Cristina Clara: New Album ‘Entretela’ Blends Fado & Morna
Lisbon-based artist Cristina Clara is set to release her new album, Entretela, this Friday, offering a vibrant sonic tapestry that weaves together the traditions of Portugal and Cape Verde. By blending fado, morna, and batuku, the singer-songwriter crafts a musical map of a modern, multicultural Lisbon.
A Musical Journey Through Lisbon’s Streets
For Clara, the album is more than a collection of songs; it is an exploration of the city she calls home. “To live in Lisbon today with open eyes is to meet musicians from all over the world,” Clara said in an interview with Lusa. “This record is a reflection of my experience. To close myself into a single genre would not be faithful to what I do.”
The album opens with a nod to the past: “Fado Rosa Maria,” a classic performed by Hermínia Silva in the 1943 film O Costa do Castelo. Clara incorporates Silva’s original voice from the archives, identifying deeply with the lyric: “I shall sing without viola, without guitar / Like a cicada until I burst.” To Clara, this line embodies her relentless artistic spirit and serves as a playful preemptive response to traditionalist critics.
Bridging Cultures and Generations
Entretela features a star-studded list of collaborators, bridging the Lusophone world. The album includes duets with legendary figures such as Tito Paris on the morna “Bus Odjus,” Sérgio Godinho on “Intermitentemente,” and António Zambujo on “Bonança.”
Clara also pays homage to the legendary Amália Rodrigues with a rendition of “Cravos de Papel.” She draws inspiration from the song’s composer, Alain Oulman, who was once criticized by purists for being an “outsider” to fado. “Amália is a symbol that goes beyond genres,” Clara noted, explaining her choice to use an electric guitar instead of the traditional Portuguese guitar on the track to emphasize the “malice” and irony within the lyrics.
Social Conscious and Global Rhythms
The 15-track album does not shy away from social commentary. In the song “Águas Santas,” composed by Amália Muge, Clara incorporates voices from an RTP África report discussing the exploitation of Cape Verde’s marine resources.
“Traditional music lives close to the people. It is played less in stadiums and more in streets and cafes,” Clara said, emphasizing that her art is inseparable from global social concerns. She draws inspiration from the informal gatherings of poets and musicians in Lisbon’s Alfama district—a “New Rebel Orpheus” where people from all social backgrounds converge to share stories of struggle and liberation.
Upcoming Performances
Following its digital release this Friday, Entretela will be available on CD starting November 3, coinciding with a live presentation at Teatro S. Luiz in Lisbon. Clara will then take the album to her hometown of Riba de Ave, performing at the Narciso Ferreira Theater on November 28.
Image: Pexels – RDNE Stock project
