Lura (born Maria de Lurdes Assunção Pina; 31 July 1975, Lisbon) is a Portuguese singer and musician, of Cape Verdean descent. Her compositions are based on traditional Cape-Verdean music as for example the Morna, Funaná and Batuque, and influenced by African and contemporary Western music.
Biography
The Portuguese voice that leads us to the Cape Verdean nostalgia
Maria de Lurdes Assunção Pina – which artistic name is Lura – was born on 31 July 1975, in Alfredo da Costa Maternity, Lisbon. She is a daughter of Cape Verdean parents, her mother was born in Santo Antão and her father in Santiago. Lura was the first of 4 brothers and was the only artist in the family. Her soul is imbue with two cultures that are present in her life, her melodies and in her artist path: the Portuguese and the Cape Verdean.
Being the eldest daughter and child of divorced parents Lura became a fighter. She always felt the need to be at her mother side and fight to give her brothers a better life, even if she had to give up a bit her of childhood. But she passes through the hardest moments of her life with a permanent smile in her face, and without bitterness or pain.
Growing up in social neighbourhood she believes that the place where she lived wouldn't made her a looser or a resigned person. On the other and she gain the perspective that the persistence, hard work and determination would be the key for a future wonderful life.
The Athlete, Dance or Singer
Lura's determination, focus and hard work will only position her as one of the best in any field of her life and because of this characteristic the world almost lost an international singer (and maybe one of the biggest expressions of the Cape Verdean culture) to win an athlete or a dancer. But for the disgrace of the dancers and swimming lovers she followed the path of the musical notes.
Everything started with Juka, a São Tomé singer that invited her to participate in his album. Lura remembers: “I had only seventeen years old and was supposed to do some chorus but at the end Juka asked me to perform a duo with him. I’ve never dreamed of singing but he insisted and…” This was the moment when she discovers her profound and sensual voice! But she didn't feel the need to take the music serious and preferred to follow her sports and dance dream, even with the tremendous success of the Hit.
At the age of 21 a Portuguese producer help her to record her first album. This was an album with a strong commercial component and with a musical style more directed for dance and her generation. The song “Nha Vida” (My life) turned into a Hit when it was included in the album Red Hot + Lisbon, in 1997. At this is the moment Lura's life turns definitely into the music and performing (also due to a sports injury).
The “Na Ri Na" Success
It was the year of 2000 when Lura does a duo with Bonga in the song "Mulemba Xangola" and the recording company of the well-kwon Cesária Evora - Lusafrica - discovers her talent. They signed with the artist and in 2004 and they produced the album Di Korpu Ku Alma (From Body and Soul). This was the first truly Cape Verdean Lura's album, that quickly goes across borders and was released in more than 10 countries including USA, Italy and UK – where it was nominated for the BBC World Music Awards.
The famous writer José Eduardo Agualusa quotes about the album Di Korpu Ku Alma: "… The future of the Cape Verdean music has a name and that name is Lura”. At the same time the Britannic journal, The Independent states: "… when she starts with her international career this girl will fill-up the stadiums”.
In November 2006 was released the new album M’bem di Fora (I came from outside) and in France, Lura was nominated for the “Victoires de la Musique", in the best album category. She also does a World tour with this album and conquers an audience more and more faithful and attentive to her music. Three years later, the album Eclipse confirms the singer enormous success, turning Lura into the pearl of new generation of the Cape Verdean music. At this time Lura states: “My career is a constant surprise, since the discovery of my own voice in my teenager times until today. I live day by day, but one thing I can't deny: I will sing until the last day of my life”.