VOCALS

Bárbara Bentes’ s journey in Fado starts early, at home, through the influence of her parents and grandparents. She participated in several music contests as a child and later, as an adult, she sings in several Fado contests. In 2011 she won the Revelation Prize at Braga Fado. Nowadays, she dedicates herself to Fado live shows.

BIOGRAPHY

When asked since when she sings Fado, she replies: “since I know myself”. And so it is. Bárbara Bentes’ s career in Fado started early, at home, near Oporto, where she used to listen to the records of Amália and Beatriz da Conceição that belonged to her parents and grandparents. Her grandmothers sang Fado in an amateur way and that was decisive for the love and dedication she has since given to Fado. The meetings in her house, promoted by her father, who played the guitar, consolidated the grace she carries nowadays while giving voice to songs of Amália, Fernanda Maria and Maria Teresa de Noronha, among others.

As a teenager, Bárbara participated in several children’s music contests and at the age of 15 she is invited to give her body and voice to Aurora, in the play “Gandarela”, in which she starred for two years. In 2003, she takes Fado across borders as an ambassador of the Portuguese delegation of the European Youth Parliament in Estonia. She sang at the events organized by EYP and at The National Concert Hall in Tallinn, and was applauded by delegations from all over Europe.

After a brief stay at the University of Coimbra, where she was transferred to in order to live closer to the Fado, she returns to Porto, where she began to sing at Fado events and competitions. She participates in Noite de Fado de Braga, in the 8th Grande Gala de Fado do Porto and wins third place at Noite de Fado de Lordelo do Ouro. In November 2011, she was awarded the Revelation Prize, in Braga Fado, after interpreting the song “Rain”, from Jorge Fernando.

She briefly acted with Grupo de Fado de Lisboa do Orfeão Universitário do Porto and currently dedicates herself to the live shows. “Fado da Mulher Fatal”is the lead single from her debut album and it’s included in the compilation “Toca no teu nariz”, created by the Nariz Vermelho Association.