In the world of fado, Marta Pereira da Costa is a rarity – an instrumentalist, composer and band leader who masters and plays the Portuguese guitar professionally.

Historically, this has been the kingdom of men, but she broke with tradition. She is the first woman to play Portuguese guitar professionally in Fado. When we listen to Marta, the guitar transforms into voice and Fado discovers new styles.

Marta takes Fado to the world and brings the world to Fado. The audience accompanies her on a journey through traditional Portuguese music, with some stops at other sonorities such as Brazilian Chorinho, Cape Verdean morna, world music or jazz. These different genres are interpreted with sensitivity and delicacy, but her performances are intense and dynamic, keeping always the Portuguese soul and identity.

In 2011, she recorded the Portuguese guitar for the album Fados de Amor by her then husband, Rodrigo Costa Félix, which was awarded Best Fado Album of the Year in 2012 by the Amália Rodrigues Foundation.

In 2014 she received the Instrumentalist Award from the Amália Rodrigues Foundation.

In 2016, she presented his first album, self-titled, released in May 2016, by Warner Music Portugal, which was produced by Filipe Raposo and featured Rui Veloso, Dulce Pontes, Camané, Pedro Jóia, Richard Bona and Tara Tiba.

In 2017, Tivoli BBVA sold out for the first time.

In 2019, she made her first major tour of the USA, coast-to-coast, visiting the South by Southwest Festival, Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center, with 8 sold-out shows.

In 2023 Marta performed at TINY DESK ( 1 million views).

In 2024 she also released her second album “Sem Palavras”, a work that establishes a meeting between the Portuguese guitar and the piano of the Latin Grammy winner Ivan Melon Lewis, with original compositions and others by names as diverse as Carlos Paredes, George Gershwin, Joaquín Rodrigo or Chick Corea, António Pinho Vargas or José Luís Tinoco. The premieres of the album, at Casa da Música and Tivoli BBVA, two emblematic and distinguished concert venues in Porto and Lisbon respectively, were sold out.

Also in 2024-2025, Marta performs more than 50 concerts, mainly abroad, with enormous success, having visited the United Nations, Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Panama, India, Macau, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Spain, France, England, USA, Canada, Switzerland.

In 2024, she received the Composition Award from Voz do Operário.

In 2025, she received Best Instrumental Award from IPMA Awards. And was nominated for Best Fado Album from Portuguese Music Awards (Prémios PLAY).

Marta has collaborated on a wide range of shows: Richard Bona, Dulce Pontes, Mayra Andrade, Tito Paris, Toquinho, Hamilton de Holanda, Maestro Jaques Morelembaum, Tara Tiba, etc.

Marta Pereira da Costa has gained worldwide recognition and continues to captivate and grow audiences with her evocative performances, showcasing the timeless beauty and emotional depth of the Portuguese soul of her guitar playing.

“I know that I play with great passion and that is my truth” is also the manifesto of Marta Pereira da Costa, a guitarist with an infinite universe within her.