Anitta Shakes Up SNL with Electrifying Debut Ahead of Equilibrium Release

Brazilian singer-songwriter Anitta debuted on Saturday Night Live with performances of two songs from her upcoming album, Equilibrium.

Anitta, whose real name is Larissa de Macedo Machado, opened with “Choka Choka,” which came out on Thursday. The track features Shakira, though the Colombian singer did not appear on the SNL stage with Anitta.
Anitta SNL Performance

Equilibrium, Anitta’s seventh studio album, has two acts. The first is delivered in Portuguese and incorporates Brazilian genres like samba and funk, along with some African-inspired rhythms. The second act—which includes “Choka Choka”—is mostly in Spanish, with some English, and includes different versions of songs from the first act and ones she previously released. The 15-track album comes out April 16.

Anitta’s second performance was of “Várias Quejas,” which translates to “Several Complaints.”
Anitta Várias Quejas

Equilibrium is the follow-up to 2024’s Funk Generation, which was nominated for Best Latin Pop Album at last year’s Grammys.

Anitta, 33, told Rolling Stone at the time, “It’s kind of like an artistic-alternative album. It’s not a mainstream of Latin because it’s funk. It’s not in the mainstream of the English world.”

She also said she wasn’t focused on how it charted: “When you’re just trying to beat this person, beat that chart, beat that number, you don’t have a purpose.… And for me, it’s way more. I want to open doors for my people.”

Anitta, the subject of a 2025 Netflix documentary, has shows in Mexico City and Sao Paulo later this month.

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