How Anitta Got Ready for Spotify’s Best New Artist Party Ahead of the Grammys

The secret may be in the jeans. For Spotify’s Best New Artist party in Los Angeles last night, Anitta wore two special denim looks that remixed the classic Levi’s 501, for both the red carpet and the stage.

The Brazilian superstar worked with the brand and her stylist, Ron Hartleben, to “take iconic Levi’s silhouettes and turn them up,” Anitta tells ELLE.com via email. “Both looks are sexy and easy to dance in, which is unexpected when it’s all denim!”

The first was a Y2K-esque number with a cowl-neck corset top, a frayed denim maxi skirt, platform heels, and hoop earrings for the red carpet. The second was a glittering performance-friendly ensemble featuring an embellished denim bra, matching fringed shorts, and coordinating thigh-high boots.

Granted, the resulting looks are a slight departure from Anitta’s favorite way to wear jeans (which is usually “simple with a classic white tank, or over-the-top with a matching corset”), but this event warranted a more creative spin. “I love to experiment with fashion and bold choices on the red carpet,” she says of her style, “but on stage I need to be wearing something that I can move my body in!”

Sure enough, her Spotify performance required a lot of movement, as she entertained the crowd with a mix of her singles, collaborations, and tracks from her hit 2022 album Versions of Me. Her set list consisted of “Lobby,” “Envolver,” “Bola Rebola,” “Vai Malandra,” and “Boys Don’t Cry”—if you you’ve heard them, you know you can’t stand still once they start playing.

Anitta is a first-time Grammy nominee, vying in the Best New Artist category this year, though most of her listeners know she’s no newbie. She released her debut album a decade ago and has received several Latin Grammy nominations and other accolades since, though her 2022 smash “Envolver” only launched her further into global stardom. Still, as she hurtles toward world domination, Anitta remains grateful about her Best New Artist nod. “I can’t believe it!” she tells us. “It is a dream come true to be nominated for an award that has been given to countless icons before me. It is also a huge honor to be nominated alongside so many of my peers who I have been fans of for years.”

She’ll be arriving at Sunday’s Grammy Awards ceremony in style, for sure, but she’s keeping details about her wardrobe under wraps. “I want it to be a big surprise, but it is one of my favorite awards show looks to date!” she teases.

Below, the famous Girl from Rio takes ELLE.com behind the scenes of her night at Spotify’s Best New Artist party.

My red carpet look for the night felt like the perfect expression of my personal style.

I loved my glam team for the night: Jesus Guerrero and Patrick Ta.

The Levi’s 501® was deconstructed and reworked into a full-length skirt.

I felt so powerful in my performance look.

When we designed these custom Levi’s® 501® shorts, we wanted to make the ultimate dance ensemble that emphasized movement.

My stylist Ron Hartleben and I decided to have this embellished on the day of [the party]. I appreciated all the little design details which felt so special.

The final touches before the red carpet.