Grandson of a generation of cape-verdeans who departed to Holland, Nelson Freitas started in 1997 as part of Quatro, a band who was exploring a new sound, halfway through zouk and kizomba, with r&b and hip hop influences. Their three albums, released over seven years, brought them success in countries like Cabo Verde, Angola or Mozambique & Portugal.
 

Nelson became an unlikely leader within Quatro, and he remembers when the band’s journey was nearing the end: “we were recording the last album and I was experimenting things by myself. I was living and breathing music, 24 hours a day. But I had no idea how people would interact to me.” “Magic”, the debut album, arrived in 2007, followed by “My Life”, in 2010, and “Elevate” in 2013. All these albums have a lead single that tells a story of growth: from “Deeper” to “Rebound Chick” and “Bô Tem Mel”, the latter becoming a pivotal moment on Nelson’s career: “It was a year when I learned a lot. 2014 was the year I did the most concerts in my life,” including Coliseu dos Recreios and MEO Arena, Portugal’s biggest venues.

But then came “Miúda Linda”, the ideal calling card for Nelson’s 2016 album “Four:”

“I went completely opposite of “Bô Tem Mel”. In portuguese, because I wanted to

challenge myself. I don’t like to be on my comfort zone. I get bored easily.” Miuda

Linda became the biggest song so far with over 53 million views on youtube.
 

The follow-up single, “Break of Dawn”, with Richie Campbell, also helped shape the

album: “That song is an example of what I had in mind with this record: breaking

boundaries. I hope to inspire new artists to do something they feel, not what might

play on the radio.”
 

Other collaborations include Mayra Andrade, Mikkel Solnado and Loony Johnson

and then the album Four was born and went platinum.
 

The latest album is called Sempre Verão and was released in September 2019. With

the hit singles Bolo Ku Pudim, Manha Cedo & Dominar Nelson sails of on yet

another Journey.