Nathalie News

Graduation!

2009-06-29T14:49:00.009-04:00

On May 10th, I graduated Rider University with a bachelor's degree in Accounting... Finally! It was tough jugglingg my Fado and college careers at the same time but it helped to teach me how to manage my time wisely. Although I was a bit overwhelmed at times, I can't picture doing it any other way. I plan to work in accounting but of course continue with Fado. There's no reason why I can't do both at this point. I feel this has been my biggest accomplishment since i released my debut album, "Corre-me O Fado Nas Veias."

What is Fadó?

2009-06-09T14:54:00.007-04:00

Ever search for Fado on the Internet and run into a promotion of an Irish Pub called Fado'? Since it's not what I'm looking for, I usually just ignored it, but last weekend at a performance for a private event in Connecticut, I met an Irish man who asked me the meaning of Fado and I explained it translated to fate or destiny, but after recognizing his accent, I asked him the same but what was its meaning in Gaelic and he told me the meaning was "long ago" usually said while starting an old Irish story... So there you go, now you know!

My Birthday at Alfama Restaurant

2009-06-09T13:37:00.010-04:00

On April 29th, I spent my 23rd birthday singing at Alfama Restaurant in New York City and I can't think of a better way to have spent it. My closest friends and family came out to celebrate with me at the elegant restaurant and I even got a couple of surprises...

Michael and Diogo sang a "desgarrada" for me and it was wonderful! It was especially meaningful because I wasn't expecting it since Diogo is usually shy to sing, but they explained to me that they had planned it prior. I was very grateful and felt like the luckiest girl in the city!

Shortly after, Denise, the restaurant manager and friend, brought me a beautiful caramel/chocolate cake, courtesy of the restaurant, that I was not expecting. Everyone sang me happy birthday while the guitarists accompanied them. At that point I felt like the luckiest girl in the world! Michael and Diogo topped it off by buying a bottle of champagne and I blew out my candles and wished for my dreams to keep coming true. I was extremely spoiled but appreciative for my supportive family, amazing friends, and the outstanding staff at Alfama Restaurant...

Filha De Peixe Que Sabe Nadar!

2009-03-27T16:13:00.010-04:00

My father turned 52 years old on the first day of spring, March 20th. Almost 23 of those years have been dedicated to motivating and supporting me in whatever it is that I enjoy doing. He is my greatest inspiration of all in Fado and life in general. No one supports or believes in me more than my father. Happy Birthday Papá and thanks for everything!

* Click on the article above for a clearer image.*

Of all the newspaper clippings I have, this is my favorite... My father and I singing together at the age of 3 in 1989. I'm proud of being a "Filha De Peixe Que Sabe Nadar!"

Tim Ries @ Alfama Restaurant!!

2009-03-27T15:33:00.004-04:00

Not to long ago, while performing at Alfama Restaurant, I was taken by surprise when, just in time for my last Fado session for the evening, Tim Ries, the Saxophonist for the Rolling Stones walks in the restaurant to enjoy some Fado. I had seen Tim Ries perform with Ana Moura back in March. Tim Ries worked with Ana Moura and many other successful world musicians in "The Rolling Stones Project," so imagine the pressure I felt when I performed in his presence!

After I performed, I sat down with him and his lovely daughter and we spoke of Fado in the United States. He was surprised to know how many guitarists we have in the United States and how big the Portuguese community is throughout the U.S. and how much they enjoy and support Fado.

My friend Carlos Ferreira, correspondent for the newspaper "24 horas," happened to be there that night and took the opportunity to write about it. (Thanks Carlos!)

That evening was truly special and Tim Ries was so awesome and down to earth. I can't believe I was sitting at a table with a man that has traveled the world with one of the biggest rock bands in history and that has worked with some of the biggest names in world music. This kind of thing doesn't happen very often!! Definitely one of the coolest things to happen to me during my Fado career; Yes, a simple conversation with Tim Ries!!

Gaivota (Bonus Track)

2009-03-27T14:00:00.000-04:00

Fado is in her soul!

2009-03-27T13:52:00.009-04:00

On November 11th, I received the following message on my myspace page from Jacinta, a young lady I met in Gilroy, California back in April:

Hey Nathalie!
How are you doing?
Well I am taking a graphic design course and one of my assignment was to make a music poster...So I did one of you from the pictures I took when you performed in Gilroy and thought I would share :)

I hope that you will get return to Gilroy soon and perform for all of us again.

Hope all is well and take care!
Um Abraco
-Jacinta

Thank you so much Jacinta!! It's beautiful!! I hope you got an A!! =)

My Portuguese Guitar!!

2009-03-27T12:21:00.006-04:00

Look at what Santa dropped off this Christmas...

Isn't she beautiful!?! I don't know how to play much yet, (Diogo just taught me Marcha Marceneiro) so for now she serves as a decoration in my studio. It was purchased on Ebay of all places!! Thank you, thank you, thank you Mom and Dad, I mean Santa!!

The Portuguese guitar is a plucked string instrument with twelve steel strings, strung in six courses comprising of two strings each. It has a distinctive tuning mechanism. It is most notably associated with fado, although it has and is being used in a broader context.

History

The Portuguese guitar is presumed to be the localization of what is commonly known as the English guitar. Some researchers argue that a kind of cittern was being played in Portugal prior to and after the introduction of the English instrument and that the modern Portuguese guitar is a combination of both instruments. Although this possibility is not without credit more research needs to be done on the subject.

The English guitar (or guittar) was a small cittern that was fashionable between 1750 and 1790, most notably in the British Isles, closely related to other citterns that were being made in western Europe at the time (such as the instrument the French called the guitarre allemande) but with several particular specifications introduced by the English luthiers. The English cittern was brought by the English to Portugal, possibly circa 1750, through the trading activity held between the two countries at the time. This fact is observed by António da Silva Leite in 1786, who remarks in his method for the instrument the following: “The guitar, of which they say has its origins in Great-Britain...”; “Of the guitars from England, Mr. Simpson is the best maker.”. The local luthiers then proceed to imitate and copy the foreign instruments. Eventually, the instrument was subject to modifications and improvements through the years and it remained popular in Portugal long after the fad died in the remaining European countries. By as early as 1820 the English already referred to it as the “Portuguese guitar”.

Throughout the 19th century the Portuguese guitar was being made in several sizes and shapes and subject to several regional aesthetic trends. For instance, the guitars made in northern Portugal bore a greater similarity to the English guitars than the guitars made in southern Portugal. Circa 1870 the commonly used watch-key tuning mechanism, inherited from the English guitars, was replaced by the fan tuning mechanism which was an improvement on the former. A sizeable guitar making industry flourished in Coimbra by the late 19th century, propelled by the Portuguese guitar's popularity among the students of the city. Eventually the developments of the local luthiers led to the modern model, named after the city.

Over the first half of the 20th century the Portuguese guitar underwent standardization into two distinct models and enjoyed several technical improvements, such as the refinement of the tuning mechanism and the revision of its dimensions, retaining throughout the process, however, its overall appearance and distinct sound.

Coimbra VS Lisbon:

There are two distinct kinds of modern Portuguese guitar models — the Lisboa guitar and the Coimbra guitar.

The differences between the two guitars are their scale, body measurements and other finer construction details. Overall, the Coimbra guitar is of simpler construction than the Lisboa guitar.

Visually and most distinctively, the Lisboa guitar can be differentiated from the Coimbra guitar for its larger soundboard and scroll ornament above the tuning machine in place of Coimbra's teardrop shaped motif. The Lisboa guitar has a narrower neck, smaller string spacing and a slightly shorter scale.

Both guitars have a very distinct timbre - the Lisboa guitar has a resonant bell-like sound that the Coimbra guitar lacks; the Coimbra guitar has a more accentuated bass sound.

Technique

The technique employed to play the Portuguese guitar is what is historically called dedillo or dedilho. This technique comprises playing solely with the thumb and the index fingers. On the Portuguese guitar the strings are picked with the corner of the fingernails, avoiding contact of the flesh with the strings. The unused fingers of the picking hand rest below the strings, on the soundboard. Nowadays most players use synthetic materials in place of natural fingernails; these fingerpicks are usually made of plastic or tortoiseshell.

Academia de Bacalhau - Long Island, NY

2009-03-27T12:18:00.000-04:00

On December 14, 2008, I sang at a hall to about 200 members of Long Island's Academia de Bacalhau without amplification while battling a cold and losing my voice. Luckily the audience understood my struggle and even assisted me during my performance by singing along with me. Sometimes, its performances like these, where I doubt myself and the ability to go on, that makes me stronger and appreciate the Portuguese community that has supported me and cheered me on since day one through thick and thin. I'm guessing a member of the Academia de Bacalhau posted the following video of my performance on Youtube:

VIP Audio Productions!

2009-03-27T12:15:00.001-04:00

Nathalie Pires torna-se artista exclusiva para a California da VIP AUDIO PRODUCTIONS, INC.!!

Nossa Missão

Baseados no princípio de oferecer sempre a melhor qualidade e satisfazer as necessidade dos nossos clientes, em qualquer tipo de projecto, dispomos de meios, tanto no regime de prestação de serviços ou aluguer de equipamentos, como palcos, camarins, som e luz, contando para isso com uma equipa de profissionais nas diversas áreas da produção de espectáculos e montagem de equipamentos.

President of VIP Audio Productions, João Manuel Dias and his wife Adelaide Dias.

Thornton, California

2009-03-27T12:13:00.014-04:00

Back in October I took my 3rd trip to California for another performance. This time to one of the biggest festivals in the state, Thornton. This festival includes a huge Fado night on Friday night and a bullfight on Saturday night along with live entertainment. Before the show, I got to visit the beautiful city of San Francisico once more!! I had a lot of fun with my dad, a fellow Fadista Jeremias Macedo and his daughter Chelsea, and Jose Machado and his wife, who were nice enough to take the time to show us around before the show.

When it was time to finally time to perform, I got to meet up with "os 7 Colinas" again, Helder Carvalheira, Manuel Escobar, and Joao Cardadeiro. There were between 700-800 people in the hall, completely silent and appreciative of Fado. The stage was beautifully set up. Everything was done professionally and with class.

* Click on the article above to see a clearer image of it.*

During my performance, I experienced one of the most fulfilling moments in my career. While I sang "Festa Brava a Portuguesa," an original Fado from my album that my father wrote, there were people from the audience singing along with me. It just goes to show how much the radio stations support me on the West Coast. It was the best feeling in the world!

I had a great time and met so many people including some who I had previously met in my show at Gilroy back in April. Unfortunately I was only in California for the day and I had to fly back immediately the next morning. I was a little upset I didn't get to see the bullfight but hopefully I'll have another opportunity to come back to the festival.

(A special thank you to "Os 7 Colinas" and VIP Audio Productions!!)

Alfama Restaurant, NYC

2009-03-27T05:39:00.008-04:00

Lately, I have had the pleasure of singing at Alfama Restaurant in the City every so often. I can't explain how much I enjoy performing on their Fado nights (Wednesday nights). It makes the week go by so much faster and the ambiance is awesome. It's close to home, I get to perform with a team of guitarists I consider family (Francisco Chuva, Antonio Mendonsa, Michael DaSilva, and Diogo Arsenio) and I get meet some of New York's most talented and successful people. I usually only know about a week in advance when I will perform at Alfama, but there have been a couple of people that have been interested and keep asking me when my next performance will be. As soon as I find out when I will be performing next I will post it here on my blog and it will also be update immediately on my website so stay tuned!!

Alfama Restaurant is a special spot in the unique city of New York that not only serves great Portuguese meals but also succeeds in sharing our culture to the most diversified crowd. Come out any night, but preferably on a Wednesday night, Fado night, for some of the Tri-State area's most successful Fadistas!

Lusobeat Compilation CD!!

2009-03-27T05:26:00.003-04:00

Jimmy "Jam" Ferreira, founder of Lusobeat.com, has supported luso artists at the max. Not only does he include us constantly on his website but he personally attends as many performances as his schedule permits. But now, he has taken it to a whole other level...

Lusobeat.com presents its debut compilation CD including artists such as Eratoxica, Michelle Pereira, Nelia, Marc Dennis, and myself amungst others!

I am honored to be a part of this album and extremely proud of Fado's presence in this cd. Thank you so much Jimmy and to the lusobeat community.

If you are interested in purchasing the album please visit lusobeat.com or you can buy it on itunes!

Estranha Forma De Vida

2009-03-27T05:24:00.000-04:00

Update about the Fado World!!

2009-03-27T02:45:00.021-04:00

Many exciting things are happening in Fado...

Something I'm really excited about and can't wait to see is the Amalia movie I previously mentioned in an earlier post. It was finally released around the holidays in Portugal. The controversy surrounding the movie didn't stop fans from watching. The movie has had an overwhelming success and has been receiving positive reviews from both critics and movie goers. Here's a quick synopsis from film.com and the trailer for the movie...

Amalia: O Filme

Follows the life of Portuguese singer Amalia Rodrigues, whose successful international career was marred by a series of romantic mishaps.

Right before the holidays, a tribute to Amalia Rodrigues' last performance in the Olympia du Paris was celebrated in Campo Gande, Lisbon and transmitted worldwide on RTP. Fadistas performing included Carminho, Mariza, Ana Moura, Celeste Rodrigues, Carlos Do Carmo, Ricardo Ribeiro, and Camane. It was wonderful to see such powerful names in Fado share the stage. Amalia died in what will be 10 years on October 6th, 2009. Carminho, or Carmo Rebelo de Andrade, did an amazing job!! I couldn't wait until it was her turn to sing again amungst all of those huge Fadistas.

I fell in love with her style since I first saw her in the Casa de Fado scene from the movie Fados, by Carlos Saura. Here's a quick bio (in Portuguese) from Artistas e Espetaculos:

CARMINHO

Carmo Rebelo de Andrade tem 24 anos, nasceu e cresceu no Fado, por isso
lhe é tão espontâneo como respirar.

“Nunca vi a Música como uma coisa especial, sempre esteve tão presente na
minha vida que seria como querer distinguir um braço mais importante do
que o outro” afirma Carminho.

