Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Carmen Souza Press Kit




Carmen Souza_Bio

Carmen was born 26 years ago in Lisbon within a Christian family of Cape Verdeans. When very young she experienced the "Sodade" feeling of missing someone with the long absence of her father due to his work at sea.
She grew up in a mixed environment of Creole, the Cape Verde dialect her parents spoke at home, and Portuguese, always surrounded by the Cape Verdean way of life.

Carmen started singing professionally at the age of 17 in a Lusophone Gospel Choir named 'Shout' and since then she has participated in several projects from Funky to Soul, Jazz and World music, with whom she toured extensively. Her compositions were also included in albums released by projects where she participated has singer.

Being a strong spiritual person, Carmen always saw music has her mission and feels privileged to have the opportunity to express herself through it, working hard everyday to deserve that opportunity. Musicians like Theo Pas’cal, Luis Morais, Joe Zawinul, Herbie Hancock, Erika Badu, Lauryn Hill, Yellow Jackets, Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, Steps Ahead, Keith Jarret, Norah Jones, Diane Krall, Stevie Wonder, etc, are definitely the ones that truly inspire her evolution and search for a personal style different from anything you have ever heard.

Theo Pas'cal, her producer and mentor and one of the best bass players in Portugal, was the one to discover her talent and introduce Carmen to Jazz, Fusion and other contemporary sounds that also influenced her.

In 2003, together with Theo, Carmen started working in the compositions that would be included in her debut album "Ess ê nha Cabo Verde". Carmen wanted to create a new and unique sound in her ancestors dialect, Creole, that would mix traditional African and Cape Verde rhythms like Batuke, Morna, Cola djon, and others, with her jazz/soul contemporary influences, in a totally intimate and acoustic vibe, different from the traditional festive environment of Cape Verdean sounds.

Carmen Souza_Discography


Debut release of 'Ess ê nha Cabo Verde' (This is my Cape Verde)
'Ess ê nha Cabo Verde', released in 2005, received great reviews from the Cape Verde press not only in Cape Verde but also in USA and was considered by the critics as a reflection of Cape Verdean music evolution. The album made it to playlists on several radio programs in countries like: Portugal, Spain, UK, France, Germany, Holland, Poland, Russia, Cape Verde and USA and is also distributed in several countries.
This album was suported by RDP ÁFRICA, the only Portuguese radio member of EBU.

Ess ê nha Cabo Verde – Special Roots edition
Pré-released in June2006
"For 2006, a new version of the CD called “Ess E Nha Cabo Verde –Special Roots edition” was released that completely reworked the songs, emphasising the qualities of her voice, and the strength of the African rhythms. While her Creole lyrics and the Cape Verdean percussion are fundamental to the sound, her compositions and soulful voice have taken on a contemporary quality with more than a nod towards jazz. The sound is underpinned by one of Portugal’s greatest jazz bass players, Theo Pas’cal (hear the influence of artists like Jaco Pastorius in his playing), while the piano and drums further support this modern interpretation. The percussion and backing vocals of Orlanda Guilande (Mozambique/Portugal) add another element of warmth and energy to the mix..."
John Warr (AfroBase at www.totallyradio.com -UKRadio),2006 Uk
“Carmen Souza’s latest album, ‘Ess ê Nha Cabo Verde-Special Roots edition’ resonates with the rhythms of Cabo Verde as does a sea-shell held to the ear.
Born a generation away from the shores of the islands Carmen (vocals, guitar, keyboards) reaches deep into her spirit, her roots, to compose lyrics of profound sincerity and freshness.
Orlanda Guilande (backing vocals, African drum/percussion) has a voice that demonstrates power and yet gentle restraint. Clearly sharing a special sister-ship with Carmen, they weave a harmony of clear purity and balance.
‘Ess ê Nha Cabo Verde’ is composed, produced and arranged by Carmen’s mentor Theo Pas’cal (bass, double bass, keyboards, Afro jazz guitars and percussion). His intelligent musical workmanship guides the tracks through a satisfying array of complex rhythms. The gentle mixed skipping of batuque and kilampanga is heard in the opening track ‘Mar na Corazon’ (Sea in my Heart). The effect envelopes the senses in such sweet, sad elemental reflections and draws the listener away to a personal musical baptism.
‘Nha Vida Nha Flor’ (track 7) creates a distinctive sound with cleverly mixed funana (fast risqué dancing beat) with morna (blues). ‘Esperanca e Consol’ (track 8) uses a mixture of Cuban rhythms, coladeira and salsa clave.
This album creates a unique mix of Cape Verde/roots/jazz and needs to make no apology to any purist that needs to identify recognisable traditions. The result of this collaboration of irrefutable musical expertise and smooth wholesome harmonies has produced a perfect pearl.”
Marilyn Pannett, Littlehampton Gazette, 2006 UK
Carmen Souza_ on stage



















