Vanessa da Mata
| Vanessa da Mata | |
|---|---|
Vanessa da Mata in 2014
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Vanessa Sigiane da Mata Ferreira |
| Born |
February 10, 1976 Alto Garças, Mato Grosso, Brazil |
| Genres | MPB, samba, pop, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2002 – present |
| Labels | Sony |
| Website | vanessadamata |
Vanessa Sigiane da Mata Ferreira (born 10 February 1976), professionally known as Vanessa da Mata, is a Latin Grammy Award-winning Brazilian MPB singer, songwriter, and novelist. She has released four studio albums and the songs "Ai, Ai, Ai", "Boa Sorte/Good Luck" and "Amado" became number-one hits in Brazil.
Vanessa Sigiane da Mata Ferreira was born on February 10, 1976 in Alto Garças, a small town in Mato Grosso located 399 km (248 miles) from state capital Cuiabá. Her article in the stated that she has Xavante ancestry through her maternal grandmother. Vanessa has denied these claims, but said that her grandmother has indeed Native Brazilian ancestry, although she "can't identify from which tribe".
An autodidact in music, Vanessa listened to very different genres in her childhood; from Luiz Gonzaga to Tom Jobim, and from Milton Nascimento to Orlando Silva. She would also listen to regional music like carimbó through the records brought by an uncle who travelled to the Amazon. She was also familiar with samba, sertaneja music, and even brega Italian music, which were available to her through a local AM radio station. In several interviews, she cites deceased samba singer Clara Nunes as an influential figure in her compositions and image.
At age 14, Vanessa moved alone to Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 1,199 km (745 miles) away from Alto Garças, in order to prepare for her vestibular exam, through which she intended to join a Medical school. There, she discovered that her real passion was singing, and by the following year was already performing in local clubs.
...
Wikipedia