Poucas palavras podem descrever tamanha naturalidade, salvo a emoção
que sentimos ao ouvi-la cantar.

Foi distinguida com o Prémio “Revelação Feminina” pela Fundação Amália
Rodrigues (2005) e entre colaborações e participações especiais já se
apresentou ao vivo em países como Espanha, Argentina, Malta ou Suíça.

Participa no filme “Fados” de Carlos Saura em 2007 e em Junho passado
actuou já em nome próprio no Pavilhão de Portug al da Expo Zaragoza.

Já no final de 2008 é convidada especial de Carlos do C armo para o concerto
comemorativo de 45 anos de carreira, no Pavilhão Atlântico. Participa
também no espectáculo de Homenagem a Amália Rodrigues “Olympia”,
realizado no Campo Pequeno em Lisboa, ao lado de nomes como Mariza,
Ana Moura ou Camané.

2009 é o ano da sua estreia em disco.

I can't wait for her album to be released!! I'm already a huge fan and all I have to hear are her videos on youtube...

I can't get enough of her so here's another video =)

Ana Moura has released a DVD of her concert no Coliseu, one of Ana's highest and most prestige points in her career to date! I bought this DVD and have been watching it on repeat! During her concert, she has special guests which include Jorge Fernando, Maria Da Fé, and Beatriz Da Conceição. This DVD (which also includes a cd with the live recording of the concert) as an amazing celebration of her overwhelming success since the release of her latest album "Para Alem da Saudade." Ana Moura has just recovered from a common throat surgery which forced her to cancel some of her scheduled concerts for the month of February. But she's back and currently working on a new album while still performing around the world! I also heard Ana Moura will be returning to the United States later this year...

Along with the Ana Moura DVD that I mentioned earlier, I also purchased the album of an amazing young and beautiful Fadista, Filipa Cardoso. Sound familiar? I had stumbled across a video of her on youtube (that is no longer available) a while back and instantly became a fan without having heard much else from her. Last month, she released her latest album "Cumprir Seu Fado" (produced by the one responsible for the launching of the careers of Mariza and Ana Moura, Jorge Fernando.) I have been anticipating this album since its release date and I haven't stopped listening to it. The guitars are brilliant, with Jorge Fernando na viola and Jose Manuel Neto on the Portuguese guitar. Her effortless tone and modern personality stays true to the traditional Fado while still being approached in a new extraordinary light. Its tracks include brilliant lyrics she wrote herself adapted to Fado Tango, a Fado dedicated to her daughter "Beatriz" adapted to Fado Margaridas, as well as a strong interpretation of Fado Corrido called "Meu Amor", Fado Pierrot with Argentina Santos, and my two favorites, Magala, "Suplica Perdida" and Fado Isabel "Meus Labios Beijam o Fado". Jose Manuel Neto and Jorge Fernando did a superb job on Magala, making it their own by including an intro that reminds my of the "flight of the bumblebees" and strong punches on the viola. Fado Isabel is one of my favorite styles of Fado and I was surprised when I saw Filipa recorded it. Not too many people have recorded it lately and I actually have that style of Fado lined up for my next album. I was really excited to hear her interpretation of it. When I hear this album, I feel her emotion and hear Lisbon in her voice. In my opinion, she is what a Fadista is all about! I can't stress enough how much I love this album. It was definitely worth the extra $35 for shipping. =)

About Filipa Cardoso

Perdoarão a arrogância, mas logo para início de conversa, a teoria: o Fado é a arte de bem dizer o silêncio. Na verdade, e se tempo houvesse, diria que toda a grande arte caminha para o que não se diz, simplesmente porque não existe maneira de o dizer. Uma pintura, um poema, uma voz – tudo isto, no seu melhor, diz o que não conseguimos dizer. E é isso que o Fado faz quando nos devolve sem defesas nem remédio o que se sente e qu

e muitas vezes – sempre? – confundimos com esse mistério que resolvemos chamar de alma.

Essa magia é transmitida há muito tempo através de gerações dos seus praticantes: nas casas de Fado, nos retiros, nos bairros, homens e mulheres são iniciados nesta misteriosa disciplina de ir para além das palavras e cortar direito ao coração de quem ouve. Uma dessas eleitas é Filipa Cardoso.

Filipa cresceu no bairro do Alto do Pina, em Lisboa, entre amadores do Fado, no sentido mais nobre da palavra. As suas memórias de infância têm acordes de guitarra portuguesa e lembranças de vozes como a de Fernando Maurício. Aos 10 anos, num casamento de uma familiar, pedem-lhe para cantar um Fado; no final tinha uma oferta de emprego e correspondente cachet. Cinco anos depois volta a encantar por acaso, num aniversário, o que lhe valeu a contratação para actuar em duas casas de Fado.

Só que havia um problema: a adolescente feliz não conseguia sentir o repertório triste que a faziam cantar – o que no Fado é pecado maior e infelizment

e comum. Nessa altura tomou uma decisão corajosa e sensata: parou. Voltaria nove anos mais tarde, depois de um período intenso em que ganhou vida e encheu a alma das emoções boas e más de que a vida é feita. Não é de estranhar que quando o Fado voltou, já chegou cheio de verdade. Resu

ltado mais visível: a sua vitória na Grande Noite do Fado de 2004.

É convidada a integrar o elenco da casa de Fados Sr.Vinho, onde continua a sua aprendizagem. Até que um dia o destino – personagem inevitável nesta história – lhe dá a conhecer Jorge Fernando, que além de ser um brilhante músico, autor, compositor e cantor é também alguém com um raro dom para perceber as almas de diamante em bruto: foi assim com Mariza, foi assim com Ana Moura, é assim com Filipa Cardoso. A todas Jorge Fernando produziu o primeiro disco. No caso de Filipa, assina também a maior parte dos poemas e alguns Fados originais.

Quem ouvir com atenção Cumprir Seu Fado compreende que,

mais do que um disco de Fado, é uma inevitabilidade para Filipa Cardoso. A voz e a alma estavam há algum tempo prontas a ser partilhadas. E são-no da maneira mais bonita: quer cante o ciúme, o desengano, o amor impossível e o amor maternal, o desejo cru e poético e claro, a saudade, Filipa Cardoso diz a verdade. Percebeu-o Argentina Santos, que com ela colabora no “Fa

do da Herança”. Porque o que Filipa traz é a herança da mudanç

a, uma voz que carrega todos os fadistas e poetas do passado para desaguar numa alma só dela. E que ao escutar-se o primeiro Fado, garanto: é também a nossa alma.

(Nuno Miguel Guedes, Fevereiro d e 2009)

Helder Moutinho has just returned to Portugal from a mini U. S. t our, where he performed and promoted new Fados from his latest album "Que Fado é este que trago?" I was upset he didn't come to the East Coast this time around but I'm excited to hear his lastest work.

Fados, By Carlos Saura is now showing in New York and I've been reading some of the reviews being written by New York news papers and magazines and find them to be very entertaining, sometimes even brutally hilarious. It is currently showing at Lincoln Plaza Cinemas, NY, NY, 10023 212-757-2280
Review by the Village Voice: The Fado is a dolorous folksong tradition from Portugal, first sung in the early 19th century by barefoot peasants mending nets and contemplating a roiling black Atlantic. It has survived to the present day, providing MP3 succor to middle-class professionals on antidepressants (lyric: “It was God’s will that I live with anxiety”)—and now it’s the subject of a film revue by the venerable Carlos Saura. Contemporary celebs appear (superstar fadista mewlers Mariza and Lura), alongside ghosts (Amália “Queen of Fado” Rodrigues). Saura is formally ambitious—a troupe travels through the film, articulating lyrics in dance—but the movie missteps when departing wholly from the intrinsic nostalgia of its subject, as the seventysomething director imposes his idea of contemporary cool: interspersed hip-hop trio NBC, SP & Wilson and Brazilian reggae artist Toni Garrido. The sequestering of performers into warehouse-studio spaces adds a certain chill to the proceedings, but there are happy exceptions. Nonagenarian Argentina Santos fills her single-take frame with stout gravitas. The penultimate scene takes place in the House of Fados, a Freed Unit version of a Lisbon barroom, its walls a graveyard of headshots, where song is passed around like a challenge and teenaged braceface Carminho shuts the place down. — Nick Pinkerton

Here's another review from Rottontomatoes.com:
They call it the Portuguese 'blues', but director Carlos Saura livens up the proceedings with some of the best 'fado' singers ever (both living & dead), then blends in a dancers & projections to further heighten his aural potpourri!

2-1/2 stars (MUST-SEE for Folk & Fado music lovers, there's a rap song too)
[(2007)music documentary/Portugal-Spain] - (1 hr 32 min)

Review:
This film is basically an aural collection of the many styles of Fados music with each song given a distinctive visual interpretation. Therefore, the best way to review it is not as a whole but as a series of short films with musical accompaniment.
And for those familiar with music-oriented movies (aka 'rockumentaries'), don't be put off by the fact that many of the singers perform with their eyes closed, as that is part of the Fado style.

LAST NOTE: This is not my kind of music, but if you like lots of strumming guitars, mandolins, etc., then add this one to your film (or album) list.

1. Opening credits, brief history, and segue to marching song as the (theatricalized) Portuguese arrive in Lisbon (two song sequence lasts 7 min).
2. VARIACOES (3 min) - Acoustic duet (no vocals) - In memory of António Variações (1944-1984), an innovative singer-songwriter who died prematurely.
3. MOCAMBIQUE (5 min) - Mariza sings w/ male dancer (musical accompaniment by sextet). Song was written to honor the Portuguese settlement (aka 'Mozambique') established from 1507 to present.
4. MODINHAS E LUNDUNS (5 min) - Toni Garrido sings w/ pianist & eight
female dancers. The song 'Midnight in London' has a racial context with the words "your little Negro" used repeatedly (may seem offensive, but used in context).
5. FADO MENOR DO PORTO (5 min) - Camané sings w/ small band and group of female dancers.
6a. MARIA SEVERA, SEC. XIX (3 min) - Sung by Catarina Moura w/ a small band and a 'sanfona' player (very unique instrument). Dedicated to the memory of one of Fado's earliest known singers Maria Severa Onofriana (1820-1846), also known simply as A Severa. Segment also includes some B&W movie clips from the movie "A Severa," based on her short life.
6b. Homage to A Severa continues (3 min) with new singer Cuca, accompanied by guitarist.
7a. Homage to Alfredo Marceneiro (2 min) - Archive clip of Alfredo performing with two female dancers dancing in front of a rear-screen projection.
7b. Homage continues (4 min) with three rappers (NBC/SP & WILSON) along with several dancers. [NOTE: Very heavy beat that could be disconcerting to older viewers]
8. LISBOA (4 min) - Solo by CARLOS DO CARMO with projected shots of the city around him. Accompanied by acoustic guitar.
9a. Homage to Carlos' late mother and Fado singer, Lucília do Carmo (2 min). Archive song by Lucilia is accompanied by group dance and rear-projection of the singer as a young woman.
9b. Song segues (4 min) to new singer and (2 female-1 male) dancer love triangle. Singer is the very expressive LILA DOWNS.
10. FADO MENOR (3 min) - Sung by veteran Fadista Argentina Santos, a very deeply felt vocal performance.
11. FADO BATIDO (3 min) - Instrumental song with dancers leaping around a bonfire.
12. MORNA (4 min) - Sung by the beautiful LURA w/ sextet and dancers.
13. FADO ALFACINHA (3 min) - Camané's second appearance as soloist. This song was made famous by the Queen of Fado, Amália Rodrigues(1920-1999).
14a. Homage to Amália Rodrigues (3 min) - Archive song w/ dancers in front of rear-screen projection.
14b. Segue to new song (5 min)by singer-guitarist CAETANO VELOSO.
15. REVOLUCAO (3 min) - Male chorus and archive footage of protest rallies.

The film concludes with a tribute to FADO FLAMENCO and and CASA DE FADOS. The latter demonstrates the 'dueling' aspect of Fado music as it emerged from the cafes. Various singers take a song stanza in turn and try to best the previous performer.
All in all, this is a very informative depiction of a style of music that is unknown to many Portuguese people (especially myself). Certainly a film that will live forever in music libraries and should be sought out by musical completists.
Your mileage may vary (I yawned twice), but it's certainly watchable (& listenable) for all musically inclined audiences.

Another review from thelmagazine.com:

Fados | Directed by Carlos Saura

Runtime: 1:30 (90 mins)

Rating: Reviewed by Benjamin H. Sutton

Spanish arthouse director Carlos Saura’s vibrant portrait of the Portuguese musical style fado is the kind of loving, even-handed and open-minded documentary tribute too few music genres receive. With virtually no talking-head sequences or black and white photomontages, Fados’s stories emerge organically from the two-dozen performances it features.

And yet story being told amounts to much more than The Buena Vista Social Club’s collected concert footage. Fados takes place on a studio soundstage where walls of color and mirrored panels allow Saura to create a kind of minimalist mis-en-scene for singers, musicians and dancers. In numbers choreographed especially for his swooping, pacing camera, narratives of pain, loss, hope and rejection unite cultural memory, personal hardship and political upheaval.

Fado’s origins are rooted in Lisbon’s port-side working-class quarters of the 19th century. Musically it bears striking tonal and thematic similarities to jazz and the blues. In fact, Fados’s opening Saint John’s Day performance is the same sort of parade-as-cultural-exorcism that closed Spike Lee’s When The Levees Broke. These are musics of melancholy, born out of poverty, urban blight and marginalization. Fado was also dramatically reshaped by immigrants from Portugal’s colonies, a stylistic shift evidenced by the incredible range of performances in Fados.

Fado was traditionally played in small restaurants or bars by two guitarists (one Spanish, the other Portuguese) and a singer. As Fados shows though, the genre has expanded to incorporate influences from reggae, rock, hip hop and poetry, and accompaniment by ballet, modern dance, flamenco and breakdancing. Similarly, its subjects have expanded from tales of squalor and sex to incorporate post-colonialism, feminism and political activism — as evidenced here by Fados’s only archival footage, taken from the non-violent 1974 Carnation Revolution.

