Today we’d like to introduce you to Matheus Cavalcanti.
Hi Matheus , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Recife, Brazil. Not a small town, but also not as big as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. As a kid, I always had the dream to be an artist and performer. Karaoke nights with my cousins when i was 10 pretending to be Whitney, and wondering if that life would ever be mine one day! But in my city it wasn’t really a “safe” job. It’s that idea of “ if you dont make it, you’re the kid that still is figuring it out or its a failure and needs to find a “”real”” job, but if you succeed you’re the star of the family and makes everyone proud”. Being from where I am, this dream was “too big of a dream” and unreal, so I ended up growing up growing up culinary arts and becoming a chef. By the time I finished university at 21, i decided that it was time to try it out and focus on my artistry! I moved from Recife, but 3 months after my mom got sick, and I went straight back home.
She was in a coma for 3 months and in and out of the ICU for 18 months. It was by far, the darkest period of my life. During that time, music and art was what made me stay afloat. I would sing for her everyday to calm her down. During these months, a institution called Broadway Dreams came to Recife, its a musical theater intensive week, where you rehearse and perform with broadway actors,directors, producers, learning from the best and people that are in the market! I auditioned for it and got in! And during the week it was like I could breathe again, being surrounded by art made me forget for a second of everything I was going through! At the end of the week, I was awarded a scholarship to do this same program, but in NYC!
My mom passed away in November 2018! A few days before my trip to NYC. With the support of my family and speacilly my father telling me: you HAVE to go, it’s what she would’ve wanted.
So I went. And being in New York, on broadway, working with these incredible artists and faculty made me realize that THIS was where I was supposed to be.
But, coming back to my city after the course, I realized i wasn’t ready. After losing the most important person in the world, I had to take time to heal and understand now, that i needed something “safe”. My world was already falling apart and i needed something that i was comfortable in. So I stayed. Stayed with my family, went through the process of grief. Finally after months started to get out of the house and work again, in culinary. First started to do consulting, then became head chef, and then had an opportunity to open my own restaurant. Fast forward to 2023, I owned two restaurants, well known in the city, everything was going great; successful businesses and life was good. Offers of partnership and opportunities for a 3rd and 4th Restaurant started to appear. One specific was those ones that a person in my position(chef, enterpreneur, own brand) would be crazy to refuse, a deal that would triple the size of my restaurant and in the best neighborhood. I was thrilled after our fist meeting but when i got home i realized something was missing. I wasn’t truly happy. If i said yes, it would mean to stay in my hometown for at least 5 more years, 5 more years away from my true dream. So after a lot of thinking (and therapy hahah), i decided: it was time to focus on the little kid that always dreamt of being an artist. 8 years after leaving to pursuit my dreams, here I was again. Going for it.
I reached out to Broadway dreams, got another scholarship to study and do the course with them in Nashville! Sold everything I owned and left my country. (Crazy? Yes. But i was determined to make it work. It was my time.)
Arriving there I was in awe. Being able to study at the Beautiful Belmont university and to learn from incredible actors, choreographers, tony award winning faculty, it was everything i needed.
Through broadway dreams, i was able to audition for Royal Caribbean, and 3 months in this new life, i was offered a job.
Now I’m a Featured Singer for Royal, sailing through Caribbean, performing everyday.
Today my life consists on dancing, singing, performing. In a theater. And I know that that little kid is THRILLED to be here.
And this is just the beginning of this new version of me!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like I said before, 3 months into moving from my city and going for my artist life, my mom got sick. It was devastating. It made me look away for 8 years.
Of course in those years i dabbled in artistry, did a course in acting, did some plays, but it was always delt as a “hobby”, but I new it wasn’t a hobby for me.
In these 8 years I struggled a lot in “should i go for it? Should I stay where i am”, but finally when I decided after a whole year of thinking, I left my 15 year career and went for it.
And to be honest, after I made that decision, things just started happening. The right people showed up, the right opportunities, at the right time!
I was READY to be a bartender, waiter or whatever job it was needed after leaving my country to keep me afloat while having auditions. But it seems that after I told the God i was ready he was like: well finally! Let’s go! Hahah
So he opened every door possible and now I’m leaving a dream!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a singer/actor currently working for Royal Caribbean.
I would say that musical theater is a strength of mine. Having studied with Broadway Dreams in Nashville, Atlanta, New York and Germany with amazing broadway faculty, got me to where I am
This is the start of my career and I can just see everything that I still can accomplish!
Im also working on my own music with producers from Brazil, putting together an album and organizing music videos to start launching begging of next year! This is a project I’m very excited about!
What makes you happy?
The stage.
I spent the majority of my life always trying to be on it. Almost reaching it, but always taken away from it by life.
But being able to finally be on stage, after all these years trying to make it. Having a microphone and singing, telling stories through songs. Sharing my art with people. Making my mom proud and knowing that she would be so happy to see me here.
Today, i can say that I’ve never been happier.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/matheusuchoac
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@matheusuchoa762?si=Rd95QtOn0lWfpUWt
