Portugal: Sad Fate

Fate, or 'fado' in Portuguese, is at the heart of Portugal's culture. Portugal's contribution to the New European Songbook, Sad Fate, is centered on this unique culture and is particularly influenced by the great fado singer Amália Rodrigues.

The song incorporates influences from jazz, mixing Carolina's fado vocals with Demian's jazzy contrabass.

Demian and Carolina had never met before this project, but they were a perfect musical match - needing just two rehearsals to produce the final version of the song.

Carolina was born in Hamburg in 1984 but moved to Portugal aged five months. She first came into contact with Fado through her parents.

She was invited to join the cast of Casa Da Mariquinhas, one of the top Fado houses in Porto, after an impressive performance in a Porto bar aged 18. She has since performed on many stages across Europe, the United States, Africa and South America, and has released two albums.

Demian Cabaud was born in Argentina in 1977. He studied music in Argentina and the USA.

He has studied with some of the world’s most accomplished jazz musicians including Joe Lovano, Hal Crook, Ed Tomassi and Dave Samuels. He is also a member of the prestigious Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos.

Sad Fate was composed by Jerónimo Bragança and Nóbrega e Sousa.

Produced by RTP2 (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)

New European Songbook is presented as part of the Edinburgh International Festival and British Council season Spirit of '47.