Brazilian singer Anitta performed two songs from her upcoming album Equilibrium during her debut as musical guest on Saturday Night Live on April 11. The performances featured her collaboration with Shakira and an emotionally charged rendition of a new track. The episode was hosted by Colman Domingo.
Anitta, born Larissa de Macedo Machado, lit up Studio 8H with her first musical guest appearance on Saturday Night Live. She opened with 'Choka Choka,' a newly released collaboration with Shakira released on Thursday. Dressed in a form-fitting brown ensemble and joined by dancers, Anitta delivered the pulsating track amid flashing lights and a live backing band. Shakira's vocals played during the performance, though she did not appear onstage, prompting Anitta to smile and maintain the energy as first reported by Billboard on April 12. Anitta returned later for 'Várias Quejas,' translating to 'Several Complaints.' In a purple dress against a greenery-filled stage, she gave a sensual, emotionally charged performance with the live band, according to accounts from the episode. Equilibrium, Anitta's seventh studio album due April 16 via Republic Records, spans 15 tracks in two acts. The first act is in Portuguese with Brazilian samba, funk, and African-inspired rhythms; the second, including 'Choka Choka,' is mostly Spanish with some English and reworked tracks from the first act. The album follows 2024's Funk Generation, nominated for best Latin pop album at the 2025 Grammys. Anitta described Equilibrium to Rolling Stone as 'kind of like an artistic-alternative album,' noting, 'It’s not a mainstream of Latin because it’s funk. It’s not in the mainstream of the English world.' She added, 'When you’re just trying to beat this person, beat that chart... I want to open doors for my people.' The Rio de Janeiro native, 33, continues to globalize Brazilian music after hits like 'Envolver' and festival appearances.
