Biography
Original compositions by the nine-piece ensemble Simientra extend the musical heritage of Cape Verde. Mario Lucio Sousa, who handles soprano vocals, songwriting, six-stringed guitar, harmonica, accordion, and percussion, guides the collective and has brought fresh depth to the island nation's established sounds. Although the lyrics address themes that could feel heavy, the music itself radiates clear exuberance. In a late-'90s conversation, Sousa stated, "We are melancholic but it is a happy melancholy. We sing with our souls but our singing is not sad. If it invites you to cry, then it means crying for beauty." The group assembled in early 1992 and represented Cape Verde at the Expo in Seville only months afterward. The next year brought a Paris appearance at the Olympia, where they opened for Cesaria Evora. Their first album, Raiz (Root), arrived shortly before they performed at a concert honoring the twentieth anniversary of Green Cabo's independence. Attorneys, architects, and doctors count among the members. In the late '90s the ensemble launched the Simientera Foundation, which operates a cultural center, a children's music school, and a CD outlet supporting Cape Verdean musicians.
Albums
