Ana Mafalda da Veiga Marques dos Santos, better known as Mafalda Veiga (Lisbon, December 24, 1965), is a Portuguese singer and songwriter. She has so far released ten albums, seven of which are studio albums. Praia is her latest album. Apart from her career as a singer and songwriter, the artist published in 2005 a children’s book, O Carocho Pirilampo Que Tinha Medo de Voar.
At the age of eight, following the 25th of April 1974, Mafalda Veiga moved to Spain, accompanying her parents. She stayed in the neighboring country until 1980. After her seven-year stay in Spain, her father offered her a guitar. It was her uncle, Pedro da Veiga, a fado guitarist, who would initiate her into composition. Later, the singer-songwriter would claim to have found “fertile soil for her words” on the instrument, a way to channel the creative energy of her adolescence.
Mafalda Veiga debuts as an author in 1983, precisely with the theme Velho, with which in 1984 she would win the Silves Song Festival. In the same year, Mafalda entered the Modern Languages and Literature course at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Lisbon, where she completed her degree. She starts recording her first models, but the university course takes precedence over the musical career that would be delayed for a few years.
Southern Birds and Singing
In 1987 she began her recording career with the album “Pássaros do Sul”, produced by Manuel Faria (a member of the group Trovante). The album offered him immediate national recognition; the success was so great that the album quickly reached 10,000 copies sold. With her success, she received awards such as the Nova Gente Trophy for Best Singer and the opportunity to represent Portugal at the RTP International Festival in Yugoslavia. This success was due almost exclusively to the track “Planície”, leading to the fact that other songs such as “Restolho”, “Sol de Março”, (the aforementioned) “Velho”, or “Nos”, which already showed the profile of artist, were not valued.
The success of this record led to the rapid recording of the singer’s second studio album: “Cantar”, in 1988 and again with the production of Manuel Faria. The record receives the Antena 1 Award for Best Record, but does not, however, live up to expectations in commercial terms. Despite songs like “Por Other Words”, “Nazaré”, “Por Te Rever” or “O Nome do Sal”, it lacks a catalyst like “Plain” from the previous record.
Mafalda Veiga decides to take a break from her recording career. In the following four years, Mafalda Veiga dedicated herself to taking the songs from the two previous albums to the Portuguese stages. She traveled extensively around the country giving concerts, but the special participation in what would be the last concerts of the band Trovante, in Sagres and in the Coliseus in Lisbon and Porto, stands out mainly from this period.
She was made Nobleman of Quartered Arms, the 1st Cid of Bivar, the 2nd Álvares de Margão, the 3rd modern Maciel and the 4th Pimenta (Nobility Council Permit of 15 July 1991.
Nothing is Repeated
In 1992 he returned to the studios to record “Nada se Repete”, again produced by Manuel Faria and co-produced by Amândio Bastos, with the special participation of Luís Represas who, in addition to writing a lyrics, recorded in duet the theme ” Fragility”. Mafalda Veiga presented this record in two shows at Teatro São Luiz, in Lisbon.
In 1993 and 1994, in addition to performing throughout the country, she was also twice in Cape Verde, and in Macau at the Teatro D. Pedro V.
In 1996, the album “A Cor da Fogueira” appeared, with a new musicality and production by José Sarmento, whose biggest success was the song “O Lume”.
In 1999, “Tatuagem” was published, marking the singer’s entry into the Popular label, by Valentim de Carvalho. The production was in charge of Manuel Paulo Felgueiras, a member of the group Ala dos Namorados. From this album, the songs “Tatuagens”, in duet with Jorge Palma, “Cada Lugar Teu”, “A Little Heaven”, “Uma Noite Para Celebrar” and also the songs “No Rasto do Sol” and “Gente Perdida”, which would come a few years later to be part of the soundtracks of soap operas on Rede Globo.
Mafalda Veiga presented “Tatuagem” in three sold-out concerts at the CCB’s large auditorium and at Rivoli do Porto. These concerts resulted in the album “Mafalda Veiga ao Vivo”, certified platinum.
On December 10, 1999, her only child, Tomás da Veiga Marques dos Santos Cordovil, was born in Lisbon, in Ajuda, as a result of her marriage.
The year 2000 ended with the composition of four original themes for the soap opera “Olhos de Água”, broadcast by TVI.
In Soul and Skin
In 2002, the theme “No Rasto do Sol” was chosen to integrate the soundtrack of a soap opera on Rede Globo, entitled Sabor da Paixão. In January 2003, Mafalda is invited to go to Rio de Janeiro to participate in two episodes of the soap opera, performing some of her songs live.
In March 2003, Mafalda Veiga’s seventh album appeared, “Na Alma e Na Pele”. This work features the production of former Silence 4 bassist Rui Costa. The album is made up of eleven original songs, highlighting the presentation single, “Uma Gota”, and the theme “Cúmplices” dedicated to the Clube de Fãs and also featuring an interactive track. This year, shows were held all over the country[citation needed] that culminated in two sold-out concerts at the Coliseu dos Recreios in Lisbon.
As part of the City Festivities for Euro 2004, Mafalda finally had the pleasure and honor of performing the first part of Suzanne Vega’s concert – the place she had dreamed of but which was occupied in 1991 by the sublime Pilar Homem de Melo – having was very warmly received by the more than fifteen thousand people who attended her concert and sang most of her songs with her.
The year 2003 ends with the edition of the DVD, of the second concert held at the Coliseu dos Recreios in Lisbon, on October 5, 2003. Also in December, Quasi Edições launched the first Songbook by Mafalda Veiga, gathering the lyrics and figures of 16 songs chosen from each of their albums.
In June 2004, TV Globo again included a song by Mafalda Veiga (“Gente lost”, from the album “Tatuagem”) in the soundtrack of a new soap opera, Senhora do Destino.
In 2005, Quasi Edições also publishes his first children’s story “O carocho pirilampo que was afraid of flying”, included in the collection “Tempo dos juniors”, made in partnership with Jornal de Notícias.
On October 20, 2005, Mafalda Veiga receives the Prestige Career Award from Rádio Central FM de Leiria.
In 2006, Mafalda Veiga moved away from the stage a little, dedicating herself essentially to the composition and preparation of her next album of originals.
In 2008, the album Chão was published by the publisher Valentim de Carvalho.
Mafalda Veiga continua a encantar com sua poesia e autenticidade musical. Seu estilo único e letras profundas refletem emoções que ressoam com muitos. Um verdadeiro tesouro da música portuguesa!