Saura’s storytelling is all the more effective for eschewing the conventional didactic documentary format. Clashes between fado traditionalists, its younger, racially and musically diverse newcomers and the ghettoizing category of “World Music” all gradually come to the fore. Ultimately, Fados doesn’t idealize its subject, offering its musical lens as a window onto Portuguese history and society, one textured by the deep cracks found in the fragmented social landscapes of every contemporary cultural situation. Fado defies the reductive “World Music” label, but Saura still shows how its stories of suffering and injustice stand for common experiences the world over.

This year the Amalia Revelation Award has been awarded to Cristina Nóbrega, who last year launched her album, "Palavras do Meu Fado". I stumbled across her video for "Madrugada Da Alfama" on youtube not knowing who she was not too long ago and thought it was beautifully done. The images in this video makes me miss Portugal so much.

Cristina Nobrega

Cristina Nóbrega nasceu em Lisboa. Descobre o Fado aos 20 anos ao assistir a um concerto que a encanta e lhe traça o futuro artístico. É a discografia de Amália que desperta o gosto por interpretar esta linguagem que a fascina pela sua simplicidade. Desde criança que a música está presente na sua vida, frequentou em permanência escolas de música e dança, entre elas o Conservatório Nacional e a Academia dos Amadores de Música. Percorreu vários géneros musicais mas é no Fado que encontra a forma mais profunda de expressão. Após vários anos de formação por carolice e incursões por vários géneros musicais, sente no início de 2008 que precisa de cantar. Tudo acontece em poucos meses com a apresentação de uma maqueta a uma editora que dá origem à edição do seu primeiro CD de Fados clássicos “Palavras do Meu Fado” (iPlay/2008), com poemas de Vasco de Lima Couto, Pedro Homem de Mello, David Mourão-Ferreira, Ary dos Santos, Luís Vaz de Camões, Linhares Barbosa, Luís de Macedo, entre outros. E músicas de Alain Oulman, José Marques do Amaral, Joaquim Campos, Carlos Gonçalves, entre outros. Interpreta à sua maneira os poetas e as músicas que a encantam. Pela mão do prestigiado cenógrafo e homem da cultura, José Manuel Castanheira, estreia-se no Círculo de Bellas Artes em Madrid a 14 de Setembro de 2008. Deste projecto de amigos fazem parte: Manuel Rodrigues, José Manuel Castanheira - cenógrafo, Inês de Oliveira - designer de moda, Ricardo Reis - fotógrafo e o mestre Real Bordalo - pintor.

The unstoppable Mariza is conquering the world yet again with over 100 shows to promote her latest album "Terra." Since her release back in October, she has achieved double platinum status. I had the pleasure of attending her performance in Long Island, New York in February. I was so excited to finally get to hear Diogo Clemente on the viola. I'm a huge fan of his work with Raquel Tavares as well "Cabelo Branco é Saudade" and he was also a part of Carlos Saura's film, Fados. He is truely amazing and definitely one of the best presently playing Fado. Angelo Friere returned to the U.S. this time to accompany Mariza and he's still playing that Portuguese guitar effortlessly at only 20 years old. After the show my father told me that he was convinced that when Angelo was a baby, his father gave him a guitar instead of a pacifier! He's unbelievable. Mariza once again was mesmerizing. A flawless performance indeed. I must admit however, my favorite part of the show was right at the end when Mariza, Angelo, and Diogo sang Fado Mouraria together!! I was lucky enough to be 2 rows from the stage so I have some really close footage... Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Fernanda Pereira!!

2009-03-27T01:02:00.006-04:00

I have received many birthday presents in the past but on August 23rd, I was actually someone's birthday present! That someone is Sra. Fernanda Pereira of Pleasanton, California (yup, Pleasanton is as nice as it sounds) who owns a successful printing company, along with her husband Dino. They put together a beautiful party in their amazing home where they turned their jacuzzi into a stage and their backyard into a light show. I was accompanied by the wonderful group of guitarists, Helder Carvalheira, Manuel Escobar, and João Cardadeiro once again, in this relaxed setting. We had a great time with an exceptional crowd. By the end of the night, everyone was dancing! It was a blast and I was so grateful to be a part of the occasion. Thank you so much Pereira family for letting me be a part of an unforgetable celebration. You truely are amazing people!!

Madeira Feast

2009-03-27T01:02:00.000-04:00

On the first weekend of August (Friday and Saturday), I performed at the Madeira Museum's Cafe, one of the many attractions of New Bedford's famous Madeira Feast in Massachusetts, the world's largest Portuguese festival. The event is held outdoors with free admission and live Fado and Folklore.

Both nights were great! Friday night, Sr. Viriato Ferreira and Sr. Jose Silva and I performed 10 Fados we had never previously rehearsed for the first time along with many of the Fados on my album. It felt refreshing to add some new Fados to my repetoir and the audience seemed to have enjoyed it as well.

I got to meet a lot of great people like a young man named Matthew who gave me an LP of the late Fernanda Maria from 1952. He found the record at a local Salvation Army and found out I was performing on Friday night and offered it to me because he wanted to give it to "someone who would appreciate it." He was even kind enough to make a copy of the LP onto a CD! Thank you so much Matthew! I really do appreciate it... I heard it the whole drive home! I really enjoyed the record which was recorded in the early 1950s and includes many Fados that she made famous such as "Lisboa A Noite," "Ribatejo," and "Lisboa Antiga." However, this album was one of the over 50 albums she released, but it was enough to spark my interest on this particular Fadista.

I'm also grateful for the support of everyone else who came out including Ricardo Farias (who stopped by for a little both nights), Jimmy "Jam" Ferreira of Lusobeat.com, and fellow Fadistas Jeremias Macedo, Jose Carlos Azevedo, and Tania Da Silva who were kind enough to treat the audience with two Fados each!

The event was a great success and I owe it all to Sra. Olga Marques for her invitation.

Running Brook Winery

2009-03-27T00:46:00.000-04:00

Before my Saturday night peformance, Sr. Viriato Ferreira and his family were kind enough to take us to the Running Brook Winery which is owned by Dr. Jorge Teixeira, Sr. Viriato's brother-in-law, and his wife Manuela. The adega was filled with barrells and barrells of many different types of wines, many of which are award winning. Dr. Teixeira and his wife were proud to share their wine with us.

The acoustics in the adega were phenominal so Sr. Viriato quickly got his viola and we interpreted 2 Fados in this appropriate setting surrounded by wine! Behind the adega, there are acres and acres of a variety of grape vines and even corn. An extension on the adega is currently in progress to add a party hall to their beautiful location.

If you're ever in the area, I encourage you to stop by and check out all of their different wines. Thank you to Ferreira and Teixeira families for the great time!!

*The drawing on the left was made by Julia Ferreira! Thanks Julia!

Natercia Da Conceição

2009-03-27T00:36:00.007-04:00

I had the pleasure of being invited to the private 74th birthday party for the Fadista Natercia Da Conceição at her home on August 3rd. It was the first time I met her and I was nervous because of her prestigious career in Fado. I was very sad to see the unfortunate state she is in. She has been in a wheel chair for some time now and doesn't have feeling in her legs. It really hit me because I met her in her bedroom where she has tons of LPs, pictures of the different highlights of her Fado career, and dozens of plaques and trophies that have been awarded to her throughout the years. I later sang for her and her guests.

This visit really made me realize how lucky I am to be doing what I love the most and have those that I love the most support me. I learned not to take the opportunities given to me for granted and enjoy everything life has awarded me with. That afternoon will be preserved in my heart forever.

Thank you Cinira for your support, kind words, motivation, and invitation!!

It's been how long!?!

2009-03-03T00:38:00.015-05:00

I 'm embarrassed by how long it has taken me to update my blog. Initially I began my blog as a personal online journal, or better yet, a sort of online scrapbook of whatever I felt was important in my journey in Fado that was not included in my website. Then as time passed, people began to e-mail me about my blog and congratulate me on it. I never thought it mattered to anyone what I was writing. (I'm a terrible writer, I major in accounting =)) But I appreciate the scolding I have received for slacking on my blog from those who actually enjoy reading what I have to say and constantly look for updates. I apologize for my laziness. I have been extremely busy working towards graduation and enjoying my senior year of college while still doing what I love the most, sing Fado! The complaints I have received regarding my procrastination is my incentive to continue updating "Nathalie News" as often as I can and to keep you posted on my Fado experiences.

It's been about half a year since my last post and I have so much to write about. 2008 was a memorable year for me; the AUA awards, my first time performing in Pennsylvania, Florida, and California, and my busiest year so far! But 2009 seems like it will be just as satisfying...

My spring break is just around the corner and I'm looking forward to the free time so I can update my blog with the posts I've been meaning to include. So be sure to stay tuned!!

Thank you for all your continuous support and for giving me the motivation to continue! (A special thank you to Doris Mello, Helder Carvalheira, Elisa DaSilva, and my Dad for the extra push!)

Though I haven't posted anything lately, I definitely have had Fado on my mind. Whenever I get some free time I look for new Fados and read what's new in the Fado World. I've also been seeing more of Michael DaSilva and Diogo Arsenio for some rehearsal time. Today I was so thankful for the snow because it gave us the chance to get together once again!!

Emergency Snow Closing

Monday, March 2

Due to the winter storm, all day and evening classes and activities on both the Lawrenceville and Princeton campuses are canceled, and all University offices are closed.

My classes were canceled so instead of spending my Monday night at my Advanced Accounting class, I left my warm dorm room, put on my snow boots and we rehearsed at the theater here on campus. We were grateful for the last minute practice because we will be performing for the first time at a Restaurant in New York City called Esperanto on Wednesday night. Come hear us if you're in the city. We'll also be performing together this Saturday at Perth Amboy, NJ...
Here's a quick look at our night... Enjoy!!

The 1st Video is of Diogo and I just messing around with the first verse of "Povo Que Lavas No Rio" (which was not in my key.) The 2nd video is of Diogo, Michael, and I rehearsing "Fado Tango." I apologize for the low quality...

Adelina Ramos

2008-07-30T10:42:00.008-04:00

Fadista Adelina Ramos, owner of the traditional Fado restaurant "A Tipóia" and creator of the popular Fado "Não Passes Com Ela à Minha Rua," passed away on Saturday, July 26 "no Casa do Artista" at the age of 82.

At her restaurant, Fadistas such as Teresa Tarouca, Carlos Ramos, Maria da Fé, and many others, were regular performers. "A Tipóia" was a favorite spot of the great Alfredo Marceneiro.

Her death was announced today though she was buried on Monday. Fans are infuriated that the news was not revealed earlier and that they were not able to pay their last respects.

About Adelina Ramos from "Lisboa no Guiness"

Adelina Ramos, nasceu a 14 de Junho de 1916.

Foi uma das verdadeiras fadistas, que o Fado conheceu.

Os Fados que ela cantava saíam-lhe da garganta onde o bairrismo alfacinha, puro e nato, tem todo o encanto pitoresco da genuína expressão fadista!
Adelina Ramos soube conservar-se humildemente, uma grande fadista!

Ao ouvi-la cantar o «menor», o «corrido», o «meia-noite», etc., afirmavam os seus admiradores:

— Sente-se o que ela canta, no modular espontâneo e natural das frases musicais, que lhe saem da garganta, como saem – isto é que é Fado, meus senhores... – ela dá-nos toda uma gama de sentimentos e emoções que no Fado procuramos e admiramos. Em noite grande, Adelina empolga, canta a garganta, cantam os olhos, cantam os gestos… E, quase sem nos apercebermo-nos, suavemente ficamos presos na magia da sua voz, que nos embala a alma, dizendo-nos coisas de amor, de saudade, de ciúme, de revolta... Sentimo-nos extasiados, fere-nos a carícia da sua voz a desvendar-nos esse mundo íntimo e profundo, que palpita em todos nós, e só o Fado consegue revelar.

Adelina Ramos foi proprietária do Restaurante Típico “A Tipóia”, recinto por onde passaram quase todos os grandes nomes da época, quer de fadistas, quer figuras de relevo da sociedade de então.

Fernanda Baptista

2008-07-25T23:00:00.003-04:00

Fado has lost one of its great deliverers this morning, July 25th, Fernanda Baptista.

At the age of 89, Fernanda Baptista died in a hospital in Cascais, Portugal.

Fernanda Baptista will be remebered for the 65 years that she dedicated her life as a Fadista and actress. She starred in more than 50 musicals, recorded hundreds of records, and took our national song to different stages around the world.

She will be missed, remembered, and will live on through her music.

Fernanda Baptista's Biography from Fado.com

Lisboa, 28 Set (Lusa) - Vários dos êxitos da fadista Fernanda Baptista, nomeadamente "Fado toureiro" e "Saudades de Júlia Mendes", são reeditados num duplo CD pela Movieplay Portuguesa, a 03 de Outubro.

O duplo CD reúne êxitos gravados pela fadista desde a década de 1960 à de 1980 para a etiqueta Riso&Ritmo, já extinta.

A gravação mais antiga, "Ai! Que saudade" (João Gomes/Carlos Rocha), data de 1967, sendo a fadista acompanhada pelo conjunto de guitarras de Jorge Fontes.

A gravação mais recente é de 1981, "Meus amigos, isto é fado", um êxito seu na revista "Dentadinhas na maçã" no Teatro Laura Alves, em Lisboa, em 1974.

Nesta edição, aquela que a imprensa qualificou de "maior voz do teatro de revista", surge acompanhada por várias orquestras, nomeadamente sob a direcção de Shegundo Galarza, Ferrer Trindade e Rocha Oliveira.

Fernanda Baptista integra actualmente o elenco do musical de Filipe la Feria "A Canção de Lisboa".

"Fernanda Baptista é um exemplo de longevidade do êxito. Poucos nomes se têm mantido como cabeça de cartaz e na plenitude das suas capacidades como ela", salientou à agência Lusa Julieta Estrela, presidente da Associação Portuguesa dos Amigos do Fado (APAF). Segundo a mesma fonte, a cantora "é dona de uma magnífica voz e criou êxitos que fazem a história do fado".

