Tiago Trotta

Tiago Trotta was born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1978. He formed his band in the late 1990s with João Ribeiro on bass and André Tentugal on drums. Their first album came out in 2002, and they've released six studio albums since then, including 'As Cortinas' in 2010 and 'Duelo' in 2016.

His song 'As Cortinas' became particularly well-known, along with tracks like 'Blue Hair' and 'Copo de Café'. The music draws from the kind of lyrical songwriting you hear in Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Nick Drake, artists Trotta listened to growing up.

Some listeners have found his lyrics somber, but that directness has connected with people who appreciate that kind of emotional honesty. He's kept writing and recording through the 2000s and 2010s, putting out albums every few years without much fanfare.