Born and raised in the interior of Mato Grosso, Helena Meirelles has been playing the viola since she was 9 years old. He played a lot on cattle groups and even brothels. Illiterate and self-taught, she was only discovered after the age of 67. Her style was praised by the American magazine Guitar Player, which included her in the list of the 100 best guitarists in the world, alongside Eric Clapton and Roger Waters.