Alguns desses êxitos, como "O fado está-lhe nas veias", "Ai, ai, Lisboa", "Fado para esta noite", "Trapeiras de Lisboa", "Fui ao baile", "Fado das sombras", "Um fado para Stuart" e "Fado da carta", serão incluídos no duplo CD que será editado a 03 de Outubro.

Fernanda Baptista, 85 anos, estreou-se em 1945 na revista "Banhos de Sol".

Em declarações à Lusa a fadista afirmou: "A revista tinha excelentes compositores e letristas e as canções saíam para a rua com uma enorme facilidade. Tive de facto muitos êxitos".

Ema Pedrosa, responsável pela selecção da antologia, disse à Lusa que, "se na sua altura fossem entregues discos de ouro e platina, Fernanda Baptista tinha os suficientes para forrar a casa, tantos os seus verdadeiros sucessos populares".

"A sua voz potente, brilhante e expressiva, de timbre e extensão invulgares, serviu os mais variados autores, no que ajudou a sua espontaneidade em palco e a maneira fácil de comunicar com o público", rematou.

Ao longo de 56 anos de palcos, Fernanda Baptista participou em mais de 45 espectáculos de revista e opereta.

Em 2003 o Presidente da República condecorou-a com a Ordem de Mérito, em 1999 a APAF tinha já distinguido com o diploma de Sócia de Mérito.

Helder Moutinho at Drom, NYC!!

2008-07-24T17:59:00.027-04:00

Since May I've spent my every evening from Monday through Thursday in Accounting classes. But yesterday I played hookie for a good reason; I went to Drom in New York City to see one of the most important figures in Fado, Helder Moutinho.

I didn't find out he was coming to NYC until 2am, the morning of his performance, from an article I read on Fado.com which I read regularly. I called a group together last minute and we made our way to the venue. The venue describes its setting as "Located in the East Village area of Manhattan, DROM is a multi-event venue with a restaurant and lounge. With high ceilings, earthy colors and comfortable seating, we aim to provide a warm, inviting, sophisticated and informal atmosphere to relax and enjoy our multi-cultural and varied programming."-- And that they did. The location was intimate and appropriate for Fado.

A little after 10 pm, Helder Moutinho (Fadista), Ricardo Parreira (Portuguese Guitar), and Miguel Monteiro (Viola) began their performance with "Ha Festa Na Mouraria" followed by "Vielas De Alfama" then "Fado Isabel"... Each better and more intense than the next. Helder Moutinho is a captivating performer who takes notice of his audience. He spoke both in English and Portuguese for all to understand and even encouraged his American listeners to sing along with him in the international singing language of "Lalala!"

Besides from being a Fadista, he's written for other Fadistas such as Misia, Mafalda Arnauth, Maria Da Nazaré, Pedro Moutinho, Raquel Tavares, Joana Amendoeira, amungst others and also owns his own record label called "HM" which edits albums from such artists as Joana Amendoeira, Raquel Tavares, Argentina Santos, Jorge Fernando, Marco Oliveira, Ricardo Parreira, and other World Music performers, which he serves as an agent, producer, and manager.

I had the pleasure of performing with Helder during a few performances back when I was only 14 years old, but I was still learning and understanding Fado, so I appreciated his performance more so last night where he transmitted the emotions felt in Fado like only a true Fadista like himself is capable of accomplishing.

With him, the amazing guitarists that accompanied him, Ricardo Parreira and Miguel Monteiro, who treated us with two guitarradas! Ricardo Parreira (who like myself is 22) on the Portuguese guitar would effortlessly play challenging pieces while Miguel Monteiro responded to the Portuguese guitar while including unique passages in the traditional Fados that Helder sang. The connection between the three musicians on stage was satisfying to see.

After about an hour of Fado, and "Lisboa a Noite" (his closing Fado), all three where nice enough to talk to us for about 45 minutes. Helder Moutinho and I reminisced about our performances together 6 years ago and his plans and projects in production. Diogo Arésnio and Michael DaSilva who also came to the show were especially treated. Diogo and Ricardo traded "unhas," the nail picks used to play the Portuguese guitar, and played a little guitar together while 10 feet away, Miguel Monteiro showed Michael his guitarra made by Gracio which apparently is a big deal. (There is a 10 year waiting list for one of these guitars.)

We had a great time and I'm so glad I found out about the show. It was refreshing to hear a male Fadista of his caliber in the U.S. where the Fado market is more female driven. Especially in the summer, when Fado is slightly out of touch. I wish every Thursday was this fun!

Click the pictures to enlarge

Helder Moutinho's Biography from heldermoutinho.com

Helder Moutinho was born in 1969, in Oeiras, where the Tagus meets the Ocean, and maybe it was from this daily intimacy with the sea that came the major characteristic of his career: a multiple capacity of understanding and living his music, by singing, composing, producing, managing, constantly probing wider horizons, of solid and neat banks and rich, steady stream. From his family of old fado lovers, and from accompanying them to the traditional fado circles, he got not only his taste for this kind of song, but above all his determination to sing it, and so entering in fado's unique universe.

It was in Moutinho's late teens that, after getting familiar to other musical styles, fado began to take an increasing importance in his life. This is perhaps the reason to explain his enduring, inevitable relation with Lisbon… After the lifelong calling of the sea, now is Tagus River that requests him, revealing him Lisbon, the city of passions, of poetic and nostalgic nights, of high flying gulls that he will forever on sing and write about. He initially sang only to friends, but his gift could not remain hidden, and he soon got his first invitation to sing in one of Bairro Alto's fado bars.

By this time, Moutinho's all latent talents began to show themselves. In reunions of fado singers, all night long, among other fado lovers, he began to sing his own lyrics that he would later include in his first album, Sete Fados e Alguns Cantos (Seven Fados and Some Songs).

Concurrently, Helder Moutinho began revealing himself in other and important activities: those of a manager, agent and music editor. The transition from singing in fado bars and in concerts - one must mention his participation in projects like Fados Mãe de Água, organized by Lisbon City Hall and included in "Lisbon 94 - European Capital of Culture", the Festima Festival at "Expo' 98", along with performances throughout Portugal and abroad - is a process that Moutinho himself can't explain - but soon the stress-free approach of his beginnings turned to become a deeper, compromised one.

His first record, released by Ocarina in 1999, got flattering notice from magazine "Strictly Mundial" (of the "World Music International Exibition"), and very good reviews from Portuguese and international press. From all these motives, his new release was eagerly expected, knowing that its lyrics were written, in their vast majority, by the singer himself, and that its process of creation and recording was like in Moutinho's first one: in the middle of tours, reunions, planning, and an enterprise of his own to manage. For this is like Helder Moutinho is: a man of many talents, with a voice and a soul he must absolutely share with us.

Menina Fadista!

2008-07-24T00:55:00.010-04:00

During my performance na Casa Do Ribatejo in Newark, NJ back in November of last year, I surprised the audience with an exclusive duet with a very special guest. Her name is Raquel Santos. She was here on vacation in the United States with her family, (who are dear friends of my family and I) from Maia, Portugal. Apparently, she enjoys listening to my album and one Fado that she particularly favors is "O Namorico Da Rita" which she would constantly parade around the house singing.

One of the things she wanted to do during her trip to the U.S. was watch me sing during one of my performances. So when she finally got the chance to come, I asked the organization of the event if I could invite an extraordinary 4 year old to sing with me. They agreed and the audience loved it! Raquel very timidly sang the entire song, mostly by herself, even though it was WAY past her bedtime! It was definitely the highlight of the night. Turns out she was the youngest person Sr. Chuva and Sr. Mendonça ever accompanied throughout their whole Fado careers!

Below is the video of our short performance. Unfortunately because of how dark it was at the event, it was shot in night vision, either way I hope you enjoy it as much as the audience and I did that night!!

Guitarras do Atlântico

2008-07-23T01:27:00.002-04:00

Viriato Ferreira and Jose Silva, who most consider to be the best Fado guitarists in the United States, or North America even, have just released their first album entitled, "Guitarras do Atlântico." After accompanying many Fadistas from Lisbon such as Lenita Gentil, and Anita Guerreiro amungst many others, as well as local artists and accompanying such artists in recording dozens of albums (including mine), they finally decided to record their own! The album includes original guitarradas created by Jose Silva, as well as traditional guitarradas. I've been blessed to have the advice, guidance, and friendship of these two gentlemen and I recognize that most of my success has been thanks to them. I wish them all the best and recommend that you buy the album. If you are interested in acquiring one, let me know (nathalie@nathaliepires.com) and I'll be your middleman!

Photo Shoot #2

2008-07-22T23:53:00.001-04:00

On Saturday, I met up with the photographer responsible for the pictures on my album, "Corre-me O Fado Nas Veias," for another photo shoot. It wasn't Fado related but soon they will be posted on my website under the miscellaneous tab on the Photo section. I'm still not comfortable in front of the camera and I'm far from being a model but Carlos and Kelly made it fun and took some beautiful pictures. The pictures were taken to advertise accessories made by a friend of Kelly's around the city of Philadelphia. So here you go...

Summer of Fado...

2008-07-07T14:14:00.000-04:00

It's been awhile since I've posted anything, but as the summer approaches, the sound of the guitars are drowned by the huge outdoor festivals in celebration of other Portuguese events. Even though things have been pretty slow on my end, the Fado world has been restless...

Raquel Tavares has recently released her second album, "Bairro," which includes a bonus DVD featuring her interpreting some of the tracks off her new album as well as an interview. I ordered her CD online and have yet to receive it, but from what I've seen on youtube, it's another step forward for the latest "revelation in Fado," Raquel Tavares. I've read articles about her performing in South America, but unfortunately I have yet to learn of any performances in the United States. :( Oh well, I'll just have to keep on watching her videos... Here's the video clip for her first single off her latest album, "Rosa da Madragoa.

Mariza has recently release her fourth album entitled "Terra." From what I've heard so far from the four tracks she's uploaded on her myspace profile, she seems to be stepping into other genres of music, such as Morna from Cape Verde, Flamenco from Spain, and even a taste of rumba on her first single off the album, "Rosa Branca." Her cover of that song is brilliant and it's been in my head since last Tuesday. She will be performing her new set on over 100 stages around the world and hopefully I'll be able to go see her when she comes to New York City.

Something I'm extremely excited about is that a movie based on the life of the late Diva of Fado, Amalia Rodrigues, has recently began its production and is said to be the most expensive movie ever made in Portugal! The movie will tell the story of Amalia's life, fame and pain. I think it's great that they're doing this, especially now that Fado seems to be getting more and more popular amongst the Portuguese population themselves. Production has already began but hopefully the movie will premiere in time for the 10 year anniversary of her death which will be October 6, 2009.

As for me, I had anticipated to dedicate a lot of my free time this summer to begin thinking about the possibility of a second album. So far, I'm still waiting for the free time... But Fado has been on my mind however and this weekend I had the pleasure of having a mini Fado Session with Sr. Viriato, Michael Da Silva, and Diogo Arsenio in my own backyard. Usually my agenda is free of performances in the summer but I just returned from Provincetown and in August I will perform in New Bedford, Massachusetts for two nights and I will fly out to California once again for a private event. I have some mini Fado plans and projects that I hope to get through this summer and I'll be sure to keep you posted as I go along...

Filipa Cardoso

2008-04-23T14:31:00.009-04:00

Since the Atlantic Ocean is what separates me from Lisbon, I have to find other ways to learn about up and coming Fadistas and what's new in the Fado world. My main resource is far from sitting in a "Casa de Fado", it's the internet. I spend hours watching videos on YouTube and searching the latest news on google (I know you're probably thinking I have no life) and during one of my most recent hunts I came across someone I was surprised to never have heard about. Her name is Filipa Cardoso who was born and raised in Lisbon and she has a voice that in my opinion is the true definition of pure fado. She won first place in the "Grande Noite de Fado" in 2005 and shortly after recorded her debut album "Fragmento do Fado." You can find her singing at Maria da Fe's Restaurant "O Senhor Vinho" in Lisbon or even at a local "revista Lisboeta." Another young Fadista keeping our tradition strong!! Check out the video below and you'll understand what I mean...

Filipa Cardoso's Biography from LisboacomCarmona.net

Filipa Cardoso nasceu a 18 de Abril de 1979 num bairro típico de Lisboa “o Alto do Pina” a quem os mais antigos e historiadores apelidaram de “viveiro dos fadistas” Canta pela primeira vez em público com 10 anos , no casamento de uma prima, e cai de imediato nas graças do dono do restaurante que lhe oferece o primeiro cachet para cantar noutros casamentos… a Filipa recusa o cachet mas aceita o desafio….

Já com 15 anos, o violinista Raul Silva, ao ouvi-la cantar numa tarde em sua casa, no aniversario da neta, convidou-a cantar numa casa típica “Taverna do Embuçado”, nessa mesma noite. A partir dessa noite passou a cantar lá todos os dias, assim com na “Taverna d´el Rey” tambem esta em alfama. Mas a sua experiencia durou apenas 8 meses, nao por falta de gosto, mas dizia a Filipa que era uma menina muito feliz e de muito bem com a vida para cantar poemas tao sofridos… a sua tenrra idade, e percurso de vida, nada tinha a ver com os fados que cantava… “lavava no rio lavava”, “estranha forma de vida”, “lágrima”, ou seja, dizia ela que eram estados de alma que só poderiam ser cantados por quem realmente sentisse a amargura, a dor, a perda, a solidão… para a Filipa não é preciso ter um grande vozeirão para se cantar bem o fado, mas sim transmitir com verdade cada palavra que o poeta escreve… como diria a poetiza Maria de Lurdes Carvalho - “Os Poetas são a Alma e os Fadistas o Corpo“. Quem a ouvia a cantar na altura admirava apenas a voz e não o sentimento que tentava transmitir…

Voltou quase 10 anos depois… e aí sim tinha muito para transmitir… Já era mulher e mãe. A sua vida já tinha tomado outro rumo… sabia entao o que era dor, solidão, perda… mas sem cantar fado a sua vida não fazia sentido.

