Sarah Esteves Weisman is a Brazilian singer living in Southern California who returned to her passion for music in 2024 after building a career in the beauty industry. Born in Niterói and raised partly in Goiânia, she formed the musical duo Sarah & Rob, blending Brazilian music with American influences at performances around San Diego.
Brazilian singer Sarah Esteves Weisman rebuilt her life in California while keeping her passion for music alive
From Brazil to Southern California, Sarah built a new life before returning to a passion that had been waiting quietly in the background: music. Sometimes a dream does not disappear. It simply waits for the right moment. For Brazilian singer Sarah Esteves Weisman, music was present long before she ever imagined performing in Southern California.
Born in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Sarah spent her first 12 years there before moving to Goiânia, Goiás, where she lived for another 15 years. Music was already part of the family environment: her mother studied classical piano, while her father played guitar and composed songs as a hobby.
Sarah discovered her own voice during a high school performance and competition, singing Marisa Monte’s “Bem Que Se Quis.” Later, in Goiânia, she performed at school events, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. But life eventually took her in another direction.
In 2010, Sarah arrived in Oceanside, north of San Diego, with her then-husband and six-year-old son, hoping to build a new life. She spoke no English and admits she barely knew where she was on the map. Then, only two weeks after arriving in California, she discovered she was pregnant.
The transition became much harder than expected. Sarah faced pregnancy while dealing with loneliness, a new language and dramatic changes in food, climate and culture. Yet returning to Brazil, she says, was not an option. Instead, she moved forward. Sarah attended the Marinello School of Beauty and simultaneously studied English through ESL classes. By 2012, she had graduated and opened Skin By Sarah, an aesthetics business she continues to operate today.
Music, however, never completely left
Brazilian popular music remained close to her heart, particularly artists such as Marisa Monte, Cássia Eller, Tim Maia and Elis Regina. Bossa nova became another important influence, alongside American jazz and blues and voices including Etta James, Sade and Ella Fitzgerald. Deep down, Sarah believed the singer in her would eventually return. That moment finally came in 2024.
With her children now adults, she decided not to allow fear to dictate what came next. Sarah met American guitarist Rob, and together they formed Sarah & Rob, performing songs in Portuguese and English at private events and venues around San Diego and North County, including The Roxy and Le Papagayo in Encinitas.
Her repertoire and musical identity naturally reflect the life she has built between cultures. Brazilian sounds meet American influences, while Portuguese and English coexist onstage – a small but meaningful way of bringing Brazilian culture to audiences in Southern California. Sarah’s journey also carries a lesson that extends beyond music. Reinvention, she believes, requires focus, commitment, adaptability and the willingness to keep learning.
Sarah & Rob combine Brazilian popular music, American jazz and blues, and performances in Portuguese and English across Southern California.
Her own story is proof that starting again does not necessarily mean starting over. Sometimes it means finally giving space to a part of yourself that has been waiting. “Identify yourself, specialize and always try to evolve,” she advises. “Plant seeds so you can have quality of life and time to enjoy the fruits.” And perhaps her most meaningful lesson is also the simplest: money without time, she says, is not freedom.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Who is Sarah Esteves Weisman?
Sarah Esteves Weisman is a Brazilian singer originally from Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, who lives in Southern California. She also owns Skin By Sarah, an aesthetics business she opened in 2012.
2. When did Sarah Esteves Weisman move to the United States?
Sarah moved to Oceanside, California, in 2010 with her then-husband and six-year-old son. She faced the challenges of adapting to a new country while learning English and building her professional life.
3. When did Sarah return to music?
Sarah returned to performing in 2024, after years of focusing on her family and aesthetics business.
4. What kind of music does Sarah & Rob perform?
Sarah & Rob perform songs in Portuguese and English, combining Brazilian popular music with American influences, including jazz and blues.
5. Where does Sarah & Rob perform in California?
The duo performs at private events and venues in the San Diego and North County areas. Their performances have included The Roxy and Le Papagayo in Encinitas.
