Mio Matsuda began her singing career when she discovered fado, the magical traditional music of Portugal. Living in Lisbon and learning the culture, she developed fado as a form of her own self-expression. While studying fado in traditional Casa de fado (fado houses) in Lisbon, she became familiar with the music from the diasporas of Portuguese influenced countries.

In 2004, she traveled to Minas Gerais, Brazil, representing Portugal, to sing in the event called "Na Ponta da Lingua," as a representative vocalist. In the same year, she was invited to sing for a month in the Cape Verde islands where she discovered the beauty of Creole music. Her trans-Atlantic musical experience led her to record her first album "Atlântica" (2005 JVC) in Rio de Janeiro. "Atlantica" united songs from the many Atlantic Ocean ports of Portugal, Cape Verde and Brazil, mixing the lovely sounds of these three highly musical countries.

In the following year, Mio recorded her second album “Pitanga!”(2006 JVC) in Rio de Janeiro. On "Pitanga," she recorded her own compositions inspired by the northeast Brazilian rhythms and rituals. Her voice mixed with the many instruments and musical styles of that highly musical area.

In 2007, She recorded her 3rd Album "Asas" in Rio de Janeiro with the masters of Brazilian popular music;Cristovao Bastos(piano) and Joao Lyra(guitar). In this work she combined Japanese sweet and sentimental melodies with Brazilian "saudade ".In the same year, she toured all over Japan with the guitarist Joao Lyra.

In 2008, she was invited to take part of Jonathan Nossiter 's new film " Gringos do Rio" as a singer.
She released the album "Luar" dedicated to Japanese immigrants in Brazil, with which she gave a concert in Recife.

In 2009, she recorded her 4th album " Flor Criolla" with Hugo Fattoruso and Tomohiro Yahiro. In this album she sings brilliant tunes from Brazil, Uruguai, Venezuela, Argentine, Peru,Mexico and her own composition inspired by Creole cultures.
Also, she toured with Ricardo Sandoval and Matthias Collet in France and Japan, singing Venezuelan tunes to Fado.

Recently her musical world constantly enlarges through her inumerous journeys. She eagerly seeks the musical essence of various lands and languages, and represents them in her own voice.

Photo by Mariko Itagaki