Cátia Alhandra

Cátia Alhandra is a singular voice.

Her singing carries the poetic sensibility, colours and intense flavours of the Portuguese soul.

Rooted in Fado and traditional Portuguese music, while embracing the ancestral influences of Mediterranean musical traditions, she weaves together diverse musical heritages into a unique artistic expression.

The result is a multifaceted artist with a captivating presence and a vibrant, emotionally charged performance filled with truth, strength and soul.

She began her artistic journey at the age of 16 in Lisbon, where she studied Fado and Classical Singing at the National Conservatory of Music of Lisbon. Alongside her studies, she participated in several artistic projects, ranging from musical theatre to voice and guitar performances.

At the age of 21, she moved to the Algarve. After a few years away from singing, she was invited to join the project Fad’Nu, a voice and Portuguese guitar ensemble deeply rooted in the tradition of Fado. With this project, she released her first original song in 2014, Guitarra Chora por Mim (The Guitar Cries for Me).

Throughout her career, she has been involved in numerous artistic projects and national and international collaborations, including Fad’Nu, Terra Xama, Orquestra de Sopros do Algarve, Gato Malvado, and collaborations with renowned musicians such as Custódio Castelo, Jorge Palma and Berg, among others. She has performed in several countries, including Azerbaijan, Spain, Morocco and Georgia.

In 2023, she launched a new musical project that blends the charms of world music with the sophistication of contemporary jazz. Through an approach marked by improvisation, she explores new sonic landscapes for Portuguese traditional music and Fado.

In 2024, the first recordings of this project were released: Rosa, by Algarve-based musician and composer Joaquim Morgado, and Senhora do Almurtão, a traditional Portuguese song arranged by José Miguel Vieira.

Currently, she collaborates with various musicians in voice and guitar formats. Among her recent projects is Virado, which brings together Fado and original compositions in an intimate and minimalist setting of voice and guitar, exploring closeness, emotion and musical expression. The project is also presented as a trio, featuring double bass, Portuguese guitar and voice, expanding its sonic landscapes and creating a rich, sensitive and contemporary musical experience.

Her captivating repertoire celebrates the rich musical heritage of Portugal and the Algarve, combining original compositions by talented local musicians with innovative interpretations of traditional music.

Her voice moves effortlessly between tradition and modernity, offering an artistic expression deeply connected to emotion, improvisation and the celebration of Portuguese cultural roots.