Carmen Souza - Interconnectedness (2022)

Carmen Souza's music reflects her examination of Creole music culture and the history of its origins, which at the same time represents a history of slavery and colonization. Carmen Souza - award-winning world music and jazz singer and descendant of African slaves in Cape Verde - combines the Creole heritage of her native Cape Verde with elements of jazz. Her musical partner and bassist Theo Pascal grew up as the son of a Baptist priest who took care of African slaves. In their songs, the two artists process their cultural imprint and devote themselves musically to the Portuguese ex-colonies of Cape Verde, Mozambique, Angola and Brazil without falling into melancholy. Rather, they celebrate the roots of their home country Cape Verde and Portugal with joie de vivre and build a positive, musical present out of it.

The music of their new album "Interconnectedness" reflects very personal and global changes in the world in recent years. The experience of loss can change one's perspective on life, and consequently it changed Carmen Souza's music. The pandemic has challenged us all, calling into question values, morals and humanity, while leaving a state of insecurity and vulnerability. It is precisely this vulnerability that gives Carmen Souza's music its own atmosphere and fascination. With her musical partner Theo Pascal, she had the time to reflect on her existence as an artist and to hone and experiment. The return to past concerts around the world allows a feeling of joy and lightheartedness to flow into the album. This combination pulls the listener under a spell of the familiar and the fascinating new.