Lu Andrade facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lu Andrade
Andrade in 2019
Born	Luciana de Andrade (1978-09-18) 18 September 1978 (age 46) Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Occupation	Singer songwriter television personality
Spouse(s)	Leonardo Pereira ​ ​ (m. 2003; div. 2018)​
Musical career
Genres	Folk rock indie pop
Instruments	Vocals guitar piano
Years active	2002–present
Labels	Columbia Sony BMG
Associated acts	Rouge

Luciana de Andrade (born on September 18, 1978), known as Lu Andrade, is a talented Brazilian singer, songwriter, and actress. She became famous in 2002 after winning the TV show Popstars. This led her to join the popular Brazilian girl group Rouge.

With Rouge, Lu recorded two successful albums: Rouge (2002) and C'est La Vie (2003). The group sold over 6 million records, making Rouge the best-selling Brazilian female group ever. In 2004, Lu left the band, needing a break and wanting to try new things. She later rejoined Rouge for their fifth album, Les 5inq (2019), and a concert tour called 15 Anos Tour (2018).

After leaving Rouge in 2004, Lu Andrade returned to her family home. She later moved to São Paulo to study music and improve her skills. She worked as a backing singer for several artists. From 2007 to 2009, she was a reporter for the Show Total TV program. In 2010, she started acting in musical theater, appearing in Into The Woods. She released her first solo song, "Mind and Heart," in 2012, and "Amanheceu" in 2014. In 2015, she formed the Duo Elétrico project, playing rock covers. She also became a singing teacher and a TV show host.

About Lu Andrade

Lu Andrade was born on September 18, 1978, in Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Her parents are Walter and Clair Andrade. She has three siblings: Guilherme, Gustavo, and Lidiane. From a very young age, Lu loved music. She would put on small shows for her family in her home's basement.

When she was just 5 years old, in 1984, she sang in public for the first time. It was a tribute for Mother's Day. After that, she performed at all her school's festivals. She also joined her church choir and sang the National Anthem in different cities. As a teenager, she formed her first pop rock band called Trem de Minas. She also worked at an English school and a local TV station. At age 20, in 1999, she started writing her own songs. She later moved to São Paulo to study music, earning a scholarship.

Lu's Music Career

Joining Rouge (2002-2004)

In 2002, a friend told Lu about the TV talent show Popstars. Lu sent in her audition video and was chosen from 30,000 people. She moved on to the second round, where over 6,000 contestants sang for the judges. The judges kept choosing fewer and fewer girls who seemed ready to be a pop star.

After many rounds, only eight girls made it to the final stage. Finally, the Brazilian girl group Rouge was formed. The members were Lu Andrade, Li Martins, Aline Wirley, Karin Hils, and Fantine Thó. In the same year, their first album, Rouge, was released. It quickly became number one, selling about 2 million copies. This earned them a diamond award. Their first hit songs were "Não Dá para Resistir" and "Ragatanga." They also released a remix album and a concert video.

In 2003, Rouge released their second album, C'est La Vie. It sold about 100,000 copies in its first week and 1 million copies in total. Popular songs from this album included "Brilha La Luna" and "Um Anjo Veio Me Falar." On February 11, 2004, Lu Andrade announced she was leaving Rouge. She said she was very tired and felt disappointed. Years later, she shared that she also left because of unfair treatment from managers and low pay. The other band members said her leaving made them think more about their own careers.

Solo Work and TV (2004-2010)

Lu performing in the musical Into The Woods in 2010.

After leaving Rouge in 2004, Lu Andrade went back to her parents' home in Varginha. She stayed there for a few months. In 2005, she returned to São Paulo to study music. She worked as a backing singer for other artists like Negra Li and Nasi. She also toured with Brazilian singer Sérgio Britto.

In 2007, Lu was asked to be a reporter for the Show Total TV program. She worked there for two years, interviewing people. On May 25, 2007, Lu started her first solo tour, called Luciana Andrade Pocket Show. It was an acoustic show where she sang her own new songs and covers of other artists. In 2010, Lu started acting in theater. She played Cinderella in the musical Into The Woods, which was a Brazilian version of the famous Broadway show.

New Music and Online Presence (2010-Present)

Lu on her O Amor e o Tempo tour in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2013.

On November 21, 2010, Lu Andrade released her first digital music collection, an extended play (EP) called Luciana Andrade. It had four songs that were meant for an album that was never released. In 2012, Lu started her new tour, O Amor e o Tempo Tour. This tour featured her new songs and folk versions of other tunes.

On December 24, 2012, Lu released her first official solo song, "Mind and Heart." This song was played on many TV shows. On May 5, 2014, she released her second song, "Amanheceu," which was a tribute to her father. In 2015, she joined the band Aries as a singer for their reunion tour. She also formed the Electric Duo with guitarist Ciro Visconti, playing rock songs. Since July 25, 2016, Lu has been the host of the online show "Estúdio Acesso Cultural." She also teaches singing at the Souza Lima Conservatory, where she once studied music herself.

Lu's Personal Life

Luciana started dating photographer Leonardo Pereira in 1998 when she was 19. They both lived in Varginha at the time. In 2001, she moved to São Paulo with Leonardo to study music. She received a full scholarship to the Souza Lima Conservatory. In 2003, Lu and Leonardo got married in a small ceremony.

In 2004, Lu became a supporter of the Cultural Artistic Festival in Varginha. This festival helps young, talented students in her hometown learn more about the arts. She helps as a judge each year. In 2013, she also took part in a campaign called Leukemia Tem Healing. This campaign encourages people to donate blood and bone marrow to help those with leukemia.

Musical Style and Influences

Canadian singer Sarah McLachlan and Brazilian band Skank were cited as two of her biggest influences.

When Lu was a teenager, she was inspired by many artists. These included Brazilian musicians like Lô Borges, Flávio Venturini, 14 Bis, Lulu Santos, Kid Abelha, and Pato Fu. Lu has said that her biggest influence throughout her career is the Canadian singer Sarah McLachlan. She always wanted to make music that was a mix of pop rock and soft rock.

She also added that singers like Arnaldo Antunes, Erasmo Carlos, Rita Lee, Marisa Monte, and Ciro Pessoa have influenced her music. During her time on Popstars, she mentioned Elis Regina, Djavan, and Ed Motta as inspirations. Internationally, she looked up to artists like Lara Fabian, Celine Dion, Chrissie Hynde, Marie Fredriksson, The Beatles, and the solo work of John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

Brazilian bands like Skank and Jota Quest were also big influences for Lu. In 2011, Lu said that for her solo career, she was most inspired by folk and indie pop music. She listened to artists like Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Patti Smith, and Nick Drake.

Discography

Extended Plays

Singles

Other Appearances

Music Videos

Filmography

Films

Theatre Appearances

Tours

See also

In Spanish: Lu Andrade para niños