Pedro Castanheira

bio | vision

Com destino a ... it's a piece based on the concept of departure, either by land or water, therefore enhancing the sounds of the trams, trains, boats and even the somehow nostalgic sounds of the church bells in the surrounding area, that have been overwatching the departure and arrival of so many generations.

With a degree in sociology from iscte, he studied for a year at the faculty of political sciences in bologna, italy (2002/2003), and in cape verde (2005) where he wrote his graduation thesis on music in the country in direct relation to globalization (música di nos'terra! - o local e o global na música em cabo verde). it was in 2004 that pedro ended up dedicating himself professionally to music, standing out as a composer and multi-instrumentalist, with a broad experience in different ways of approaching music. he has composed and played in several groups, almost always through his own compositions and arrangements, such as the solo project, mr. castanho, the almagreira trio, the folha quartet, the yemanjazz septet, or the falua quartet. he has collaborated with several artists in different areas such as painting, poetry, dance, burlesque, new circus, theater, and even cooking, also developing an intense activity in the creation of soundtracks for documentaries. pedro has also explored composition with non-conventional sounds and instruments, like the concert for a city - lisboa em si or the piece - it is strictly forbidden to spit on the floor (composition for streetcars at carris museum in lisbon). recently he edited a book about amália rodrigues with porto editora seal, and is also the author of the script and soundtrack of a theater play around the history of fado - burla da velha lisboa.