Concorreu à grande noite do fado, em Lisboa, no teatro S. Luiz e ganhou o primeiro lugar na categoria de séniores. A partir daí, não parou mais… cantou nas melhores casas de fado do país: Arcadas do Faia, Café Luso, Marquês da Sé, Clube de Fado e Sr. Vinho, onde, neste último, ficou como fadista no elenco privativo…

A convite de Mário Raínho e Helder Freire Costa é convidada como fadista para a revista no Parque Mayer, “Arre Poter qué demais” Teatro Maria Vitória. Depois dessa fez mais duas: “A revista é liiiiiiinda“, em Lisboa no Maria Vitória, e no Porto, no Sá da Bandeira e “Já viram isto?!” também no Maria Vitória.

Esteve numa tourné em Espanha a solo e fez outra com Fernando Mendes.

Em 2007 foi eleita Rainha da canção nacional numa iniciativa do jornal “O crime” ao lado do cantor Toy como Rei.

Participou no festival RTP da canção com Edmundo Vieira com a canção “Desta Vez“.

NAS marchas populares é convidada para ser a madrinha do bairro onde nasceu o Alto do Pina.

Continua a dar voz ao seu fado na casa típica “O senhor Vinho” da fadista Maria da Fé.

É mandatária da juventude de Carmona Rodrigues, porque acima de tudo AMA A SUA CIDADE - LISBOA.

Deolinda

2008-04-22T12:27:00.007-04:00

Deolinda is a band that I discovered about a year ago on YouTube while stumbling upon a video of a live performance of their cleverly funny "Fado Toninho". Their interpretation of their version of witty Fado full of energy and attitude instantly sparked my interest. Turns out they have just released their self-titled debut album this week! I just purchased one on cdgo.com and I can't wait until it arrives. Ana Moura's "Para Alem da Saudade" has been playing non-stop in my cd player since I bought it back in August so I think I'll try another cd before it explodes. Once I receive their album I'll update this entry and let you know what I think about it...

Their approach to Fado is slightly different than the traditional concept but check out their description of their style, band members and how they came about with their energetic take on Fado.

From Deolinda.com.pt, Os Deolinda
By Antonio Pires

Há uma longa série de clichés associados ao fado. Por exemplo, o fado tem que ter guitarra portuguesa. Os Deolinda não usam guitarra portuguesa. Ou, o fado tem que ser sisudo, sério, compenetrado, fatalista e triste. Os Deolinda não são nada disso. Ou ainda, o fado não pode ser dançado. E dança-se com os Deolinda. Ou, para terminar, a fadista tem que vestir de preto, como se estivesse no seu próprio funeral. Ana Bacalhau, a voz dos Deolinda (a Deolinda, ela própria?), veste roupas garridas, alegres, coloridas.

Mas os Deolinda são... fado, apesar disso tudo, e são muito mais que fado, por causa disso tudo e de tudo o mais que a sua música contém. Uma música que vai à música popular portuguesa - um universo que aqui abarca José Afonso e António Variações, Sérgio Godinho, Madredeus e os «muito mais que fadistas» Amália Rodrigues e Alfredo Marceneiro - e vai ainda à rembetika grega, à música ranchera mexicana, ao samba, à música havaiana, ao jazz e à pop, numa confluência original e rara de músicas-irmãs ou primas umas das outras e que, nos Deolinda, fazem todo o sentido.

Nos Deolinda, a música e as letras (geralmente de um humor fino, mordaz, por vezes absurdo, de outras surrealista, mas também capazes de fazer lembrar a pena de José Afonso, como em «Clandestino») são, em todas as canções, de Pedro da Silva Martins, guitarrista do grupo que, juntamente com o irmão - e igualmente guitarrista dos Deolinda - Luís José Martins, tinha antes feito parte dos Bicho de 7 Cabeças. Há dois anos, convidaram a prima Ana Bacalhau, então vocalista dos Lupanar, a cantar algumas das primeiras canções compostas para um novo projecto, ainda sem nome. E foi com ela - e com o contrabaixista Zé Pedro Leitão, também dos Lupanar, que se juntou ao projecto logo de seguida - que o conceito Deolinda começou a tomar forma. Um conceito que, com o desmembramento das duas bandas anteriores (Lupanar e Bicho de 7 Cabeças) nesse ano de 2006 e a vontade dos quatro em abraçar um projecto novo e original, cristalizou nos Deolinda.

Dois anos - e vários concertos memoráveis depois -, os Deolinda lançam agora o seu álbum de estreia, «Canção ao Lado», com catorze temas originais gravados pelos quatro nos estúdios Valentim de Carvalho, em Paço de Arcos, com produção do grupo e de Nélson Carvalho. No álbum participam ainda o percussionista João Lobo (pandeiro em «Garçonete da Casa de Fado») e muitos amigos dos Deolinda - Mitó Mendes (A Naifa), Norberto Lobo (Norman/Munchen), Mariana Ricardo (ex-Pinhead Society/Munchen), Joana Sá (também ex-Pinhead Society, agora nos Power Trio, ao lado de Luís José Martins), Gonçalo Tocha, Didio Pestana (ambos ex-Lupanar), Artur Serra e Carlos Penedo (ambos ex-Bicho de 7 Cabeças), entre outros - nos coros de «Movimento Perpétuo Associativo» e «Garçonete da Casa de Fado». Um grupo de amigos que se estende ao autor de banda-desenhada João Fazenda, que ilustrou o disco, e a Catherine Villeret e (mais uma vez) Gonçalo Tocha, que realizaram o divertidíssimo e surreal teledisco de «Fado Toninho», o primeiro single retirado de «Canção ao Lado».

O álbum «Canção ao Lado» é editado dia 21 de Abril, numa parceria da Sons em Trânsito com a iPlay.

Os Deolinda são:
Ana Bacalhau (voz)
Pedro da Silva Martins (composição, textos, guitarra clássica e voz)
Zé Pedro Leitão (contrabaixo e voz)
Luís José Martins (guitarra clássica, ukelele, cavaco, guitalele, viola braguesa e voz)

A teaser of the tracks off their debut album

To learn more about them:
www.myspace.com/deolindalisboa
www.youtube.com/deolindalisboa
www.deolinda.com.pt/

UPDATE:
I love this album!! It's clever, funny, witty, serious, and very well done... It has something for everyone. Check out their music video for "Fado Toninho" below...

California!!!

2008-04-21T15:12:00.039-04:00

I just got back from California and I am extremely tired but can't fall asleep because I can't stop thinking about how amazing my weekend was... So I'm going to write it all down and maybe by the time I'm done I'll be too tired to think any more. So it here it goes...

Me and the California Sky

For the first time in my life I flew to the west coast of the country. Until then, all of my long trips were to Portugal where all you see is the Atlantic ocean. This time the view from the plane, 43,000 feet in the air was unbelievable. I flew over Colorado's snow covered mountains and even the grand canyon. When we got to California I was blown away by how different it is from the east coast. We landed in Los Angeles first, then rushed to our connecting flight to San Jose where we shared the plane with the actor/comedian Eddy Griffin!! I was really excited but nobody said anything to him so I didn't bother him either. After 50 minutes of flying over California's mountainous terrain we arrived in the beautiful city of San Jose.

San Jose, California

I finally got to meet Sr. Manuel Escobar, the man responsible for my first performance in California, who picked me up from the airport. He was kind enough to show us around the city and pick out all of the Portuguese organizations. I thought the east coast was heavily populated with Portuguese people but California is swarmed with us!! It's pretty cool.

Later that night after dinner, Sr. Manuel and Sra. Delia, his amazing wife, were kind enough to take me on a trip to San Francisco!! I was really excited because usually when I go on these trips far away from home I usually just stay in my hotel room the whole time until the show. The trip to San Francisco was awesome. It was so beautiful!! Before that night the only thing I really knew about San Francisco was that the Tanner family from "Full House" lived there:). I don't have any good pictures from the trip because it was night time and everything came out too dark. Maybe I'll get a better camera for my birthday next week... (Are you reading this daddy? :) ) We walked around this market by the water and we saw sea lions at Pier 39!! I'm probably way too excited about this but I've never seen them just out and about like that. There was like a hundred of them!! We finished our little troll around the city with a nice cup of hot tea because it was kind of chilly that night. It was so much fun and unexpected. Then we drove around the city and passed by Lombard Street and even drove through the famous Bay Bridge. It was amazing!! I'll never forget my mini trip to San Francisco. I'm definitely going back but taking my time to actually explore the city.

The next day, I woke up early to have breakfast at Sr. Escobar's house and to meet the other guitarists and rehearse for our big show. I forgot to mention that Sr. Escobar is the viola player. I later met Helder Carvalheira who plays the Portuguese guitar and Joao Cardadeiro who plays acoustic bass. They were amazing, perfectionists, and extremely professional. I didn't know what to expect but I definitely underestimated them. I also got to know them a little better and found out that Sr. Carvalheira, who is a 1st generation Luso-American like myself, is from the same exact town in Portugal as me; Bustos! Its crazy how I met a neighbor from Portugal in California. Sr. Cardadeiro is not that far from us in Portugal either. He's from Ilhavo which is about a half hour away. We rehearsed my whole setlist and it went great which made me confident for my performance later that night.

We got to the hall early for sound check and everything was going great but I was starting to get more nervous than usual. It was my first performance on the west coast and I was headlining the event so I was starting to feel the pressure especially because I know that many Fadistas from Lisbon perform in California pretty frequently. I was confident with my setlist but I was performing the whole second part alone which I had prepared 15 Fados and I was nervous that maybe it would drag and I would bore the audience.

The first session of Fados included the performances of 3 local artists that I had the pleasure of hearing for the first time. Manuel Pacheco, Glenda Reis (who is my age), and Isalino dos Santos.

Then the moment of truth arrived!! I was introduced by the Mayor of Gilroy, Mr. Al Pinheiro and as he read a little about my Fado career to the audience, they applauded some of my accomplishments which made me relax a little more because the audience was really welcoming. When the guitars began playing the intro to my first Fado of the night I could feel myself shake but as soon as I started singing I realized that the ambiance was perfect for Fado with a dark, candle lit room with 250-300 people completely silent which put me at ease for the rest of my performance. Throughout the whole show I received their complete participation and attention. And then just like that... The performance I had been awaiting for such a long time was over. It was definitely one of my most memorable.

I met so many wonderful and supportive people after my performance and despite it already being late they didn't mind waiting around to talk to me. The weekend went by so quickly. But since I got back I've heard nothing but great feedback. I owe it all to the great team I had behind me Helder Carvalheira, Manuel Escobar, and Joao Cardadeiro (who received my album and recommened to the rest of the "7 colinas".) And an extra special thank you to Sr. Manuel and Sra. Delia for their hospitality and everything they did for me. Also thank you Ricardo and Mafalda Amarante for taking a chance in me and inviting me to perform at your event.

Here's a quick review from Jornal Tribuna Portuguesa da California by Jose Raposo:

Lá findou a primeira parte e quando chegou a vez Nathalie Pires, só pela sua presença eu pude ver e disse ao meu amigo João Neves: "temos fadista".

A moça é um espectáculo e não tenho a mínima dúvida que se ela continuar a balançar o fado como deve balançar os livros da contabilidade que está cursando, o saldo será sempre positivo, pois que os algarismos na coluna do HAVER, serão sempre mais altos do que na coluna do DEVE.

O seu penúltimo fado, "Povo que lavas no rio", resolveu cantá-lo sem o microfone. Se bem que os corpos presentes na sala absorvessem uma parte do som, conseguiu cantar com timbre e intensidade, para que todos os presentes, mesmo os mais afastados do palco, pudessem ouvir perfeitamente. Terminou a sua actuação com o "fadinho serrano" O baloiçar do seu corpo e o movimento de cadência que dava aos ombros, trasmistiam perfeitamente o que lhe ia na alma de fadista.

Gilroy Noite De Fados - Nathalie Pires

Irmandade da Festa do Divino Espirito Santo posted this video of the performance on their myspace profile. (I think it might be the first video of me on the internet.)

Mio Matsuda

2008-04-15T14:15:00.020-04:00

Everyone knows that Fado is very well excepted in Japan. The great Amalia Rodrigues had huge success in Japan, performing there various times and even releasing a cd of one of her concerts in Japan . Now the most successful Fadistas follow in her footsteps and constantly perform to Fado's loyal Japanese fans. It is no surprise that Fado has inspired even a Japanese young artist to express its sentiment to the world; Mio Matsuda.

Mio Matsuda is a Japanese Fado singer who has already successfully released 3 albums since 2005 with influences from Portugal, Cabo Verde, Japan, but especially Brazil. With her distinct voice and style, she has made me a fan of her diversified and nontraditional version of my favorite genre of music, Fado.

To learn more about Mio Matsuda visit her website:
www.miomatsuda.com
and to listen to some of her tracks off her albums visit her offiicial myspace page:
www.myspace.com/miomatsuda

From MioMatsuda.com, Mio Matsuda's Biography

Mio Matsuda began her singing career when she discovered fado, the magical traditional music of Portugal. Living in Lisbon and learning the culture, she developed fado as a form of her own self-expression. While studying fado in traditional Casa de fado (fado houses) in Lisbon, she became familiar with the music from the diasporas of Portuguese influenced countries.

In 2004, she traveled to Minas Gerais, Brazil, representing Portugal, to sing in the event called "Na Ponta da Língua," as a representative vocalist. In the same year, she was invited to sing for a month in the Cape Verde islands where she discovered the beauty of Creole music. Her trans-Atlantic musical experience led her to record her first album "Atlântica" (2005 JVC) in Rio de Janeiro. "Atlantica" united songs from the many Atlantic Ocean ports of Portugal, Cape Verde and Brazil, mixing the lovely sounds of these three highly musical countries.

In the following year, Mio recorded her second album “Pitanga!”(2006 JVC) in Rio de Janeiro. On "Pitanga," she recorded her own compositions inspired by the northeast Brazilian rhythms and rituals. Her voice mixed with the many instruments and musical styles of that highly musical area.

