Album review: CARISA is a radiant new voice from Cabo Verde

22 Apr 2025 - 11:58

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

Carisa Dias emerges as part of a dynamic new wave of Cabo Verdean artists reshaping the sound of world music, and her debut marks the arrival of a bold, refreshing talent. With her first album CARISA, she blends the rich musical heritage of Cabo Verde with a wide spectrum of global influences, delivering a strikingly personal and powerful musical statement.

Carisa Dias.

The music of Cabo Verde has long travelled beyond the shores of the archipelago, carried by wind, rhythm, and the deep emotion embedded in its storytelling. Genres like morna, coladeira, funaná, and batuque have echoed across continents, shaping the sonic identity of a nation born of longing, movement, and resistance. Carisa Dias steps confidently into this legacy, adding her own chapter to a story once carried by legends such as Cesária Évora.

Born in Luxembourg to Cabo Verdean parents, Carisa is the embodiment of cultural duality. She grew up straddling multiple worlds, her soul rooted in the islands, while her experience was shaped by the diaspora. From early performances in gospel choirs to collaborations with artists across Brussels and Luxembourg, Carisa slowly but surely developed a sound that mirrors her multicultural identity—and what a sound it is.

Released in March 2025, CARISA is a ten-track debut album that showcases an extraordinary range and emotional depth. The record weaves together morna, afrobeats, bossa nova, pop, and soul into a lush, genre-defying soundscape. Sung in Portuguese, Cabo Verdean Creole, English, and French, the album reflects the fluid, borderless identity of a modern artist navigating and uniting multiple cultural landscapes.

The album’s production is as thoughtful as its writing. With executive production by Mesaro Soares—whose work spans both London and Lisbon—and additional contributions from Elton Sousa (affiliated with the iconic Lusafrica label) and the celebrated Cape Verdean musician Hernâni Almeida, CARISA is deeply rooted in authenticity while confidently pushing into global territory.

What truly makes CARISA stand out, however, is not just the polished fusion of styles or the pedigree of its collaborators, but the honesty and vulnerability in Carisa’s voice. This is not a debut that plays it safe—it is a declaration of identity, heritage, and resilience. Carisa Dias doesn’t simply perform world music, she embodies it.

More than an album, CARISA is a manifesto of belonging, a luminous portrait of cultural fusion, and the launch of a significant new voice in global music. Keep your ears on Carisa Dias, this is only the beginning.