The daughter of
Jair Rodrigues and sister of
Jairzinho Oliveira,
Luciana Mello participated in children's choirs in studio recordings since her childhood. Having taken voice and dance classes, she participated in musicals in her teens. After participating in the Artistas Reunidos (United Artists) project with
Oliveira,
Wilson Simoninha,
Max de Castro, and
Pedro Mariano,
Mello launched her first solo CD at 21 in 2001, Assim Que Se Faz, which had success with "Assim Que Se faz" (Daniel Carlomagno), "Simples Desejo" (
Oliveira Oliveira/Daniel Carlomagno), "Ela Disse Sim" (
Ed Motta/
Nelson Motta), "Se" (
Djavan), and "Calados" (
Jairzinho Oliveira).
Mello also had success with "Nascente" (
Flávio Venturini/Murilo Antunes), backed by the
Roupa Nova. In 2002, she performed with
Rodrigues and
Oliveira at the Rival theater (Rio). In the same year, she participated in the compilation CD Um Barzinho, Um Violão, interpreting "As Rosas Não Falam" (
Cartola). Also contributing to that album were
Ed Motta,
Toquinho,
Leila Pinheiro,
Simone,
Ivette Sangalo,
Biquíni Cavadão, and
Kid Abelha, among others. ~ Alvaro Neder