juls & mayra andrade

Biography

Mayra Andrade, born on February 13, 1985, in Havana, Cuba, to Cape Verdean parents, spent her early years in Cape Verde before her family moved frequently, including stints in Senegal, Angola, Germany, and eventually Paris, France, where she settled as a teenager. Exposed to diverse cultures from a young age, she began performing publicly around age 14-16 in Cape Verde and started voice lessons in Paris at 17. A pivotal moment came when she met composer Orlando Pantera, who significantly influenced her artistic development; at 16, she won the gold medal in the songwriting contest at the 2001 Jeux de la Francophonie in Canada, launching her career.[1][2][3][4]

Andrade's professional breakthrough arrived with her 2006 debut album Navega, which earned critical acclaim and the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik in 2007, followed by the BBC Radio 3 World Music Newcomer Award in 2008 for her style blending Cape Verdean genres like morna, funaná, batuque, and coladeira with jazz, afrobeats, and world music influences. Subsequent albums such as Stória, stória... (2009), Studio 105 (2010), Lovely Difficult (2013), and Manga (2019) solidified her reputation, showcasing poetic lyrics, a vibrant voice, and collaborations with global artists. She received honors like Cape Verde's 1st Class Medal of the Order of the Volcano in 2010 and has performed across Portuguese-speaking regions, including Mindelo, Praia, and Lisbon, while basing herself in Paris and later Lisbon.[1][2][3][4]

Now a leading voice in Cape Verdean music, Andrade's nomadic upbringing informs her multicultural sound and advocacy work, including her role since 2015 as a UN 'Free & Equal' ambassador promoting human rights in Cape Verde. Her legacy endures as an inspiration for African artists, promoting Cape Verdean culture worldwide through innovative performances and recordings.[2][3]

Fun Facts

• Born in Havana, Cuba, to Cape Verdean parents, Mayra grew up across Cape Verde, Senegal, Angola, Germany, France, and Portugal, shaping her multicultural sound.
• At age 14-16, she performed solo with voice and guitar in Cape Verde, her 'original format,' before expanding to bands and records.
• Received Cape Verde's prestigious 1st Class Medal of the Order of the Volcano in 2010 for promoting Cape Verdean culture globally.
• UN 'Free & Equal' special ambassador since 2015, advocating for human rights and equality in Cape Verde.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Orlando Pantera - Key composer and mentor who contributed hugely to her early artistic development (Early collaborations leading to 2001 Jeux de la Francophonie win) [2001 (age 16)]

Key Collaborators

• Kim Alves - Cape Verdean multi-instrumentalist, faithful companion in refining her sound (Stória, stória... (2009)) [2009]
• Etienne M’Bappé - Cameroonian bassist who anticipated her musical intentions (Stória, stória... (2009)) [2009]
• Zé Luis Nascimento - Brazilian percussionist embracing Cape Verdean stylistic diversity (Stória, stória... (2009)) [2009]
• Cesária Évora - Renowned Cape Verdean artist (Various collaborations promoting Cape Verdean music) [Career-spanning]
• Ornette Coleman - Jazz legend (Collaborations extending her global reach) [Career-spanning]
• Manu Dibango - African music icon (Collaborations disseminating Cape Verdean sounds) [Career-spanning]
• Milton Nascimento - Brazilian musician (Collaborations broadening audiences) [Career-spanning]
• Juls - Producer on track blending her style with his production ("Love Language") [Recent (post-2010s)]
• Branko - Collaboration on track ("Reserva Pra Dois") [Recent]
• Nelson Freitas - Collaboration on track ("Nha Baby") [Recent]

Artists Influenced

• New generation of African musicians - Serves as reference point inspiring exploration of African cultural wealth and roots (N/A) [2010s-present]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia