Recognized for a successful career in fashion, Barbara Fialho now expands the territory of her artistic expression and invests in a passion that has accompanied her for years: music. Far from being a sudden move, this sonic journey has included collaborations with names such as Seu Jorge and Rael, and now takes on definitive shape with the release of her first EP.

The project emerges as a space for intimate processing, shaped by profound life experiences — among them, the end of her marriage to Rohan Marley, son of Bob Marley. In “Crazx,” the track that gives the EP its name, pain and creation walk side by side. In the music video, red is not a gratuitous aesthetic choice, but a symbol of what pulses, what bleeds, and what insists on remaining. “After the first layers of skin, we are all red. We all have the same color blood,” reflects the artist as she translates into sound and image feelings that cut through body and soul.

The song is born from a breaking point. “When my marriage collapsed, my daughter was only 15 days old. I was still bleeding. I remember the feeling of being deeply wounded, physically and emotionally,” reveals the singer, who transforms vulnerability into narrative without softening its edges.

Available on streaming platforms, the EP “Crazx” marks a new chapter in the artist’s trajectory — an act of creative courage in which Barbara Fialho not only sings about pain, but re-signifies it, transforming experience into art and asserting a sonic identity of her own.

FEATURE INTERVIEW:

When did your passion for music begin, and at what point did you decide to fully invest in this path?

I grew up in the countryside of Brazil, a very musical country, in a very musical home. No one around me was a professional musician, but my entire family loves and listens to music all day long. I got my first guitar at the age of nine as a gift from my grandfather, and by fifteen, when I started traveling the world as a model, I took it with me everywhere I went to make me feel at home. The desire to write and sing comes from within me—like a noise I can’t silence any other way, and a feeling I can’t shake unless I dive into music.

About ten years ago, I decided to go into the studio and record a Brazilian classic from the 1970s called Samba e Amor, by my favorite Brazilian composer, the great Chico Buarque. It turned out beautifully, and I asked my friend and very unique artist, Seu Jorge, to sing along with me. He said yes, and we shot a beautiful music video in New Orleans at Preservation Hall. It was unforgettable. That experience changed everything in my life. Since then, l’ve been studying and improving my craft, and now I’m releasing my first EP, titled “CRAZY X”.

In this new era of my music and life, I dedicate this project to every person who, while fighting for freedom and happiness, was called crazy. Writing these five songs saved my soul. I overcame a very challenging experience, as this project brought new meaning to my pain, and I hope it can touch people living through similar situations.

You have built a solid career as a model, marked by global campaigns and memorable runway shows. How do you balance your fashion career with music and make these two worlds dialogue in your creative day-to-day?

Music and fashion have always walked together in my life. There’s no great fashion show without music, and there’s no great music video or concert without a wardrobe and a fashion identity. Nowadays, I believe the visual aspect of a musical project is almost as important as the music itself, in order for the artist to communicate the idea and dream behind the creation. We no longer simply listen to music— we watch music.

That’s a phenomenon brought by MTV, which reshaped our culture and the way we consume music. My career as a model has given me the opportunity to live so many wonderful experiences, such as seven consecutive years as a Victoria’s Secret model. In the VS Fashion Show, music and fashion blend together seamlessly.

By watching such great professionals at work, I learned a lot, and now I can apply that knowledge to the execution of my own projects. I believe that everything with true essence takes time to mature. I’m glad I took my time, because now I feel ready for everything that needs to happen in parallel for music to truly flourish.

Have you ever faced any kind of prejudice or resistance for moving between fashion and music?

I can’t complain. I understand that it takes time for anyone to be recognized artistically, and I don’t expect it to be any different for me. I’m very proud of my career as a model, and I don’t take it for granted. “Crazx” is a deeply intimate song, in which you address the end of a relationship during a particularly sensitive moment in your life, shortly after the birth of your daughter.

What was the songwriting process like for this track, and how did you decide to turn such a delicate experience into a song?