In 2007 she recorded her third album "Asas"(2007 Omagatoki) in Rio de Janeiro. On this brand new album,Cristovao Bastos(piano)and Joao Lyra(guitar), the two masters of Brazilian music have accompanied her Japanese and Brazilian songs of "Saudade",In October, she toured all over Japan with Joao Lyra.

While becoming an important figure in interpreting the music of Portuguese culture in Japan, Mio has collaborated with artists from all over the world, such as the already legendary Yamandú Costa (Brazil) and the inspired Jadranka Stojakovic (Sarajevo).Also in August, 2007, she was invited to Kodo's 20th Earth Celebration to sing among Giovanni Hidalgo,Zakir Hussein,Yosuke Yamashita,Tamango and Kodo.

Mio's unique singing style and sensibility reflects her colorful back ground and inspiring journeys.

Up Coming Shows...

2008-04-09T03:21:00.001-04:00

Raquel Tavares: New Album May 5th!!

2008-04-08T17:33:00.007-04:00

Recent and Exciting News from Fado.com:

Raquel Tavares:

New album, "Bairro," released on 5th may!!!

Live presentation day 7 may in teatro da trindade...

The fadista raquel tavares is preparing to edit a new work of originals, called "bairro" on may 5. the same will be presented live in the theatre of trinidad, in lisbon on may 7.

For the recording of "neighborhood", the winner of the 2006 prix revelation amália rodrigues, has remained faithful to the environment of the traditional fado, and with the musicians that followed in its debut record: diogo clemente in viola of fado, bernardo couto in the portuguese guitarra , and yami on acoustic bass. "bairro" still counted with the participation of special guest guilherme banza and angelo freire, the portuguese guitar players, and fatima fernandes, in the voice.

"Bairro" will be published in cd format and digipack. the latter contains a dvd consisting of a concert of raquel tavares recorded in namouche studios, in lisbon, on march 8, and two interviews: the raquel tavares and diogo clemente, producer and musical director of "bairro”

Hey Raquel, when are you coming to New York? I'll be first in line to buy a ticket and I know a couple of people that would be waiting right behind me...

I'm really looking forward to having her next album and DVD. She is taking the Fado world by storm and is by far one of the best, even though she's only 23. Check out her bio also provided by Fado.com (in Portuguese).

Raquel Tavares: Bio

Considerada pela imprensa como a nova Severa Lisboeta, Raquel Tavares tem o dom de ser Fadista.

Para ser intérprete, não basta saber cantar, colocar a voz e afinar nas notas da melodia; é importante criar, pegar na poesia e casá-la com a música, sugerir uma história, e Raquel faz isso de um modo perfeito.

Reconhecimento público pela artista já se fez sentir: a Fadista foi galardoada com o Prémio “Revelação Feminina do Fado”, atribuído pela fundação Amália Rodrigues e distinguida com o Troféu “Melhor Nova Voz do Fado”, pela Rádio Central FM de Leiria, que tem na sua Comissão de Honra figuras tão ilustres como o Presidente da República, Prof. Doutor Aníbal Cavaco Silva, ou o Primeiro-Ministro, Eng. José Sócrates.

A Fadista têm pisado palcos nacionais e internacionais, arrastando multidões, como foi o caso do espectáculo em Torres Novas neste verão, onde compareceram 3.000 pessoas para a verem cantar, ou o espectáculo na Casa da Música, no Porto, onde presenteou o público tocando Guitarra Portuguesa.

Com passos pequenos mas seguros, Raquel Tavares procura internacionalizar o seu trabalho, actuando em países como Espanha, Itália, Irlanda, Inglaterra, Turquia ou França.

Versátil, talentosa e até musa inspiradora, Raquel Tavares deu um espectáculo único em Junho deste ano, juntamente com o grande Tito Paris, na Festa do Fado em Lisboa, no Castelo de São Jorge, onde a fusão do fado tradicional com a música cabo-verdiana atingiu um expoente de magnificência, ao qual o público correspondeu, abandonando as cadeiras e juntando-se aos artistas, num agradecimento espontâneo e sincero.
É esta a história de Raquel Tavares, a história de uma cantadeira.

Raquel Tavares: Fado Lisboeta (From her debut album)

A.U.A. Presents: Best Fado Album 2007: Corre-me O Fado Nas Veias!!

2008-03-31T14:37:00.006-04:00

On Sunday, os Artistas Unidos da America (A.U.A.) held an award ceremony for artists that recorded an album in 2007. The gala was full of artists, fans, and media. It was nice to see that artists that weren't nominated for an award were there to support each other. The show was well organized and will be broadcast on the Portuguese Channel in the New England area some time this month.

The judges consisted of 10 people involved with the media. Here is a list of the winners for the Premios Lusiadas:

The big winner of the night was Jorge Silva with 4 awards. Dança Inglés "Cara Mia", Balada Inglés "Body to Body", Dança Português "Ana Maria", and Melhor Album de Musica Portuguesa "Ela Tem O Dor Fazer Chorar"

Raizes won in the Música Tradicional and Lusobeat's Online People's Choice Award Categories

Marc Dennis won Rock Português "Anos 70 e 80", and with Ana Lisa in the Duet category for "Foste Tu"

Jorge Ferreira won Best Marcha "Se Ela Encosta", and Best Baile "Deixa-me Ir Contigo"

Gilberto Cimbron won Álbum Humorístico

Arlindo Andrade won Balada Português "Dia de Casamento"

Luis Cabral won Instrumental "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights"

Eratoxica won Rock Inglés "Its OK"

Nelia won Melhor Album de Musica Portuguesa "Meu Mundo"

And me for my album "Corre-me O Fado Nas Veias" won Melhor Album de Fado

They also had a tribute to Jack Sebastião and awarded him with a Lifetime Achievement Award with a touching video of his performances and interviews.

I couldn't believe I won. I was sitting right next to Jeremias Macedo who was also nominated for the same award and I felt a little awkward when they called my name and announced that I won. He's been such a dear friend to me that it felt a little unfair. When I got on stage to receive my award I was overwhelmed with nerves because I didn't prepare a speech and I'm not the best public speaker especially when I'm under pressure. Honestly I don't really remember what I said and if I said it right. I was so busy trying to think about what to say that I don't think I realized how big of a deal it was until I looked at my dad. At the end of my speech I thanked him and told him that I dedicated the album to him so I wanted to dedicate the award to him as well, AND HE HAD TEARS IN HIS EYES!! My dad's one of those men that think that real men don't cry. In my 21 years of life I've only seen him cry 3 times. He was so proud. At that moment I realized how big of a deal it was and that this was one of the most important moments of my career.

Thank you, thank you, thank you:
Rob Leonardo (Digital Wave Multimedia), Sr. Viriato Ferreira, Sr. José Silva, Artistas Unidos da America, Vivian Francisco, Carlos & Kelly, Mom, Dad (No one worked harder on this album than you did) e toda a comunidade Portuguesa pelo vosso carinho e apoio!!!

Ana Moura @ Symphony Space!!

2008-03-31T13:36:00.004-04:00

Ever since I bought her album this summer in Portugal, Ana Moura's "Para Além Da Saudade" has been on repeat in my car... I can honestly say it is my favorite Fado album of all time with its diversity in Fados and originality. I was extremely disappointed when I didn't get the chance to see Ana Moura perform no Porto, Portugal like I planned to, but 2 weeks in Portugal doesn't give you too much time to do anything. But finally on Friday I saw Ana Moura's Concert at Symphony Space in NYC!!

The concert was amazing and full of surprises... The venue held about 700 people that were completely silent throughout the whole show. Ana Moura's performance was 90 minutes and not long enough! The guitarists couldn't be human, especially Angelo Freire on the Portuguese Guitar. He was unbelievable and only 19 years old!! After playing a guitarrada he also sang a Fado with Ana Moura and it turns out not only does he play well but he's a great singer too! A few songs later, another surprise... Tim Ries, The Rolling Stones' Saxophone player with whom Ana Moura is working on the Stones' Project with, came out and performed a few songs with her. Then she sang an amazing version of Barco Negro with the bass player, Filipe Larsen, modifying the Fado completely, turning it into the best version of the Fado I've ever heard. She also sang Fado Loucura without amplification like they do in the traditional Fado houses in Lisbon.

In order for Ana Moura to sing all of the Fados I wanted her to sing from her albums she would've had to been on stage for another 90 minutes... But all of the Fados on her setlist were well selected and really engaged the audience.

After the show was over, it seemed as though all of the young Fadistas from the Tri-State area were there; Michelle Pereira, Pedro Botas, Michael Da Silva, Diogo Arsenio, and I. We all got a chance to meet Ana Moura and besides from being the nicest and most simple Fadista I've ever met, she is stunningly beautiful!!

Here's a video of Ana Moura singing her latest single "Os Buzios" with the same guitarists that accompanied her in New York:

Below is an article of from the New York Times of the show:

March 31, 2008

Music Review | Ana Moura

Sorrow in Seductive Adornment

By JON PARELES

Sorrow wrapped in guitar filigree, elegant romance with a tragic undercurrent — that’s the tradition of Portuguese fado that Ana Moura joins. At Symphony Space on Friday night she started her World Music Institute concert facing not the audience but a band member: Angelo Freire on guitarra (Portuguese guitar), the round, high-strung instrument that’s inseparable from fado. She sang to the guitarra, begging it to break the silence and save her. She was dressed in black, with a shawl over her shoulders.

Fado (“fate”), which arose out of Lisbon cafes to become the most prized music of Portugal, takes itself that seriously. Every few songs in Ms. Moura’s set, she sang about fado itself. When she decided, just into her 20s, to sing fado rather than pop or rock, she had a fado written for her: “Sou do Fado, Sou Fadista” (“I Am of the Fado, I Am a Fado Singer”), a ballad that she sang on Friday more as a confession than a declaration. For one song she set aside the microphone to sing fado unamplified, as it is still sung in cafes and fado houses. Her voice swelled to fill Symphony Space.

In its most traditional form, fado is a collection of established melodies for which poets wrote sets of lyrics — analogous, in that way, to early blues. But fado is also, more flexibly, a musical style and a mindset. Along with Norah Jones and Sheryl Crow, Ms. Moura was asked to record Rolling Stones songs for an album produced by the Stones’ saxophonist, Tim Ries. On Friday night he sat in as she filled the Stones’ “No Expectations” with the pensive resignation of fado.

Her own group was a bare-bones trio: just Mr. Freire, José Elmiro Nunes on acoustic guitar and Filipe Larsen on acoustic bass guitar. They were all she needed to create fado’s slow-motion ballads or light-fingered oompahs, topped with the scurrying countermelodies of the guitarra. It’s music that exposes every vocal nuance, and Ms. Moura had nothing to hide. Her lush alto voice can be smoky and hesitant or clear and pointed, working up to a tremulous insistence that hints at fado’s Arabic connections. She made each song a series of small dramatic surges: glimmers of hope, hints of sensuality, passages of melancholy, glints of determination.

Fado isn’t always slow and mournful. Ms. Moura’s version of “Barco Negro,” a ghostly love song made famous by the queen of fado, Amália Rodrigues, had a swinging bass vamp while the musicians tapped percussively on their guitars. Ms. Moura’s fado never forgets about the music’s past, but it lives in the moment.

A Minha Madrinha do Fado: Anita Guerreiro!!

2008-03-25T10:04:00.000-04:00

At my most recent performance in Newark, I was honored with a mini ceremony that will always be a big part of me. Before my performance, Anita Guerreiro, a huge name in Fado, theater, and television, walked to the middle of the hall and introduced me and shared with the audience some advice she gave me to succeed that made her choke up while she reflected on her long artistic career. After placing the xaile over my shoulders, it was official: Anita Guerreiro é a Madrinha do Fado da Nathalie Pires!!

I was happy that both my parents were there to see it along with my Madrinha de baptismo, Fatima Brás, and her family. (She gave me the xaile that Anita placed on my shoulders for my album release party back in September.)

I proceeded by singing "Foi Deus," the Fado that started it all for me and it also happens to be the first Fado Anita ever sang... It was a memorable night and I'm very proud to say "que a minha Madrinha do Fado é a grande Anita Guerreiro!"

My trip to Florida...

2008-03-14T14:38:00.013-04:00

For the first time in my Fado career, I traveled by airplane to one of my performances, my first performance in Florida!! When I arrived in Tampa, I had the pleasure of meeting Jose Do Carmo, a Fadista who used to live in Philadelphia but now resides in Florida. It was nice to meet him because he sang Fado with my father and now over 20 years later he's singing with me. Shortly thereafter, we met up with Sr. Viriato, Sr. Silva, and Jose Carlos, who were exhausted from the trip and their lack of sleep because they saw Rodrigo, a huge name in Fado, perform in Rhode Island the night before.

Later that night we arrived at a Portuguese club in St. Petersburg which was hosting a wine tasting and Fado event with about 300 people. It was a great crowd which made it a great show. I was told before the show that the audience usually likes to leave early so we should try to end the show before midnight, but it was 1am and the crowd still wanted more Fado. I ended with "Fadinho da Ti Maria Benta" and by the end of the Fado, the audience were all on their feet dance folklore with me!! It was wonderful but too short of a trip.

Thank you Sr. Henrique Chipelo, Sr. Luis Filipe Carvalho, and the rest of the organization of the club for the invitation and thank you Sra. Lina Baltazar for your hospitality and "grande amizade como sempre!" I hope to return to Florida soon...

A.U.A. Presents "Espetaculo de Apresentacao do Premio Lusiada"

2008-03-04T18:45:00.004-05:00

"Corre-me O Fado Nas Veias" is nominated for an award!!

It was recognized by os Artistas Unidos da America.

