Paulo Bragança

Born on the border between Angola and Namibia, in 1971, Paulo Bragança - the Punk fado singer as some have nicknamed him - was in spiritual and artistic exile for more than a decade, having returned to Portugal in 2017 to resume a path he is far from having concluded.

In 1983, his parents were forced to leave Angola, due to the political and social instability that the country was going through. They passed through Brazil, Canada, the United States of America until, finally, they arrived in Portugal. Under pressure from his parents, he attended the Law course, leaving it by the end of the third year: Music spoke louder. Encouraged by a college friend, he sang at the Aula Magna, as part of the academic week and, from there, began his journey through the Fado Houses in Lisbon.

Already established in the fado circuits of Lisbon, in 1992 he was invited to participate in the recording of an album by Jorge Fernando. That same day, he signed a contract with the label PolyGram and, two years later, released his first album, “Notas sobre a Alma”. In 1993, he participated in the 29th edition of the “Festival da Canção”, alongside José Cid, interpreting the theme “O Poeta, o Pintor e o Músico”, winning second place in the contest. The desire to create his own identity and to sing what he identified with, led Paulo to record a second album, “Amai” (1994), where everything went through his sieve – from the lyrics to the production. The shock to adoration was a climax. Paulo Bragança was invited by David Byrne (Talking Heads) to edit the album by Luaka Bop in New York, already included in the World Music circuits and began, in 1997, a tour with the Scottish musician, touring the whole world and revolutionizing Fado.

In 1996, he edited “Mistério do Fado”, returning to traditional Fado.

The death of Rui Vaz, great friend, musician and producer of “Amai”, in 1997, was one of the biggest shocks for Paulo Bragança, having started a period of darkness in the fado singer's life. He remained in the USA until 2000. In 2001, he edited “Lua Semi-Nua” and left the country once again. News came from abroad that we was living in Ireland, after a brief passage in Romenia. 

He rreturned to Portugal in 2017, with a degree in Philosophy and Irish Studies, as well as an acting role in the short film “Henry and Sunny”, by Fergal Rock.

On his return to Portugal he signed a collaboration with the gothic metal band Moonspell, participating in the theme “In Tremor Dei”, from the album “1755”, dedicated to the Lisbon Earthquake.

In 2018 he presented the EP “Cativo” all over the country and Portugal received it as a blessing. The public welcomed him with open arms. Exactly 22 years after his first and only concert at the Great Auditorium of the Centro Cultural de Belém – October 25, 1997 – he returned to the same venue to an unforgettable concert. 

In 2022, Paulo decided to pay tribute to one of his reference artists, who he had been listening to since he was a child: Adriano Correia de Oliveira. He had already presented the project to the person responsible for the shows of the Festa do Avante!, Ruben de Carvalho, in 2017, and in that year's edition of the party, he debuted it in a concert. “Adriano 80”, his new album, is a celebration of the life and work of Adriano Correia de Oliveira and features seven songs from the artist's repertoire.

Source:

https://www.publico.pt/2022/06/10/culturaipsilon/noticia/paulo-braganca-celebra-disco-voz-obra-adriano-correia-oliveira-2009528

https://www.rastilhorecords.com/pt/artistas/-/paulo-braganca-99/

https://life.dn.pt/fadista-paulo-braganca-fui-sem-abrigo-em-londres-e-levei-porrada-por-ter-um-cartao-melhor-para-dormir/historias/353406/