Mayra Andrade

Cape Verdean vocalist and writer Mayra Andrade first gained recognition for her songcraft and stage presence while still in her teens. By the time she reached her early twenties, she had become a fixture on the Parisian world-music circuit, admired for both her incisive compositions and her expressive delivery. Her childhood unfolded across several continents: after being born in Cuba, she lived successively in Senegal, Angola, and Germany before finally establishing herself on Cape Verde, the homeland of her parents. Signs of her musical aptitude surfaced by her early teenage years. At sixteen she claimed first prize in the songwriting contest held at Canada’s Francophone Games, an achievement that marked her as an emerging talent. She soon appeared in concert across Portuguese-speaking territories, performing in Praia, Mindelo, and Lisbon. After relocating to Paris in 2002, Andrade progressed from intimate acoustic clubs to prominent festival stages. That growing profile led to joint performances and recordings with such seasoned figures as Charles Aznavour and Césaria Évora. In 2005 she issued her first solo album, Navega, which Sony BMG released and which maintained an extended run on World Music Charts Europe and similar listings.