Biography
Vanessa da Mata is a phenomenon in Brazil. Praised by the press, already rewarded with a platinum record in Brazil and Portugal, the young singer has finally arrived in France...
“Sim”, her first in France is in fact her third album to date; produced by Mario Caldato (who has worked with Jack Johnson, Beastie Boys, Beck,...), several of the songs have been directed by Sly & Robbie (producers of Serge Gainsbourg, Grace Jones and many others...). Above all it counts as a unique collaboration : the song Boa Sorte/Good Luck has been written, composed and played in duet with Ben Harper. The success of this song on YouTube is astounding: there has been more than 4 millions streamings and counting! And the song is already number 1 on Brazilian, Portuguese and Swiss radio...
The album wanders between bossa nova (a style which turns 50 years old this year), pop and reggae, and is carried by a sweet and enchanting voice... “Sim” (“Yes”) symbolizes for Vanessa “a positive answer to life”.

Vanessa da Mata was born in 1976, in Alto Garças, Mato Grosso – a small town surrounded by rivers and falls, 400 kilometers away from Cuiabá, the state capital. Self-taught, she grew up in the company of the greats of Brazilian music: Luiz Gonzaga, Tom Jobim, Milton Nascimento, Orlando Silva...
At the age of 14, she moved to Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 1200 kms away from Alot Garças. She left by herself, willing to study medicine at first. But at only 15, she started singing and giving concerts in some of the town bars...
In 1992, she reached São Paulo, multiplying the concerts, the encounters, and joined the Jamaïcan band Black Uhuru. Insatiable, she managed to find time to keep on with her career as a model and her other career as a basketball player.




Her first decisive encounter was in 1997 when with Chico César she composed the song "A força que nunca seca", which was recorded by Maria Bethânia and nominated for a Grammy Award. Brazil had discovered a great composer. Besides that, Vanessa increased the guest appearances on stage with the greatest legends of Brazilian music: Milton Nascimento, Maria Bethânia, Baden Powell...
After the success of her first album, "Essa boneca tem manual", released in 2004 (her second album), received a platinum disc in Brazil, and one of the songs ("Ai ai ai...") was the most played song on national radio in 2006!
Vanessa da Mata takes a place at the top of the best talents of the new generation of Brazilian Popular Music (MPB).

The story of "Boa sorte / Good luck" is simple: “When I've recorded this song, I had the feeling it was not done, that something was missing. This was at this time that I had the luck to meet the great Ben Harper, almost randomly... A little bit later, I sung him the melody on the phone. Simply, naturally. Immediately he found the right words to answer the Portuguese lyrics, as if he was touched by the power of the lyrics and the sweetness of the melody. The result is surprising: two people living across the equator, speaking different languages, and singing the same song in duet ; Boa Sorte/Good Luck deals with the theme of separation...”



Discography