Carminho shines on NPR's Tiny Desk
With her performance, Carminho joins MARO and Marta Pereira da Costa as ambassadors of Portuguese talent on the platform.
Lisbon-based fado singer Carminho is the latest Portuguese artist to grace the iconic Tiny Desk stage, a beloved music series by U.S. public radio station NPR.
Known for hosting global superstars like Billie Eilish, Adele, Coldplay, Tyler, the Creator, and fellow Portuguese artist MARO, Tiny Desk has become a cultural phenomenon.
The concert, uploaded yesterday on NPR Music’s YouTube channel, features Carminho performing a selection of songs, including tracks from her EP Carminho at Electrical Audio, a collaboration with the late musician and producer Steve Albini, who passed away in May 2023.
NPR highlighted the emotional depth of Portuguese fado, noting how Carminho’s performance captures its essence in mere seconds. The description also paid tribute to her mother, Teresa Siqueira, a renowned fado singer of her generation, who played a pivotal role in shaping Carminho’s extraordinary talent.
During her 20-minute set, Carminho performed five songs: “O Quarto,” “Marcha de Alcântara,” “Os Argonautas,” “Deixei a Minha Casa,” and “Estrela.” She was accompanied by a group of Portuguese musicians, including Sebastião José Pereira, Flávio Cardoso, João Pimenta Gomes, Pedro Geraldes, and Tiago Maia.
NPR praised the performance as “a front-row seat to the joys and sorrows of fado’s spirit,” emphasizing how Carminho uses the genre as a foundation to explore other musical worlds while always returning to its centuries-old tradition.
Carminho’s appearance on Tiny Desk follows her recent U.S. tour and her involvement in Yorgos Lanthimos’ film Poor Things (Pobres Criaturas), which has helped introduce fado and the sounds of the Portuguese guitar to a global audience.
Reflecting on the experience, Carminho shared, “The invitation came during my U.S. tour in November 2024, and I had the opportunity to record these songs.” She also left a personal memento at the Tiny Desk studio: her debut album, Fado, symbolizing her roots and the journey that led her to this milestone.
Portuguese Artists on Tiny Desk
Carminho’s performance is part of a growing trend of Portuguese artists captivating audiences on Tiny Desk. MARO, who represented Portugal at the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest with “Saudade, Saudade,” became the first solo Portuguese female artist to perform on the show in 2023. Her soulful voice even earned praise from Billie Eilish, who expressed admiration for her talent.
Earlier, MARO had appeared on Tiny Desk as part of British singer Jacob Collier’s band, paving the way for other Portuguese musicians.
Months after MARO’s solo debut, Marta Pereira da Costa, the first and only woman to professionally master the traditional Portuguese guitar used in fado, took the stage. Accompanied by José João Pita Junior on classical guitar and Pedro Segundo on percussion, she performed five pieces, including her original composition “Minha Alma.”
While MARO, Marta Pereira da Costa, and Carminho have recently brought Portuguese music to the forefront, it was fado legend Camané who first introduced the genre to Tiny Desk audiences in 2015.
Accompanied by Carlos Manuel Presença on classical guitar and José Manuel Neto on Portuguese guitar, Camané performed three heartfelt songs: “Abandono,” “Cansaço,” and “Saudades Trago Comigo.”
NPR journalist Tom Huizenga described Camané’s baritone voice as “silky and emotive,” marveling at how such a powerful and beautiful sound could come from a man of small stature.
As NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series continues to grow in popularity worldwide, Portuguese artists are proving that the soulful sounds of fado and the Portuguese guitar resonate far beyond their homeland.