Although only 23 years old, she has traveled quite a  distance to sing for you.  A Cape Verdean born in Cuba, she has lived in Senegal, Angola, Germany, Portugal and France as well as Cape Verde.

At the age of 16 Mayra won the gold medal at an international music festival in Canada.  Charles Aznavour, the French chanteur par excellence, invited her to sing a duet with him for his 2005 album.  She also recorded with Brazilian pop stars Chico Buarque and Lenine.

When Sterns Music released Miss Andrade's own album, Navega, in Britain last year, Songlines praised it as “an astonishingly mature debut that satisfies more deeply with every listen.”  All That Jazz summed it up as “totally gorgeous.”  Likening Mayra Andrade to Cesaria Evora, The Independent hailed her as “the new diva of Cape Verde.”  And when she performed at the sold-out Barbican Centre in London this March, The Financial Times reported that she “seduced and drew the audience to its feet for a full ovation,” The Guardian declared “She has it all: musicianship, charm and confidence,” and The Daily Telegraph recognized her as “a true star.”  The BBC deemed her the World Music Newcomer of the Year and invited her to perform in its annual Promenades at the Royal Albert Hall in July.

Now the newcomer has come to America.. Sterns Music is releasing Navega in North America through Koch Distribution on September 2.