Carminho (PT)

Figurehead of the contemporary fado, Carminho, visits 30CC for the third time. Gracefully and bursting with soulful desire, she travels the world. Thanks to her love for Brazil, she got in touch with the legendary Caetano Velosa. He even had her sing as the only guest singer on his album Meu Coco. Her songs are streamed millions of times.

Her latest album Portuguesa came as a bombshell. The album talks about her identity and about the Portuguese language and way of life, but also about influences form all over the world. “" want to understand and reinterpret my roots and I always choose between progress and tradition," Carminho says. In the film Poor Things, starring Emma Stone, she made a little cameo with the song O Quatro.

JUST OUT: CARMINHO AT ELECTRICAL AUDIO!

On October 11th, Carminho has announced the release of her new EP, Carminho at Electrical Audio. Recorded in collaboration with the late Steve Albini at his iconic Electrical Audio studio in Chicago, the four-song EP showcases the legendary producer’s dexterity in the studio and his distinctive style and vision, refreshing the rich heritage of Portuguese traditional music genre.

The featured tracks are titled “Os Argonautas” (feat. Caetano Veloso), “Deixei a minha casa (Alexandrino da ponte),” “Gota de água,” and “Não olhes para os meus olhos (Fado da espera).”

It all started with a premeditated day off, during the artist's third US tour in the fall of 2023, and a recording session in the American producer's studio. Carminho was familiar with the work of Albini (who died suddenly in the spring of 2024) as a producer of albums by artists such as The Pixies, PJ Harvey and Nirvana.

That session on October 10, 2023, for which Carminho had only hoped to experience working with Steve Albini and recording music for the first time on tape, ended up adding a new chapter to her career. The day was spent working with her musicians - using instruments such as the mellotron, lap steel and electric guitar (which the fado singer had added to the traditional Portuguese instruments on her previous album, Portuguesa) and with Steve.

And that day they ended up recording the four songs that make up this EP.

“Anyone who has worked with Steve Albini knows of his humble authenticity and dedication to the perfection of raw sound, and he made the recordings sound as if we were performing in a Fado house in Lisbon. Our creative process on this EP was a true collaboration. Albini's genius influence is undeniable. Although the music industry has lost an incredible talent, in a way he lives on in our songs,” says Carminho.

Indeed, Albini proved to be a perfect producer for the music they recorded that day, exploring what Carminho calls the “punk side” of her multifaceted musical personality. His musical wizardry permeates the new album.