Cláudia Sofia, singer and guitarist from Mindelo, the hometown of Cape Verdean music icon Cesária Evora, is a completely new discovery who does not necessarily follow in the musical footsteps of the late icon. On her current album, Mas um Melodia, she achieves a fascinating and powerful fusion of Cape Verdean music and Brazilian rhythms. Her ten original compositions are an expression of deep cultural roots and at the same time bring fresh influences from Brazil and Europe to the island. Songs such as “Monte Cara,” “Nha Xodó,” and the title track “Mas um Melodia” are characterized by rhythmic lightness, but always carry the typical melancholy of Cape Verdean music in the island’s dialect.
Her music moves between a variety of Cape Verdean musical styles: from the carnival-like “Crush” to traditional rhythms such as in “Fogo d’aniz” to complex vocal arrangements in “Li te ama.” Local traditions meet international influences.
It was produced by Markus Leukel, who has been enriching the music scene in Mindelo since 2010 and has a long-standing musical partnership with Cláudia Sofia.
Cláudia Sofia was born on November 13, 1994, in Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde. Even as a child, she was surrounded by the sounds of her homeland, such as morna, coladeira, funaná, and batuco, and at the same time inspired by international artists from Aretha Franklin to Stevie Wonder. At the age of four, her singing talent was first revealed in a performance of the Cape Verdean classic “Ná mininu ná.” Her musical education began at the “Praça Nova” music school under Georgian teacher Nana Tabagari. At the age of seven, she took part in her first international competition in Portugal.
She received her first guitar at the age of ten and began playing seriously at 13. In addition to music, she also discovered the world of fashion in 2012 and took part in the Elite Model Look competition. From 2015 onwards, she concentrated intensively on music again and performed in bars and restaurants in Mindelo. In 2018, she began to devote herself professionally to the guitar, expanded her range of instruments to include the cajon and pandeiro, and deepened her style on stage.
Cláudia Sofia appeared in the documentary Sur les traces de Cesária Évora and released her first music video, “Monte Cara,” in 2023, followed by “Darlina” in 2024. In the same year, she completed her first European tour with 21 concerts in Germany, Austria, and Portugal. In 2025, at the request of the World Bank, she composed the piece “Biodiversity” for an event in Praia. Today she lives in Mindelo, where she presents and develops her music.
“[…] Sofia perfectly demonstrates how Cape Verdean musical traditions can be combined with a Western approach and instrumentation to create an outstanding, fresh Cape Verdean sound” – Concerto
“A rhythmic lightness and gentleness characterizes the songs, which exude a pleasant melancholy… a surprisingly fresh sound from Cape Verde” – Jazzthing
“Mindelo. Sao Vicente. Just hearing these names makes music lovers click their tongues. It was the home of Cesária Évora, the woman who put the Cape Verde Islands, located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, on the world map of music in the first place. And how! Even years after her death, she continues to inspire new generations to follow in her footsteps and take this beautiful music out into the world: a mixture of Brazilian lightness and Portuguese saudade, seasoned with the salt and blue and rough winds of the Atlantic. Cláudia Sofia has also succumbed to this magic. She too comes from Mindelo and has now released her debut album, “Mas um Melodia.” With ten original compositions that honor the tradition of her country without being frozen in awe of her great role models. hr2
