User:KryptoneUS

Samuel Braga Martins (born March 17, 1990 in Manaus, Amazonas), known under the pseudonym Criptônio, is a Brazilian musician. He came to prominence in 2009, with his debut album Cantigas released under Universal and has since gone on with his career and achieved international success and critical acclaim. Influenced by many different musical genres and cultures, he describes his own music as a "blender-made pop milkshake".

Early life
Samuel was born to Estácio Martins, a Brazilian Army lieutenant at the time, and Helena Braga, a housewife. He is the second and youngest child of the couple. Due to his father's transferences, he lived in several cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Juiz de Fora and, in his adolescence, Recife. The latter, where he lived the most, was "a perfect place where [he] could broaden [his] musical taste".

Samuel started taking piano lessons at the age of thirteen. His parents, mostly his father, supposedly never supported his inclination for music, which would delay his talent development. He learned how to play other instruments such as the guitar with help from friends, who would also lend him records that became "definitive influences". Later, Samuel began performing self-composed songs in small venues and parties around Recife against his parents' will, who thought he should focus on school studies. Eventually, he also obtained knowledge as a DJ.

After finishing high school, Samuel was sure that he wanted to be a full-time musician. He managed to convince his parents to let him move to Rio de Janeiro with friends so that he could "continue studying". There, he worked in numerous jobs, improved his skills, performed as a vocalist for several bands and had unsuccessful auditions for record labels, mostly due to his "flamboyant stage persona". Once discovered by an agent, Samuel was introduced to Universal and signed a recording contract.