FIVE QUESTIONS
Going to extremes in the fado tradition
By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
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| Fado singer Mariza was inspired by traditional Portuguese ballads.
Mariza 8 p.m. Sunday Maile Ballroom, Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hawaii $75 general, $150 dinner seating. Dinner features a Portuguese-themed tapas menu prepared by Hoku's and wines. 545-2820 Note: The concert is a fund-raiser for the Hawaii Council on Portuguese Heritage. Also: Mariza performs on the Big Island and Maui. |
A style of traditional balladry believed to have surfaced in 19th-century Lisbon from African, Brazilian, Jewish and Arab influences, fado is a genre of extremes. Extreme sadness over lost or unrequited love. Extreme melancholia. Extremely meditative ruminations on the way things are.
And at only 29, single-monikered Mariza has been hailed as one of the world's best fado vocalists. Much to her chagrin, the Lisbon-based singer has even attracted comparisons to fado legend Amalia Rodrigues, who died in 1999.
"It's a huge compliment. But Amalia was ... Amalia," is all she would say on the subject.
Mariza will bring her striking looks, wickedly showy fashion sense and truly stunning fado vocalese to her Hawai'i debut, Sunday at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental's Maile Ballroom.
We gave Mariza Five Questions over a choppy phone connection to a Chicago tour stop.
The word "fado" means "destiny" or "fate." Is that an apt description of the music as well?
Yes. I think that's very correct. More "destiny" actually. ... Fado was born by the African slaves of Portuguese sailors. And that was their destiny. That was their fate. So they started singing this music. Telling their stories. Telling their lives. Telling about what they would pass in the sea. They spoke about their feelings. They spoke of what their expectations were when they returned home. The words really make a lot of sense to describe the music.
You were born in Mozambique, but raised in Portugal. What kind of music did you grow up listening to?
Fado! (Laughs.) I started singing fado at 5 years old. ... I was really curious about the music. ... I started to listen to the sound of the Portuguese guitar. And it fascinated me. I was always trying to understand (the relationship between) the Portuguese guitar and the voice.
Who were your influences?
All of (the fado singers). Of course, Amalia (Rodrigues) was the most popular ... but all of them inspired me. Listening to them was like school. We don't go to school to learn fado. We don't have that. So you learn from the oldest people. If you want to know about fado and understand a little bit about fado, you have to listen to all of the old ones ... even the ones who don't have records who no one knows.
You're a big fan of jazz and blues, which has also influenced your style of fado.
I just think fado has a combination of many things. A little bit of jazz. A little bit of blues. Sometimes there's a little bit of gospel, soul or classical music. Fado has a little bit of everything. I think it's because of our (Portuguese) heritage. We've passed through so many countries, and had so many influences. When I sing fado, I feel it has a little bit of everything.
Your music also showcases a variety of instruments rarely matched with fado's traditional Portuguese guitar and viola combination. In addition to that acoustic duo, you've included percussion, piano, trumpet and even more acoustics into the mix. Where does that come from?
When you talk about fado, you're talking about a feeling. But at the same time, we are talking about music. Good music. And I like the sound of other instruments. I love acoustic instruments. And I love classical music. So sometimes on my records, you'll feel a little bit of that influence. A piano. A cello. I like the sound. And I think it combines well with fado. But I'm not trying to be different, or trying to modernize things. I'm just feeling it. I'm just showing my vision.
What do you like to listen to outside of fado?
I listen to everything, from classical music to rock 'n' roll. I saw a Paco de Lucia concert, and then three days later I was seeing Madonna. So I'm very curious about music. And I like to understand everything. I listen to Eminem, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park and a lot of Portuguese music. And I love Tony Bennett!
Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8005.
