TETE ALHINHO
The Soothing Voice from Cabo Verde
“I was born in Mindelo, a small, poor seaside town, on the island of Saint Vincent, with the sound of the sea all around me. Mindelo is the most culturally diverse town in Cape Verde. Because of its bay, it is a popular port and draws a lot of people from other countries. The population is very open-minded and they have a very sensual and unique musical sensibility. Growing up there, I inherited this rhythm and feeling of the sea. The sound of the sea gives me this enormous sense of freedom that I express in my music”. Teté Alhinho.
When Simentera took over the world in the early nineties, one voice stood out: Teté Alhinho. “Tete´s smoky, emotion-drenched delivery was a vital part of the groups unique sound“ wrote J. Poet, at Global Rhythm (USA). Her singing and her compositions are remarkably soothing. Nobody that has ever listened to Teté performing live can ever go back to their routine with ease.
Teté sings about melancholy without being sad. “You compose better about love when you are melancholic than when you are happy. When you´re happy, you are so full of love you have no space for anything else. When you are happy in love, you share this sentiment only with your beloved. But when you are sad, you need to share it with others, so you compose to translate what you feel. But the other side of this is hope, believing in better days to come”. It is with this simplicity that Tete conquers the hearts of her audience. With a velvet voice made out of threads from Cabo Verde, Cuba, Mexico or even Portugal, where her father was born. The natural fiber of pure magic. The miracle of inspiring all of those who will never forget her singing.
“The one voice I havent been able to get out of my mind since I first heard her cd is that of Tete Alhinho from Cape Verde. Dark, haunting and distinctive.” Simon Broughton about “Voz” (Songlines Best Album of 2004).
In 2015 Tete is back with a new Live Performance. “Mornas ao Piano” celebrates the best of the traditional repertoire,