As seen in Guitar Girl Magazine Issue 17 – Fall 2021
The Bells & Whistles
Brazilian guitar boss Mariana Lima started her journey listening to her mother’s favorites— from Aretha Franklin to Queen to Brazilian gospel. Lima crafted her style by listening to various genres of music and making it her own. Picking up the guitar around 19, she faced many obstacles that all beginner guitarists face, pushing through the hard parts to get to the light at the end of the tunnel.
NOTE: This article originally appeared on our Fall 2021 edition which can be seen at the link above.
This well-versed rockstar has been playing for ten years and simultaneously inspired many women worldwide to keep playing the guitar, even when they feel uninspired to continue on. Her gift truly shines through every step of the way.
Lima took us through the ups and downs of pursuing her calling despite the world’s doubt around her.
Tell us a little about your musical background; how old were you when you started playing guitar, and what inspired your passion for music?
Well, I started playing the guitar around 19 years old. I always thought I would have a lot of difficulties with my starting to learn later in life compared to many other musicians who start their careers at a young age.
My mother was always listening to Aretha Franklin, Queen, Extreme, Jamiroquai, etc., so when it comes to my inspirations, those were my first musical references that I pulled from to craft my sound.
I had a lot of exposure in the Brazilian gospel arena, but my biggest inspiration was my first guitar teacher, who taught me almost everything I know today.
What inspires you to wake up every day and continue pursuing your dreams?
I’ve always had people who didn’t really believe I knew how to play the guitar. It took some time, but I soon realized that my music was reaching places I had never imagined before. Countries like Japan, the United States, and Europe were filled with people saying, “Mari, I wanted to stop playing the guitar, but I watched a video of you and fell in love with music again.” This really helped me realize that I was becoming a great reference for women on the guitar. It all motivated me to continue pursuing my dreams while inspiring others to do the same.
Take us through your songwriting process. What types of environments do you feel you need in order to be your most creative?
Songwriting and composing always seemed like difficult things to do. I’ve been doing better at honing in on this craft lately. I love quiet environments, and I prefer to create at night because I feel more open to new music.
What guitars are you playing right now? Name your top two to three, if possible.
Currently, I play three guitars. My first is a Fender Stratocaster. For most of my work, I play on my two Telecasters because they are tone-ready. In the near future, I hope to purchase a Super Strat.
Finish this sentence: I believe music…
I believe music is food for the soul! Without music, life would become meaningless.