LUÍSA SOBRAL

Luísa Sobral is a key name in the new generation of Portuguese artists. She made her debut in 2011 with the release of The Cherry on My Cake, an album well received by the public and critics alike. This was followed by There’s A Flower In My Bedroom (2013), with guests such as Jamie Cullum, António Zambujo and Mário Laginha, Lu-Pu-I-Pi-Sa-Pa (2014) where she expands her universe beyond the aesthetics of her first two records, and Luísa (2016), recorded in Los Angeles by prestigious producer Joe Henry (Madonna, Elvis Costello, among others). 

The songwriting facet of Luísa has stood out over these years, composing for artists such as Ana Moura, António Zambujo, Gisela João, Marco Rodrigues, Mayra Andrade, among others. In 2017, she is invited to compose a theme for the Festival da Canção. Thus Amar Pelos Dois was born, which Luísa gives to her brother, Salvador Sobral, to interpret. The fraternal partnership proves to be a resounding success: Portugal wins its first ever Eurovision victory. During this period, Luísa also produces the albums As Blue As Red (2018), by Elisa Rodrigues, Coreto (2020), by Rogério Charraz, and the most recent album by Joana Alegre.

At the end of 2018, Luísa edits her fifth album of originals, Rosa. For the production she invites the Catalan Raül Refree, one of the most prestigious producers and multi-instrumentalists in Spain. Rosa is Luísa Sobral’s most personal, mature and intimate album, privileging besides the voice and the guitar, a trio of winds and classical percussion elements. The beauty of the compositions is enhanced by the simplicity of the arrangements and the creative complicity between Luísa and Refree.

In 2020, Luísa once again expands her creative horizons. She releases a new single with the Spanish singer Zahara and debuts O Avesso da Canção, a podcast where she chats with great names in Portuguese music about the art of songwriting. 2020 also marks the debut on stage with her brother Salvador Sobral in a series of unreleased concerts in Lisbon and Porto.

Besides being one of the most requested artist by the Portuguese public, Luísa also has a vast international experience. Since 2011, the year she performed on the mythical BBC programme ‘Later…with Jools Holland’, Luísa has been accumulating tours in countries as distinct as Spain, France, Turkey, Israel, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, USA, Morocco, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Japan, Brazil, Uruguay, among others. She has also performed in multiple festivals and showcases, such as the WOMAD Festival in Adelaide (Australia), the Red Sea Winter Jazz Festival in Eilat (Israel), Barcelona Jazz Festival, Cartagena Jazz Festival, London Jazz Festival, Cully Jazz, SXSW festival in Texas, among others.

Recently, Luísa returned to record labels with the mini-album ‘Camomila’ (2021), which has grabbed the hearts of the younger public, and with the single ‘Quero Morar numa Canção’ (2022). September brings a new record and a new tour.