Claudia Aurora

Claudia Aurora

Claudia Aurora is a Portuguese fado singer who is based in London and has Portugal and the United Kingdom listed as her origin. She sings traditional Portuguese folk songs, especially fado, and later writes her own songs, focusing on themes of loss, love and longing that are central to the genre.

Background and style

She grows up in Porto and moves to Bristol in 2003. She begins singing at home as a response to homesickness, drawing on songs her grandmother sings. Her work is rooted in the Portuguese idea of saudade, and she presents fado in a way that also draws on other Iberian traditions, including flamenco, tango and gypsy music.

Recordings and recognition

Her first album is followed by a performance on the BBC Radio 3 stage at WOMAD in 2012, where she is then a relatively little-known artist. The response to that set leads to strong sales for Silencio, and Radio 3 later broadcasts a live performance from the Royal Festival Hall, followed by further broadcasts. She also completes the UK’s biggest tour ever undertaken by a fado singer and receives a residency at Green Note, which is Time Out’s London Venue of the Year 2015.

Mulher do Norte

Her second album, Mulher Do Norte, is a title that means “Woman of the North” in Portuguese. It is described as a reflection on the city and surroundings she leaves behind and on the life that shapes her. The recording takes place in Alentejo, with a group of musicians using guitar, double bass, cello, bouzouki and accordion. The album is released on Red Orange Recordings as a CD, LP and download.

Personnel

Claudia Aurora is credited on Mulher Do Norte with voice, alongside Javier Moreno on acoustic guitar, Pavlos Carvalho on bouzouki, Jon Short on double bass and Kate Shortt on cello.