Also...
The AUA and Lusobeat have teamed up to ask you to vote
for your favorite artist for this years first annual AUA/Lusobeat People's Choice Award!
www.lusobeat.com

Anita Guerreiro

2008-03-04T17:11:00.008-05:00

On March 1st I had the pleasure of getting to know and performing with Anita Guerreiro in Virginia. If you haven't seen her in one of her many plays or soap operas, then I'm positive that you are familiar with her 1969 mega-hit "Cheira Bem, Cheira a Lisboa." Anita Guerreiro shared with me some of her experiences and memories from her successful career on television , theaters, stages around the world, and Fado houses. We also spoke about other Fadistas: her relationship with the Diva of Fado, Amalia Rodrigues; her Madrinha de Casamento, Herminia Silva; Lenita Gentil with whom she sings with at O Faia, the Fado house she sings at; and younger Fadistas like Mariza, Raquel Tavares, Ricardo Ribeiro, and Ana Moura.

It was a lot of fun hanging around Anita Guerreiro. There's a soap opera that she was in "Olhos de Agua" that is currently airing in the United States where she plays "Celeste." Every where she went, she was bombarded with many surprised and excited fans calling her "Celeste" and begging to take pictures with her and bribing her to tell them how the soap opera ends. She was really cool about it and never turned anyone down.

When it was time to perform, I was really nervous because at this event we were singing Fado the traditional way, without microphones which I love, but when a professional singer from a Fado house is in the same room who sings without a mic every night for a living for so many years, I started to doubt myself. Luckily my performance went great. But when Anita Guerreiro performed, the audience was singing along with her and interacting with her and everyone loved her jokes. She was a huge hit. It was amazing and she claimed she was tired from her flight the day before, I can't imagine a better or more energetic performance.

After performing at the event, I was hoping she would critique my performance even though I knew it would take a lot to impress someone like her. It wasn't until the next day that she mentioned my performance. She told me to call her the next time I go to Portugal because she wants to go with me to Joao Baiao's daytime television show "Portugal no Coracao" and introduce me herself. I was extremely honored when she also offered to be my Madrinha do Fado!!

I will have the privilege of performing once again with Anita Guerreiro March 15th at "Lar Dos Leoes" in Newark, New Jersey. Come watch if you're in the area. She gives a show that you don't want to miss!!

Anita Guerreiro's Biography from Fado.com

Uma das atracções mais típicas e queridas da revista, Anita Guerreiro continua ainda hoje a trabalhar e a ser uma autêntica preferida do público, embora actualmente na televisão, onde participa regularmente em telenovelas e séries de comédia.

Tal como muitos outros, Anita Guerreiro começou, com apenas sete anos, por ser uma das "miúdas", fadistas infantis que ficavam identificados com o bairro de onde vinham - sendo "a miúda do Intendente", bairro onde nascera em 1936.

Com apenas quinze anos de idade, em 1952, Anita Guerreiro (nome artístico, pois o seu verdadeiro nome é Bebiana Cardinalli) concorria a um passatempo do popular programa radiofónico Combóio das Seis e Meia.

Espantado com o que ouvia, o produtor do programa, Marques Vidal, convidou-a imediatamente para se juntar ao elenco e, poucas semanas depois, estreava-se como fadista no Café Luso. E antes de completar os vinte anos, era já vedeta de revista, género em que se estreou em 1955.

A Anita Guerreiro se deve a criação de um fado-canção que ficou na boca do povo e até Amalia gravou: Cheira a Lisboa, que criou em 1969 na revista Peço a Palavra.

Ironicamente, pouco depois desse sucesso colossal, Anita Guerreiro afastou-se da revista durante mais de uma década, apenas regressando em 1982. Mantém-se entretanto activa como fadista, cantando em casas de fados e actuando no estrangeiro.

The Future of Fado: Jovens Guitarristas!!

2008-03-04T17:11:00.002-05:00

Five years ago, during one of my performances in my hometown of Perth Amboy, NJ, I met a boy, Michael da Silva, one year younger than I that told me that he loved Fado and was learning to play the guitar in hopes to accompany Fadistas in the future. His teacher is Alberto Resende, who besides from being an extremely talented guitarist, he also makes Portuguese and classic guitars and gives guitar lessons. Throughout the years, whenever I had the chance of being accompanied by Sr. Resende, I always asked him about his student and his progress. In October after my performance at the grand opening of Solar do Minho in Roselle Park, Michael approached me all grown up and told me that he's serious about Fado and that he found another young man, Diogo Arsenio who resides in NYC, that is learning to play the Portuguese guitar. After exchanging numbers, a few months later we finally met up to rehearse a few Fados and I am convinced that they are who are going to continue our tradition of Fado for the next generations to come. I am so happy to have met them and when we perform together I feel so proud to be on stage with them and an inexplicable feeling falls over me. I wish them all of the success in the world.

Alfama Restaurant, NYC with Michelle Pereira

2008-02-29T13:49:00.006-05:00

Its been awhile since I've posted anything on my blog but so much has been going on that I want to catch you up on what I've been up to... In this post I will share with you how I began the new year.

Since meeting Michelle Pereira in Gloucester, Massachusetts back in October, we haven't lost touch. Since she lives in New York City, we decided to meet for dinner one Wednesday night where we knew that a restaurant in New York's West Village, Alfama Restaurant, has live Fado. The house Fadistas were my longtime friends Elizabeth Maria and Cora D'Abreu and the guitarists were my mentors from the beginning of my career, Alberto Resende and Francisco Chuva. Michelle and I enjoyed the cozy ambient and she shared with me her experience as a Fadista singing in Fado houses in Lisbon, performing on Broadway, and her plans for the future as an artist. The other Fadistas persuaded us to sing so we sang our Fados and I also had the pleasure of singing Maria Lisboa with her.We spent the rest of our evening conversing and sharing our stories about Fado alongside Sr. Chuva who later joined us at our table while we ate our delicious meals.

I had a great time and hope to return to Alfama Restaurant soon on a Wednesday night!!
To get to know Michelle Pereira better, watch this promo video of her and visit her myspage page. Remember her name, I'm positive you'll be hearing it more often...

www.myspace.com/lusoamericana

Nathalie Pires in Fado.com!!

2008-01-09T14:26:00.000-05:00

I have been included in the list of today's artists in Fado.com!! I am in a list amongst so many Fadistas that I admire;
Ana Moura, Argentina Santos, Camane, Carlos Do Carmo, Cidalia Moreira, Katia Guerreiro, Mafalda Arnauth, Maria Ana Bobone, Mariza, Misia, Raquel Tavares, Ricardo Ribeiro, Rodrigo, Tereza Tarouca, and so many others....
Visit Fado.com to see for yourself!!

Nathalie Pires: Portugues

Nasceu a 29 de Abril de 1986. Manifestou desde muito jovem o gosto pela música e o canto, participando em todas as actividades relacionadas com a arte de expressar os sentimentos através de sons.

Frequentou a escola portuguesa, e estudou piano e voz, participando também em vários coros do Woodbridge High School, ganhando vários prémios a nível estadual e nacional.

Pode dizer-se que a Nathalie nasceu na música tendo como guia seu pai, um músico e cantor de longa data. Participou em várias actuações de música ligeira com seu pai, e também como solista. Cresceu numa casa onde o fado foi sempre apreciado, respeitado e ouvido com devoção.

A sua artista favorita é a saudosa Amália Rodrigues..

A Nathalie cantou fado desde muito tenra idade com acompanhamentos orquestrados, não obstante foi só aos 13 anos de idade que cantou acompanhada à viola e à guitarra, a convite do empresário português Sr. Jaime Simões, numa noite de fados por ele organizada na cidade natal da Nathalie, Perth Amboy, New Jersey.

E foi assim que tudo começou, já estava destinada o ser fadista. Após essa noite e apesar de ter sido convidada em repetidas ocasiões a cantar canções da música ligeira, a Nathalie passou a rejeitar ditos convites porque o FADO já tinha acontecido.

Passa a ser convidada a cantar fado em muitos palcos, acompanhada pelos mais diversos guitarristas e fadistas que a souberam acarinhar e encorajar, em maravilhosas noites de fado e amizade.

A imprensa fez comentários muito favoráveis a esta jovem fadista e o caminho ficou aberto para atingir novos horizontes.

Decorre o ano 2000, com catorze anos de idade é-lhe dada a oportunidade de actuar na Adega Machado, no Bairro Alto em Lisboa.

Apesar de ter sido uma actuação breve de apenas dois fados, foi marcante para a jovem fadista partilhar com a consagrada artista Maria José Valério, e pisar o palco onde tantos fadistas de raça deixaram a sua marca, incluindo a sua ídolo Amália Rodrigues.

A Nathalie tem actuado com frequência nos estados de New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island e Massachusetts.

O fado terá sempre um lugar privilegiado na sua vida e estará disposta a interpretar a canção nacional, sempre e quando lhe seja possível.

Nathalie Pires: English

Nathalie Pires was born to Portuguese immigrant parents on April 29, 1986.

Nathalie’s father, Telmo Pires, is a composer/musician and performed as a lead vocalist with several Portuguese bands in the United States for about 15 years. Nathalie’s parents had both emigrated from mainland Portugal to the United States of America in 1982, even though her grandfather Jaime Batista, was also born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, to Portuguese immigrants in 1931. The Batista and Pires families have been living in the U.S. since the early 1900’s.

Nathalie revealed her interest in music from a very early age, participating in all activities related with the art of expressing feelings through sounds. She attended the Portuguese school at the local Portuguese Club where she directed a children’s choir for the school, took piano and singing lessons, and she also participated in choirs such as Women’s Allstate Choir of New Jersey, Regional Choir of Central New Jersey, and several different Woodbridge High School choirs and theatrical plays, earning several awards at state and national level.

It’s right to say that Nathalie was born into music, she spent a lot of her childhood sleeping on the keyboard boxes backstage while her father performed, then later performed occasionally with her father since she was 6 years old, and also as a soloist since she was 9. She grew up in a house where fado music was always appreciated, respected and heard with devotion.

Nathalie is currently an accounting student, at Rider University in New Jersey.

Nathalie was accustomed to singing Fado and Pop songs backed with musical playbacks until she was 13 years old, and at that very age was when everything really happened, with an invitation from a Portuguese entrepreneur Mr. Jaime Simões, to sing accompanied by a “Portuguese Guitar” and a “Classical Guitar” for the very first time, in a fado night organized by Mr. Simões at the Portuguese Sporting Club, in Nathalie’s native city of Perth Amboy, New Jersey.

After that night, Nathalie was invited on repeated occasions to sing Pop songs, but she rejected all invitations, because a fadista (Fado singer) was finally born that night.

Accepting all invitations to sing Fado, she performed in many different stages accompanied by great guitarists and other Fadistas learning the essence of Fado on every performance.

The press made favorable commentaries about the young Fadista and a new path was created, opening the way to reach new horizons.

In 2000, at fourteen years old, she was given the chance to perform at a legendary and popular Fado restaurant “Adega Machado” located in Bairro Alto, Lisbon. Although it was a brief performance of only two fados, the young Fadista had the honor to perform with the famous singer Maria José Valério, and to step on the same stage where many great Fadistas from the past had left a priceless mark, including Nathalie’s idol the fado diva and very much missed, the late, ‘Amália Rodrigues’.

Nathalie often performs in the states of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts and has also performed in Ontario, Canada.

Fado will always have a privileged place in Nathalie’s life, and to sing Portugal’s soul music is a pleasure and an honor.

Newspaper Clippings...

2007-12-27T11:18:00.000-05:00

#1 on Lusobeat!!

2007-12-27T11:07:00.000-05:00

Madrugada da Alfama has been #1 on Lusobeat.com for 2 weeks!!

THIS WEEK'S LUSOBEAT 10 - COUNTDOWN

1. NATHALIE PIRES - MADRUGADA DE ALFAMA

2. ELYZIUM – UM NOVO DIA

3. ELYZIUM – NA DISCOTECA

4. DAVID DEMELO - ESPERO POR TI

5. GILBERTO CIMBRON – NATAL E TODAY

6. MAURICIO MORAIS - VEM LINDA TRANSMONTANA

7. MAURICIO MORAIS - YESTERDAY

8. NELIA – ERREI POR TE AMAR

9. SONHOS DE PORTUGAL – QUERO ACENDER TEU FOGO

10. DAVID DEMELO – MANDA VIR

Thank you to the Lusobeat community, Jimmy "Jam" Ferreira, and a very special thank you to everyone that voted!!

Happy Holidays!!

2007-11-28T20:02:00.000-05:00

Nathalie is the French spelling of the name Natalie, meaning the girl of Christmas.

It's Christmas time and the year is almost over. I've accomplished so much in one year... I've visited so many places I had never gone before, met so many people and made respectable friendships, and performed in locations I will never forget.

Some of my most memorable performances include my first time in Ontario, Canada, which turned me into an "international" artist, Massachusetts State House in Boston where I performed for Dr. Guilherme Silva, Vice-Presidente da Assembleia da República de Portugal, W Hotel-Union Square in New York City where I represented Portugal for a Starwood Hotels promotional event of Spain and Portugal, also a performance at the United Nations in New York City where I was invited by João Salgueiro, Ambassador of Portugal for the UN, to represent Portugal in front of many other ambassadors from different countries amongst many other performances.

I have also recorded my first album Corre-me O Fado Nas Veias in Digital Wave Multimedia Studio with Rob Leonardo in Fall River, Massachusetts in May and released it on September 22nd in my hometown of Perth Amboy in New Jersey. The album includes 11 of my most favorite Fados, 3 original Fados written by my father, Telmo Pires, and 2 guitarradas interpreted by Viriato Ferreira who played the classical guitar and Jose Silva who played the 1st and 2nd guitar and the bass throughout my whole album. The album has been a huge success and I have already sold more than 500 copies since its release, solely during my performances.

I also launched my website in the beginning of the year created by my father to help me connect with my audience and to let them know a little about myself. Which reminds me... Check out my website www.nathaliepires.com. We've included a special Christmas surprise for the remainder of the holidays.

I've come a long way... In 2006 I only had 4 performances, this year I've had 24! Therefore, I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone that has helped me have such a successful and surreal year. Thank you...

Gloria Melo, for being the one responsible for my return to Fado and was also my guest of honor at my cd release party.