Writing that song saved my heart. Before I could smile about what happened, I wrote: “I will be the bright side of pain, All my pain was not in vain, And my girl and I will smile again, Shine again…” I chose the path I was going to take before I walked through it. While my body was still bleeding and I was still breastfeeding, I wrote a song that helped me see a path of light. I believe pain has a bright side, and we must decide to be that. It’s never easy-but the alternative isn’t good fashion! 😉

Red runs throughout the entire music video and appears as a guiding thread in different symbols and images. What is the concept behind this choice, and what does this color represent within the narrative of the project? Regardless of who we are, we will all feel pain at some point in our lives.

Nothing can prevent us from heartbreak, deception, or betrayal. After the first few layers of skin, we are all red. We all have the same color of blood. When my marriage fell apart, my daughter was just 15 days old. I was still bleeding. I remember the feeling of being so deeply physically and emotionally hurt. I kept repeating to myself that it would stop hurting, that it would stop bleeding-and it did. No one saved me. Finding new meaning in the experience and creating music and poetry was my medicine.

What is your favorite track on the EP and why?

CRAZY X is the most vulnerable song l’ve ever written, and I’m very proud of it. As a model, I was taught to always hide imperfections, to keep a mysterious image, and to protect my personal life. This song has my broken heart all over it. The guitar solo makes me tear up every time I hear it. I absolutely love it.

Which artists did you listen to the most over the past year?

Lily Allen, Dua Lipa, Rosalía, Marina Sena, Chico Chico, Julia Mestre, Trombone Shorty, the Preservation Hall Band—and always and forever, Chico Buarque. A little bit of everything.

You are a woman who inspires so many others. What advice would you give to those who are seeking to feel more confident?

Confidence is not a constant feeling—it’s a state of mind. I believe doubt is essential for growth. If we don’t question ourselves, how do we improve? The letter X in mathematics represents the unknown. The truth is, we never know what will happen tomorrow, and uncertainty is a delicious and fascinating part of life.

Nowadays, I meditate toward self-love. So when I question myself, I want the conversation inside my head to be kind. For example, when I ask myself if a performance was good enough, instead of beating myself up, I ask: How can I improve? How can I get better? I believe that’s the X factor. Questioning ourselves is the only way to grow, and as women, we must learn to do it with love. I find that people who are absolutely sure of themselves often stop growing. A better balance comes from knowing life is short-and if you feel afraid, trust me, everyone does. Don’t let fear stop you. Take a deep breath and be a little CRAZY X.

TEAM CREDITS:

Editor-in-Chief: Prince Chenoa

Feature Editor: Taylor Winter Wilson (@taylorwinter)

Editor Brazil: Leonardo Loreto (@leonardoloreto)

Writer: Gillian Caetano (@gilliancaetano)

Creative Director & Photographer: Higor Bastos (@higorbastos)

Assistant Photographer: Rodrigo Amaral (@rodrigoamaral3)

Music Video & Photography Director, Editing & Color Grading: DUA Lab (@dua_lab)

Wardrobe Stylist: Ana Parisi (@anaparisi)

Assistant Wardrobe Stylist: Tiago Guarnieri (@tiagoguarnnieri) , Íris Dantas

Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist: Elcides Freitas (@elcidesfreitas)

Assistant Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist: Luciano Rodrigues (@rodriguesbeauty)

Set Designer: Felipe Tadeu (@fetadeu)

Scenic Production: Galpão 8 (@galpaooito)

Executive Production: Mangaba Produções (@mangabaproducoes)

Production Assistant: Isabella Altman (@isaa.altman)

Image Retouching: Marcio Moraes (@studiomarciomoraes)

Gaffers: Miguel do Valle (@migueldovallemi) , Wesley Gabriel (@wg.rec)

1st Assistant Camera: Kevin Kaleski  (@kevinkaleski)

2nd Assistant Camera: Kaio Greco (@kaiogreco_)

Logo Design & Layout: Victor Camargo (@victorscamargo)

Special Thanks: Vega Studios (@vegastudios75) , 22 Locadora (@22locacoes)