Passionate, soulful and haunting, fado music is known as the soul of Portugal. Mariza, with her powerhouse voice and flair for the dramatic, is the world’s foremost fadista, taking the music to the global mainstream, an into and atop the world’s hallowed Halls – Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, Royal Albert Hall and Massey Hall – and biggest stages – the World Cup, the Olympics and Live 8. Born in Mozambique and raised in Portugal, she was surrounded by fado – literally: it was the soundtrack to the tavern owned by her parents. Her rise to become one of the biggest names in global pop and folk came quickly in the wake of her 2001 debut and has been defined by a desire to bring traditional music into the present, and on to the future.

A Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, winner and multiple nominee at BBC Radio 3’s Best World Music Artist, Songlines Magazine’s Best Artist of 2016 and one of Executiva Magazine’s 20 most influential women of Portugal, she’s worked with the likes of Gilberto Gil, Lenny Kravitz, Sting, Cesária Évora and many others, and achieved multi-platinum and chart-topping status for all of her albums. Her latest album – her first new album of original material in five years – Mundo (Nonesuch Records) is out in North America now.