Hoopper is a Brazilian born, Milan based dark RnB and alt pop artist which is turning vulnerability into cinematic storytelling. His music mixes confessional lyrics, intimate production and late night emotional honesty, creating songs that feel like pages from a diary people are not supposed to read. Influenced by RnB from the 2000s and the raw edge of modern alt pop, Hoopper writes about desire, confusion and the parts of love most artists avoid. His 2025 project I Let You Hurt Me Soft introduced his distinctive dark emotional sound, and he continues expanding this universe with new releases planned throughout 2026.
Where are you based?
I’m based in Milan, which has quietly become one of Europe’s most interesting places for dark RnB and emotional alt pop. There is a real hunger here for vulnerable storytelling and late night confessional music, so it feels like the right home for the universe I’m creating as Hoopper, being surrounded by this environment helps me grow as an independent dark RnB artist.
How long have you been making music?
I’ve been making music since I was a kid in Brazil, playing in small bands, learning bass, guitar and writing songs without even realizing I was already building something. The Hoopper project officially started in 2025 when I decided to fully commit to emotional RnB and the intimate style listeners now associate with me.
What genre would you consider your music to be?
I would describe my sound as dark RnB mixed with emotional alt pop and psychological storytelling. My songs rely on intimate vocals, minimal but atmospheric production and lyrics that sit close to real thoughts people usually keep to themselves. A lot of listeners call it cinematic emotional RnB because it feels like scenes from a late night movie.
What inspired you to pursue a career in music?
Music has always been the only place where I could say things I couldn’t say in real conversations. Growing up in Brazil taught me rhythm and storytelling, and moving to Europe made me see how dark RnB could translate everything I feel inside. When people started telling me my vulnerable writing helped them feel seen, that’s when I realized I needed to take this seriously, even if it scared me.
What are your biggest musical influences?
RnB from the 2000s shaped me a lot, and so did artists like The Weeknd, Frank Ocean and the emotional side of Bad Bunny. I’m also influenced by Brazilian and Latin writers who use raw honesty as a weapon. And I listen to a lot of alternative pop artists who create atmosphere and narrative in a minimal way.
Are you signed to a label or are you an independent artist?
I’m fully independent. I write, record and build the entire Hoopper universe myself. It gives me the freedom to stay authentic, experiment with new ideas and explore darker emotions without anyone trying to redirect my vision or dilute what I’m trying to say.
What have been the biggest challenges in your music career?
Doing everything alone is the biggest challenge. From production to marketing to building an audience from zero, it forces you to learn on the way. But it also makes the growth real. Another challenge is staying emotionally open, because my writing is very personal. Every song feels like I’m showing a part of myself I usually keep hidden.
How many songs or albums have you released to date?
I released Undergoing a RE_Construction, a collection of older songs from the last ten years, and then my first focused dark RnB album I Let You Hurt Me Soft. That project includes tracks like Her Show and Maybe I Don’t Miss You, which helped people understand what the Hoopper universe sounds like. I also released a few collaborations that pushed me creatively. And 2026 will bring a lot more.
Can you tell us a few things about your latest release?
My latest release is I Let You Hurt Me Soft, an album I never planned to make but needed to. It comes from a toxic relationship I stayed in for longer than I should have because I confused intensity with love. I think a lot of people do that without admitting it. The songs follow the real emotional timeline. There were days I felt addicted to the attention, days I felt invisible, and days I didn’t even know who I was anymore. These tracks capture versions of me I usually hide, the thoughts that only come out late at night when your mind finally stops pretending you’re fine. I think people connect because the album isn’t about blaming someone. It’s about how we hold on to a person even when we already know the ending. That quiet guilt. The checking habits you can’t stop. The fear of letting go because you don’t know who you’ll be without them. For me, I Let You Hurt Me Soft is the moment I realized love can break you slowly, not dramatically, just a little more each day until you finally see the truth.
Any plans for new music or upcoming projects we should know about?
Yes. 2026 will be a big year. My next main project is called MMAM, and it continues the emotional universe I’m building. I will release new singles in January and more throughout spring. The new music goes deeper into psychology, vulnerability and the cinematic dark RnB sound people say they connect with. I want every release to feel like another page of a story listeners are slowly understanding.