Carmen Souza international solo live debut happen in July 2005 during the Womad Festival in Reading-UK, by the hand of BBC3 on their "World on your street stage”. The public present responded enthusiastically, buying all the records at Womad Shop and characterizing the concert at BBC3 Website like: "A celebration! Inspiring! Uplifting! Calming! I first heard Carmen Souza at Womad and felt the warmth and strength in her voice. It was a wonderful and peaceful experience-one which I was determined to repeat...", "The concert was amazing really simple but really rich at the same time....it gave me such a peace...", "Caught this at Womad and it was really immediate and beautiful music, poignant and uplifting at the same time...".



JUNE 2006-Almost one year after her performance at Womad Festival by the hand of BBC3, Carmen Souza returns in June 2006 to UK to perform 5 concerts, to an audience that so much enjoyed her music. The intimate environment lived at her previous concerts, totally inspired the creation and composition of a new Special roots edition of her debut album that was the base of this UK Tour.
Momo’s Club Review- London By Michael Mills on capeverdeinlondon.co.uk

“Her velvety voice filled the intimate venue and hipnotised the audience.The multi-talented Carmen, changing from keyboard to guitar and back again, performed songs from her excellent recently released album, 'Ess ê nha Cabo Verde: Special Roots Edition.' She was joined on stage by her producer Theo Pas'cal on bass, with Paulo Sérgio on piano and Orlanda Guilande on backvocals and percussion. Orlanda's voice excellently complimented that of Carmen's.If I were to categorise the style of music I would say that it was probably afro/jazz. Carmen Souza is a highly talented musician who will definitely have a great following. I think she would go down very well at one of London's more music orientated venues, such as the Jazz Cafe or Pizza in the Park. I hope she returns soon to these shores, because she has definitely found a new fan. At the end of the performance, cries of 'encore, encore!' were heard from the audience, so I am obviousy not the only one..."



JULY 2006-In 2006 Carmen Souza was also invited to play at the Toronto’s 18th annual AFROFEST main stage becoming the first Cape Verdean singer to perform at this Festival, the biggest African music and culture event in North America. She was also the best Cd selling artist at the Festival.
She also played at the Small World Music Summer Festival:Global Café at Lula Lounge, Toronto and Festival Calgary AfrikaDey sharing the stage with artists like Salif Keita.

2007-In February 2007 Carmen album was consider the best world music album by the Canadian world music radio VILLAGE 900 from Vancouver,BC. In June Carmen will play again in UK, July in Canada and South Korea in October.

She’s already preparing her new album that will continue to mix her several influences and will count on the participation of several special guests from Portugal, Cape Verde, Canada, UsA, etc.



PRESS REVIEWS
"...Carmen fuses Cape Verdean influences with American jazz and soul
music...While Carmen's vocal inflections at times lean towards soul music, she
could certainly up the ante of soul music in the American music industry with
her pioneering spirit, vocal prowess and tight, uncluttered arrangements..."
World music central.org by *Patty - Lynne Herlevi, August 2006-USA

"The scope of African music is growing because of artists like Carmen
Souza...Carmen Souza's music, really, is about hope and optimism. This makes it
a true gift."
thelivemusicreport.com by David Fujino, July 2006 -CANADA

"Quand Carmen Souza commence à chanter, les anges l’accompagnent...Elle apporte
dans ses bagages l’héritage du Cap Vert qu’elle mélange et manipule à sa façon
pour nous transmettre une nouvelle musique aux accents Soul, Jazzé par bout et
toujours unique..."
AFROFEST REVIEW BY Gabriel H. Osson-choq fm, July 2006-CANADA

"...Truly peerless, Souza should be on the tip of everyone’s tongue when they
discuss this years best world music albums..."
SMOTHER MAGAZINE REVIEW by J-Sin, July 2006-USA

