love, self-acceptance, and the experiences of being a Black woman, as well as the challenges and openness of starting a solo career.

“Caju,” the 2024 album that’s received the most nominations this year, is a vibrant mix of Afro-Brazilian pop. It blends genres like samba, jazz, pagode, disco, funk, and reggae. Tracks like “Ao Teu Lado” and “Veludo Marrom” showcase the artist’s talent for creating a personal and heartfelt feeling within a big, energetic sound.

Liniker described her new album, “Caju,” to journalist Pedro Bial as a story-based work, unlike her previous album, “Indigo,” which was more about personal exploration. “Caju” follows a couple’s 24-hour journey across continents, from Japan to Brazil. The album’s first song hints at this theme, with lyrics about wanting a partner to pursue her and convince her to stay. Liniker sees “Caju” as a reflection of her life – she’s a dedicated artist who still believes in love.

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For a lot of people – particularly transgender and non-binary Latinx individuals, including myself – seeing Liniker perform feels deeply personal, like a private conversation, but also like a shared, joyful experience with a community.

Witnessing Liniker perform live in São Paulo was incredibly powerful for me, as a trans Latina living in Brazil. She debuted her song “Caju” with a full orchestra to a crowd of almost 8,000 people – part of a three-night sold-out run at Espaço Unimed. She also captivated audiences internationally, performing at Lincoln Center in New York City as part of their Brazilian Week series. Carolina Abbott Galvão, writing for Rolling Stone, highlighted Liniker as being poised for success, praising her stage presence and understanding of the pop music world.

Liniker beautifully showcases Black trans joy, offering a fresh perspective on Latinx experiences at a time when transgender people globally face discrimination and hardship. Through the song “Lili” from her album “Indigo Borboleta Anil,” Liniker shares her journey of self-acceptance and inspires us to embrace our own truths.

In her song, she sings about finding inner peace – or ‘Lili’ – by prioritizing self-care and loving who you are. She describes Lili as no longer needing to hide, simply wanting to embrace life and radiate happiness. It’s a message about finding joy and letting your inner light shine.

The 2025 Latin Grammys could be a turning point in Liniker’s career. However, even if she doesn’t win many awards, she’s already made a distinct and important mark on Latin music, establishing herself as an artist who stays true to her vision and connects with a new generation.

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2025-10-08 22:32