Thalma de Freitas is a multidisciplinary artist, performer, and composer, known as a household name in the Brazilian contemporary cultural scene. 

Singer-songwriter of Samba-Jazz and Folk Afro-Brazilian music, she’s a popular darling of her generation known for charismatic performances as part of carioca big band Orquestra Imperial

Her songwriting and vision have lead to a wide variety of collaborations with both young and legendary musicians, such as Caetano VelosoGal CostaJoão DonatoCéuQuantic, Madlib, Mateus Aleluia and Kamasi Washington, among others.

In 2012, Thalma was given the tremendous honor of representing Brazil in the Paralympics Closing Ceremony in London, performing with Carlinhos Brown. 

Based in Los Angeles since 2012, Thalma can be seen performing in local music venues like Blue WhaleGrand PerformancesSkirball Center and Union Station. 


Her path in acting began in 1992 in her hometown, Rio de Janeiro, in the Brazilian production of the musical theatre Hair. Since then she has performed in three movies and in 17 popular telenovelas at Rede Globo, the major television network in Brazil, and became one of the most affluent actresses at a time with very few visible Black Brazilian women on-screen in that country.

She is currently the hostess of Arte na Fotografia, a popular photography reality show competition in the national channel, Arte 1 - Band TV. 

Thalma has also produced videos such as Moses Sumney's breakthrough ‘Replaceable’, a debut in her new path behind the camera. She is currently part of Ava Duvernay’s radical ArrayNow maverick team.

Thalma is married with hip-hop photographer Brian ‘B+’ Cross, co-founder of Mochilla, and continues to grow the legacy of her father, pianist and maestro Laércio de Freitas.