Peter Pacheco, who's responsible for most of my performances in Connecticut and with whom I have developed a friendship with.

Enca Melo, who's responsible for inviting me to the most memorable performances to date and for taking a chance with me!

Jose Carlos Azevedo, who's responsible for the majority of my performances in the New England area and made me an international artist by also inviting me to Ontario, Canada. He also sang and awed everyone at my album release party and I hope he knows I will be forever grateful for all he has done and continues to do for me. Thank you for spoiling me!

Rob Leonardo for recording my album in roughly one week with high quality in your studio Digital Wave Multimedia and for giving me great additional opportunities like the upcoming project LusoOnline.com.

Viriato Ferreira and Jose Silva, I'm thankful for all of your exceptional and hard work during the recording of my album and also during all of our performances together. However, I am truly blessed to have you and your friendship in my life. I will always appreciate all the advice, support, and encouragement you have given me. You are family to me now. I really can't thank you both enough! You have taught me so much about Fado and life; lessons I will never forget.

Vivian Francisco, for your tireless support, all of your help on my album and album release party (along with Paulo and the rest of the direccao from the Portuguese Sporting Club), and for being my #1 stalker, I mean fan.

Carlos Velazquez and Kelly Gilbride for the 10,000 beautiful pictures, motivation, and also for giving me a big head :)

Thank you to all of the guitarists that have accompanied me throughout the year. Irmaos Lima! Tony and Abel, thank you for everything! Every time we perform together I always have so much fun with you guys. I hope that we'll have many many more! Thank you for your friendship and for the music!! Manuel Leite and Fontes Mota, thank you for all of your advice and kind words. I'm so glad to have met you this year. Francisco Chuva and Alberto Resende, thank you for the countless years of support! I learned the essentials of Fado from you guys and I will never forget it. I'm glad we had the chance to catch up once again this year.

I also want to thank the media that has supported me so much this year! Sr. Martins, Joao Machado, and Luso Americano, Francisco Resendes and Portuguese Times, Jornal da Bairrada, Luis Pires and SPT, RTPi, Ricardo Farias, Dinisio Garcia, and Radio Globo, Radio Norte, Radio Bom Dia, Radio Horizonte, Radios in Connecticut, and any other media outlets I may have missed.

Thank you to my fellow "Fadista friends" especially Jeremias Macedo, Tania, Elizabeth Maria, and Jorge Queresma for your support and encouragement.

Mom and Dad. Without you two none of this would've been possible. Thank you for all of your support. Especially you Dad. Thank you for everything you have done for me. Without you, I wouldn't be on this crazy journey. You're responsible for the creation of my website, my album, and so much more. It's because of you that I have this love for Fado. I owe you everything. I'm so lucky to have you and it's because of you that I have gotten this far. Thank you so much for everything and I love you!!

And finally, thank you to everyone who has come out to see me perform and to everyone who has bought my album. Thank you for your support and for motivating me to continue with my passion for Fado... I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

October 13 - 20...

2007-10-17T19:49:00.000-04:00

This past week was pretty hectic for me... Between performances and midterm exams this has been one of my most stressful yet exciting weeks ever!

Sunday, I started off my week driving back from my performance in Bradford, Ontario, Canada which took me 10 hours each way!! The trip was worth it though. Not only did I get to perform in Canada for the first time (my first contract out of the USA), but I also got to visit family. It was great but too short of a stay...

On Monday I had a midterm exam for my Accounting class which is 25% of my final grade.

On Tuesday I performed at the UNITED NATIONS in New York City for the "Recepcao de Abertura da Quinzena Gastronomica de Portugal" where Jose Silva, Viriato Ferreira, and I performed 2 hours straight!
I met many different ambassadors from many different countries such as Russia, Norway, Zimbabwe, and others who showed great interest in Fado. I owe this wonderful experience to Joao Salgueiro, the Portuguese Ambassador, who invited me to perform at this event and of course Enca Melo, a representative for icep, who made it happen! Since we where already in the city I took Viriato and Silva on a mini 1 hour NYC site-seeing trip around Central Park, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Radio City Music Hall, Times Square, and the World Trade Center. We all had so much fun.

On Thursday I had my Social and Legal Environmental Business Law midterm exam first thing in the morning worth 30% of my final grade.

Friday I left for Lowell, Massachusetts for my first performance ever in this city where
I was warmly welcomed by everyone involved in organizing the event and also the audience. I did the show with Jose Carlos (who is always a pleasure to perform with) and we were accompanied by the "super guitarristas" Viriato Ferreira and Jose Silva. I ended my performance with "Povo Que Lavas No Rio" sung without a microphone as someone in the audience suggested during intermission and it was a huge hit and a great way to end the night. I owe the night to Marco Bettencourt who invited me to perform and also is responsible for putting my album on the surrounding radio stations. I had a lot of fun on Friday night and met a lot of great people.

Finally Saturday I had a performance in the beautiful town of Gloucester. The other Fadistas that sang for the event included Tania DaSilva, Jose Carlos, Jose Ribeiro, and a surprise performance by Michelle Pereira who has a background in Broadway and has also performed in Fado houses in Lisbon. We all had the pleasure of performing with 4 guitarists; Tony & Abel Lima, Jose Mota, and Manuel Leite.

This week was tough for me because I had to juggle one of the most demanding weeks of school with the busiest week on my Fado agenda to date. I feel great and extremely satisfied... After this week, I feel I am capable of any challenges that may come way. I am both a student and a Fadista.

A estudante universitaria Nathalie Pires passou na disciplina do Fado

2007-10-03T12:56:00.001-04:00

Newspaper Clippings for September...

2007-09-16T23:48:00.001-04:00

"Fado Season"

2007-09-16T14:55:00.000-04:00

I'm back from Portugal, the summer's over, the fall semester has begun, and "Fado Season" is in full affect! I have my schedule full with school assignments and Fado outings. Check out my Fado agenda for the fall...

September:
9/08: Hudson, MA
9/22 : Perth Amboy, NJ

October:
10/03: Roselle Park, NJ
10/06: Newark, NJ
10/13: Bradford, Ontario, Canada
10/16: New York, NY (United Nations)
10/19: Lowell, MA
10/20: Gloucester, MA
10/27: Waterbury, CT

November:
11/10: Peabody, MA
11/17: Danbury, MA
11/24: Hartford, CT
11/30: Newark, NJ

December:
12/1: Newark, NJ

My album is finally complete and ready to be released!! I'm currently preparing my CD release party which is NEXT WEEK!! My closest friends and my whole family will be there which means the pressure is on.

Mariza conquering the world!!

2007-07-17T00:32:00.000-04:00

Mariza has accomplished a lot these past few years but what's to come is probably going to be her most memorable yet!!

She was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for her album "Concerto Em Lisboa" in the category of 'Best Folk Album'. The award ceremony will be broadcast on November 8 at 8pm on Univision! The first Portuguese artist EVER to be nominated for a Latin Grammy!

She will perform live on The Late Show with David Letterman on October 11 on CBS at 11:30pm.

Architect Frank Gehry will design a set for her performance on October 28 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall that will resemble a Lisbon tavern and also design her dress!

She will begin recording her next album in January 2008! When does this woman sleep? Rock on Mariza!!

UPDATE:
Watch Mariza's performance from the Late Show with David Letterman...

My First Photo Shoot!

2007-07-15T18:21:00.001-04:00

Remember picture day at school when you would have to "fake a smile" at a photographer in an awkward pose and hope for the best? Well that was a lot easier than what I had to do yesterday.

Modeling is definitely not my thing. I don't know what my problem is! I can sing in front of hundreds of people and feel confident but I shy away from a camera. But still, I got a lot of amazing pictures from it. The last picture I had taken was my high school graduation picture which was so terrible we didn't even buy any prints. I am blown away by the outcome of yesterday's photo shoot. We took pictures in front of a screen and at the beach. It was funny because there was a wedding party and a sweet sixteen being photographed there at the same part of the beach and at the same time. The people walking by must of been wondering why I was wearing all black and looking so sad. They were probably like, "what occasion is that girl celebrating?" Hahahahaha!!
I also got to meet two of the coolest people alive, Kelly and Carlos Velazquez, the photographer, who were extremely patient with me and always thinking outside the box which is exactly what I wanted! But I owe this whole experience to Vivian Francisco, who not only recommended the photographer but also made me look beautiful AND happens to be my #1 fan! Thank you, thank you, thank you Vivian, Kelly, and Carlos! You guys are awesome!

Guess Where I'll be August 11 & 12...

2007-07-13T10:44:00.001-04:00

Um Porto De Fado
Casa De Musica
Porto, Portugal

Ricardo Parreira
Ana Moura
Raquel Tavares
Carlos do Carmo

Don't be jealous!

"Corre-me O Fado Nas Veias" - DONE!!

2007-07-11T13:58:00.000-04:00

WooHoo! My album is done, I have the master!! The recording is over, the mixing is done, the pictures were taken, and the layout is complete!! All that's left to do is wait for Disk Makers to slice it and dice it and then I'll have the hard copy in my hands.
Thank you Rob Leonardo (Digital Wave Multimedia), Sr. Jose Silva e a sua esposa, Viriato Ferreira e familia, Tania DaSilva (for keeping me company in the studio!), Ricardo Farias (Radio Globo), Fransisco Resendes (Portuguese Times), Jose Carlos Azevedo & Jeremias Macedo (for ALL your help and support), Vivian! Vivian! Vivian!, Carlos and Kelly (the photographer), O direccao do clube de Perth Amboy, mom, and most importantly, Dad! Papa! My Hero!

W Hotel - Union Square, NYC!

2007-06-28T00:19:00.003-04:00

What an experience! I will never forget this event. It was like a scene right out of a movie. This event was so important to me that I even got my make-up done! I felt like a star.

First of all, I love New York! Any trip to New York is automatically a great one. When I arrived at the W Hotel, I couldn't believe that places like that really existed... The hotel had grass inside; Yes, grass! 5 estrelas! A "standard" hotel room was more luxurious than any other hotel room I have ever seen before. I met with so many wonderful people. I owe this night to Sra. Enca Melo, who took a chance on inviting me without ever having heard me before. She made me, Sr. Viriato and Sr. Silva (the guitarists who came to New York from Massachusetts and Rhode Island and missed a day of work just to accompany me) feel at ease throughout the whole event. This event was a "Starwood Hotels" promotion for Spain and Portugal and I represented Portugal. I met with people from Tap Airlines, various reporters, the Portuguese Ambassador for the United Nations, and many other people who were simply fans of Fado. I sang for about 40 minutes and it flew by so quickly. I couldn't believe it was all over. But when it was I received an invitation to sing at the United Nations in October! I was blown away. I was smiling so hard the whole night, my face started to hurt. After the event, I went up to Sr. Jose Silva's room to change clothes and I climbed out the window to see the view of Park Avenue (from the 19th floor) and it was beautiful with all of it's lights (from the buildings and traffic) and lightning behind the buildings from far away. It was the perfect way to end the evening. I had the time of my life. I will never forget this performance.

Provincetown!

2007-06-25T13:28:00.001-04:00

On Friday night, after 8 hours on the road I finally arrived in Provincetown, Cape Cod, Massachusetts for their Portuguese Festival! It was about 2am and even though the whole town was asleep, it was beautiful. All you could see were dunes and stars. (I also saw 2 shooting stars!)

The next morning I woke up early, had breakfast outdoors and rented a bicycle to discover the town on my own. I stopped at The Pilgrim Monument were I ran up 60 ramps and 116 steps to see the breathtaking view of all of Provincetown. It was so great because I could hear the "castanholas" from the "rancho" dancing on one of the streets and I could see all of the Portuguese flags waving around the town and of course all of the boats and the ocean. I spent the rest of the afternoon going to shops and watching the Provincetown Portuguese Parade. At 7:30 it was time for the Fado event of the festival where the audience can enjoy a free performance and some wine on the waterfront. The performers included Celia Maria, Daniel Guerra, Tania DaSilva, Jose Carlos, Jorge Ramos, and I as fadistas and Manuel Leite, Jose Silva, and Viriato Ferreira on the guitars. Ricardo Farias of Radio Globo presented the show and of course it was thanks to Liliana De Sousa who organized the event that I participated in the festival. The event attracted a big audience of around 600 people and lasted about 3 and 1/2 hours. It was a wonderful evening.

After the show, I enjoyed the Bossa Triba and the Berkshire Bateria Samba who performed on the street and it was a great way to end the night. The musicians were amazing and had the whole crowd dancing. I've never seen anything like it. The trip was so much fun and I definitely recommend Provincetown to anyone that is looking for somewhere to escape to from their daily routine.

It's All In Your Head!!

2007-06-15T14:43:00.000-04:00

Has anyone ever video taped you while you spoke and then when you watched it back you were surprised at how you sounded? You think to yourself, I don't sound like that! Well guess what: You Do!! That's kind of the dilemma I'm in at the moment. Yesterday I heard the final mix down of the 14 tracks I recorded a month ago. The guitars are beautiful, just perfect, and the sound quality is the real deal, and then I hear that thin, bright voice -- MY VOICE! I know I'm no Ana Moura or Norah Jones, but I would give my left pinkie for a little more depth in my voice. When I'm actually singing, I don't hear myself like I do when I hear it played back. I researched it and this is why...

According to Dan Berger, a MadSci Administrator, "when you hear your own voice, it's not being transmitted to your ear in the same way as it is to someone else's ear. When you hear someone else speaking, the sound -- after being shaped by the resonating cavities in the person's head -- travels through the air to your ear, where it is collected and focused onto your eardrum. The eardrum vibrates, vibrations are transferred to the middle ear, and from there to the inner ear where they are converted into electrical signals that travel to your brain. But when you hear yourself speak, most of the sound doesn't pass through your eardrum and may not pass through your middle ear. Instead, the sound is conducted through your skull bones and reaches the ear by direct transfer to either the middle or the inner ear. Furthermore, the sound you hear from your own voice is not shaped by the cavities in your head because it is transmitted directly by the bones of the head and never passes through the air in those cavities."