"...Carmen creates her own special soothing sounds of Cape Verde/roots/jazz.
Born a generation away from the shores of the islands Carmen (Vocals, guitar,
keyboards) reaches deep into her spirit, her roots, to compose lyrics of
profound sincerity and freshness..."
Wickbourne Center Concert review by Marilyn Pannett at Littlehampton Gazette, June 2006- UK
"...This album creates a unique mix of Cape Verde/roots/jazz and needs make no
apology to any purist that need to identify recognizable traditions. The result
of this collaboration of irrefutable musical expertise and smooth wholesome
harmonies has produced a perfect pearl..."
ALBUM REVIEW, by Marilyn Pannett at Littlehampton Gazette, June 2006-UK

"...Her velvety voice filled the intimate venue and hypnotized the audience.
The multi-talented Carmen, changing from keyboard to guitar and back again,
performed songs from her excellent recently released album, 'Ess ê nha Cabo
Verde..."
MOMO'S London CONCERT REVIEW By Michael Mills on capeverdeinlondon.co.uk, June 2006-UK
American website CVMUSICWORLD.COMBy Osvaldo dos Reis


“Ess Ê Nha Cabo Verde,” Sumptuous And Melancholic Debut From Carmen Souza
Singer/songwriter Carmen Souza is gaining wide acclaim since the release of her seductive, sensual and sharp “Ess ê Nha Cabo Verde,” an album, which reflects the evolution of Capeverdean music and blends perfectly into the contemporary/soul backdrop.“Ess ê Nha Cabo Verde,” an assemblage of global sounds and rhythms, introduces rich instrumentation and evocative arrangements that merge impeccably with Carmen’s soft, soothing, and whispery voice.Superbly crafted by bassist/producer Theo Pas’cal, “Ess ê Nha Cabo Verde” has elements of traditional Capeverdean (Batuku, Kola San Djon, and morna) and African sounds, strongly cemented with Western Jazz/acoustic soul and contemporary influences, thus revitalizing appreciably her repertoire.Interpreted with enthusiasm and groovy aptitude, this record showcases Carmen’s excellent songwriting chops, mainly through her storytelling style drawn from her life experience, which is her way of giving value to her country’s tradition and culture.A Native of Lisbon, Portugal, this daughter of Capeverdean parents breezes confidently, but always with melancholia, through every song smoothly and purely, backed up by an assortment of harmonious instruments, especially string guitar and percussions. For the most part the cuts are remarkable but the ones to pay attention closely are “Bonança,” “Mar na Corazon,” “Nha Deus,” “Nha Praia,” and “Tristeza (d’Vida).”“Ess ê Nha Cabo Verde,” a 10-track album, is an impressive introduction to a promising young and talented singer, who first established herself as background singer of the bands Quamundo’s and Funky Messengers with whom she has been touring since 2001.It's so easy to like this album, though some people might find this “marriage” (the Kriolu language and the Western music) somewhat unorthodox.
http://www.cvmusicworld.com/news_articles/templates/editors_pick.aspx?articleid=476&zoneid=8


Cape Verdian Jornal
A Semana
O exótico Cabo Verde de Carmen Souza
24-12-05
Ess ê nha Cabo Verde”, from the luso-cape-verdean Carmen Souza finally hits the national market, exactly 3 months after her highly acclaimed, by the international critics, debut .An album of fusions, where the small Cape Verde sovereingnty emerges in the voice, the Creole and the poetry of Carmen Souza.... Her CD that from the first song “ Bonança” to the last song “ Vida ê pa Celebrá” reveals a delicate soprano voice, that seems more like a whisper in the ear, in a total contrast with the daring arrangements of soul, funky, and afro-jazz” from the north American producer Theo Pas’cal. If there were any doubts about the talent of the young Carmen, the recent inclusion of one of the songs of the album - “Tristeza (d' vida)” – in the “Peermusic” collection (edited in France), together with songs from Natalia Imbruglia, from the boy band Westlife and the legendary Gipsy Kings, would set those doubts apart. Besides that, Carmen Souza, has presented live the “Ess ê nha Cabo Verde” album in several concerts, has already a tour booked through the United Kingdom, in 2006. After all, it was in the land of Her Majesty that Carmen Souza collected the praises of the critics, after performing in the Womad 2005, in the town of Reading, in August. There, Carmen sold out all the cds of the album “Ess ê nha Cabo Verde” available in the festival. We can see that there is a sucessfull career ahead for this young singer, in the illuminated path of Sara Tavares, Lura and Sofia Barbosa.
TSF
http://www.asemana.cv/article.php3?id_article=14399___


