Cláudio Massena

About Cláudio Massena

Cláudio Massena is a singer from Cataguases, a city in Minas Gerais state in Brazil. His grandfather was the maestro and composer Nestor Massena, who inspired and encouraged Cláudio Massena to sing, write poems and compose. Mr. Massena's interest in poetry and acoustic guitar started in his early years. As a teenager he took part in many poetry contests, his poem "Star Guide" won the "Zona da Mata" contest and his "Gods of the Age" poem took the first place in the Cataguases Poetry Festival. Massena's poem "Beggar" was chosen as one of the best hundred poems of Brazil. His interest and curiosity led him to study and practice the acoustic guitar, an instrument that gave him the opportunity to open up his soul and heart through not only music, but also through composition and the writing of poems and chronicles. At the age of 18 Cláudio Massena divided his time between performances in bars and restaurants and his studies in Letters at the Federal University of Vicosa, in the state of Minas Gerais.

In 1991 Massena started to perform as singer and composer in many music festivals across Brazil. In 1994 he won the "XV FESTICAN" (the annual Music Festival of Barroso, Minas Gerais) with his song "In the Speed of Light" (Na Velocidade da Luz), that also became the title of his first album. It was also in 1994 that Cláudio Massena met and started to work with the famous brazilian producer Daniel Figueiredo, who partook and produced four of the songs in Massena's first album.

In 2000 singers Magno Lima and Chico Monteiro invited Massena to compose all the songs of the album "Dream to Two", some of its songs are now being broadcasted by radio Marpoense in Portugal.

In 2005 Cláudio Massena's song "Voce em Tudo" was released in an album in honour of Nossa Senhora da Penha (Our Lady of Penha), a project led by the renowned brazilian artist Jerry Adriani, who is Massena's co composer in the song, and the producer Daniel Figueiredo. The album has also the participation of singers and composers like Elba Ramalho, Silvio Brito, Carlos Cola and Jair Rodrigues. During that time Massena has also opened shows for many artists and played in different events, amongst them participations in Cadu de Andrade's shows at Minueto School of Music, in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais.

In 2012 he worked in partnership with the guitar player Salvador Marcio, from Cataguases, Minas Gerais.

By 2013 Cláudio Massena worked again with Daniel Figueiredo, now a winner of two Latin Grammys, in the composition and production of the songs "Bebida Favorita" (Favorite Drink) and "As Cores do Amor" (The Colors of Love). In the same year Massena started a musical partnership with Claudio da Mata, a singer and composer from Rio de Janeiro, resulting in the songs "Eu Nao Vou Te Deixar" (I Will Not Leave You), "Mais que Palavras" (More Than Words), "Despertador" (Alarm Clock), "Madrugada" (Dawn) and "O Amor é a Chave" (Love Is the Key).

Massena has also worked with Rio de Janeiro's singer and composer Arthur in a tribute to the famous brazilian singer Milton Nascimento and as singer in the hymn of the city of Cataguases DVD album. He was invited by the director Moacyr Lopes to participate in the Rainbow Ape Show, broadcasted by CINEC TV Channel in the city of Sao Paulo, the Rainbow Ape Show is broadcasted in brazilian and in international networks.

On January 2015 Cláudio Massena sang his songs in the program Gina Arietti - Sharing Emotions, also broadcasted in Sao Paulo.

In September 2016 his song "A Corrida do Rio" was chosen to be the opening song for the programme Roteiro de Minas, by the journalist Barbosa Neto. The programme is broadcasted by Bandeirantes and BH News TV channels.

He has also been performing with the singer Cadu de Andrade and guitar player Fabiano Nascimento in Brazil and abroad.

Cláudio Massena is currently working on the soundtrack of the play "Covers Forces", directed and produced by Emmanuel Messias, to be released in 2017 in the city of Cataguases, Minas Gerais.

Cláudio Massena's songs reflect the light of the mountains and the transparency of the waters of Minas Gerais; his melodies range from MPB to Pop Rock and New Age, reminding the listener of the acuteness of nature, spirituality and love.