Better known by her stage name MARO, Mariana Brito da Cruz Forjaz Secca, 24, is the winner of the 56th edition of Festival da Canção and will represent Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 with the song “Saudade, Saudade.” MARO won the Portuguese edition of the contest with both the public vote and the jury vote.
Born in Lisbon, Portugal, MARO immigrated to the United States, where she graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston before settling in Los Angeles, California. Currently she is touring with British songwriter performer Jacob Collier a 5th Grammy Award winner.
MARO, who is a singer and songwriter, released her first album in 2108. All songs are organized chronologically and are sung in Portuguese and English.
She started studying classical piano at the age of 4, later completing in Lisbon the Conservatory Diploma at the age of 17, along with her High School Diploma. She wrote her first of song at age 11 and at 12 she started playing the guitar, as an autodidact, adding other instruments, such as the electric bass, to her voice and composition process.
The Eurovision Song Contest, sponsored by the European Broadcasting Union, will take place in Turin, Italy, on May 10. 2022, featuring participants representing primarily European countries. Forty countries will take part in the contest,
Portugal joined the Eurovision family in 1964 and held the record for the most appearances in the Eurovision Song Contest without a win until 2017 when Salvador Sobral won the trophy in Kyiv, Ukraine with his song Amar Pelos Dois. The 2018 Eurovision Song Contest was then held in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon following Salvador Sobral winning the competition.
Inspired by musicians such as Milton Nascimento, Joni Mitchell, Rajery, Elis Regina or Esperanza Spalding. Some of the high moments in MARO’s career include working with Rui Veloso (2016), Tigran Hamasyan (2017), Fatai and Carolina Deslandes (2018).
PAJ/Staff
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