Fado star Mariza may have started her 20-year career as a hidden talent beloved by Lisbon locals, but now she’s recognised as one of the biggest Portuguese artists in the world. Performing both contemporary and classical songs, Mariza has become an ambassador of fado and an internationally acclaimed singer. From Carnegie Hall in New York to the Sydney Opera House, Mariza has taken the world by storm with her enchanting take on traditional Portuguese music.

The Times describes ‘how much joy and sensuality resides’ in Mariza’s fado, a genre typically seen as melancholic. Incorporating gospel, soul and jazz, Mariza has capitalised on the possibilities of fado music to create a sound that is distinctly her own.