SODADE MAGAZINE – USA
January 2006, USA, Nuria Chantre"As Cape Verde cements itself into the world music scene with its diverse styles like, morna, coladera funana, batuku, deeply rooted rhythms and styles form across the archipelago, Carmen Souza still felt like the game could use a few more. In dives the ambitious 24-year-old with her own vision, following an unlikely though immensely crafty path with enormous capability of reaching further into the (main) stream.Though she is not hesitant to admit that she's not a purist or traditionalist, Carmen, who was born in Portugal, is quite familiar with the music of her forefathers and the ever-present sodade (longing; nostalgia) shared by Capeverdeans around the world. Her persistence, combined with a continuous willingness to learn and grow artistically, mixed in with her whispery vocals over soulful uplifting music all led to a brilliantly mastered album.
"Ess ê nha Cabo verde", (This is my Cape Verde) so compelling it crosses language barriers to reach even those with a certain refined taste for music.Like many other artists of her caliber though, the singer, musician and composer will not give in to any particular category or genre, and for the purposes of the label-crazed world alone, she calls her music
" Cape Verde/jazz/fusion," something that may ring fairly new to Capeverdeans and also quench the thirst of those who carry the sense of natural inventiveness of the music of the islands."I could make a whole different kind of music but then I wouldn't be true to myself and to what I know and experience", says Carmen of the direction she has taken with her 2005 debut, which has landed her on stages in North America, Canada and Various European Countries, including London's major annual world music summer festival WOMAD 2005.A loyal churchgoer and avid listener of jazz, gospel and soul, not to omit afro/jazz/fusion all on full display, Carmen seductively bares her soul in such rhythmical fashion while smoothly transporting listeners from one fascinating journey to another: "Mostly what goes to my mind is which 'colors' can I give to the compositions. It depends on the mood, not that I'm a moody person, but as you can hear in the album, it's mainly wishes, joys, sadness and nowadays problems," Carmen articulates, alluding to her writing techniques which also include playing the guitar and keyboard. With a full sponsorship from RDP Africa, Portugal's only world/afro radio station, Carmen's critically acclaimed 10 track solo, produced under label TheOo TheZz Records, shows hints of traditional sounds of Africa and Cape Verde ( Batuku, Kola san Djon and Morna), impeccably blended with the Western Jazz/Acoustic soul and other modern influences. Not surprisingly, " Ess ê nha Cabo Verde", entirely interpreted in Capeverdean Creole, has been distributed throughout most of Europe, from Spain, Poland, to Russia, UK as well as the United States and Cape Verde.All of that undoubtedly comes from being extremely gifted, but also by being taken as protégée by such an extraordinary musician/bassist/producer like Theo Pas'cal, whom Carmen understandably credits for her entire career thus far. " The fact that I had already worked in the past with other Cape Verdean/African musicians and had a strong influence of African rhythms in my own music made the process even easier," Pas'cal recollects, pinpointing Carmen's determination to preserve her own personal musical influences in her work from the very beginning.Not exactly a newcomer to the music business, Carmen, once a member of the gospel group Shout!, met the producer when she decided to make a career for herself at 17 years old, becoming a background singer of the bands Quamundo's and Funky Messengers with whom she has been touring since 2001. She had previously written for and collaborated with other artists, namely her producer Pas'cal, but with this album which she calls a pure reflection of her own interpretation of Cape Verde, Carmen also timely portrays the evolution of this music throughout the years.Whether she is likely to be ranked amongst other renowned artists such as Luis Morais, Ildo Lobo or Cesaria Evora whom she admires for being able to take their music across country border, Carmen's indomitable dive into her own Cape Verde/jazz/fusion has taught her one valuable lesson she will always cherish: "the reactions to the same music are so different from Portugal to England to Macau... but the warmth and acceptance is the same". Her music has been so well-accepted that Carmen is already preparing a special Roots edition of " Ess ê nha Cabo Verde", to which she will add more roots-based arrangements on six tracks and four new songs, to be released this year in England.Still, Carmen Souza is really only getting started and while other young Cape Verdean artists have reached remarkable levels musically, Pas'cal foresees something a bit less similar in Carmen's career: " I believe that each artist has his/her artistic individuality so you never have two alike. For me her album is unique. I think that she will reach different platforms, mostly because her music has other elements that can appeal to a different audience with its freshness, although we didn't think of that when making the songs."