BIOGRAPHIES
CATHARSIS
SELF-EXPRESSION
THE BAND
Catharsis is a portuguese group from Lisbon, Portugal. The band consists of Andreia Santos (vocals), Ana Vaz (keyboards),Daniela Fonseca (drums) and Joana Enes (strings). This group of girls decided to express their deepest feelings through music, freeing themselves from their fears and nightmares. Catharsis released their debut single “Strangers” in 2010. The song was initially unsuccessful, but it became a worldwide hit several months after the release of their debut album, “Self-Expression” (2011).
The album “Self-Expression” reflects the soul of the group and seeks to merge with the listeners, in order to identifey with each song and explore their senses, seeking answers to their true self.
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ANDREIA SANTOS
Andreia was born on 9 December 1993, in Lisbon. Her youth was filled with a huge question mark when it came to sexual orientation, which caused a somewhat troubled childhood. Knowing that her parents would have a bad reaction to this issue, she made it a secret until the age of 16. Due to all the commotion caused in her familiar environment, Andreia started skipping school and relating to drug addicted friends, consequently becoming a heroin addict herself. Eventually she overdosed and signed in to rehab, becoming friends with Daniela on her first day there and meeting Ana and
Joana later on. Before being in rehabilitation she took comfort in music, spending her whole days listening and composing, which is why she came up with the idea of forming a band with her new friends. It seemed a perfect idea since they all loved music so much. This idea came to reality under the name “Catharsis� in 2010. Andreia is the brains behind the band, being in a constant search for new melodies, giving the band a relevant status when it comes to creativity and uniqueness worldwide.
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ANA VAZ
Ana was born on 20 May 1993, in Almada. She’s an only child, daughter of Artur Vaz and Virginia Araujo. Ana was brought up in a hostile familiar environment, where psychological torture and violence persisted. Her mother was an alcoholic and her father was the head of a drug cartel; hence her drug addiction and uncontrollable aggressiveness. At the age of 17 she went to a drug rehab clinic, where she completely devastated and fell to alcohol, the only way she could find to relive the pain and suffering. One day, she decided to sign herself in rehab in order to straighten her life up. Then
Andreia came along and gave her the strength she needed to carry on. A few days after she also met Ana and Joana, which were also Andreia’s friends by then. When the idea of forming a band was floating around her head, she suggested that it should be a trip rock band. This musical style was appreciated by the four, it was well accepted and “Catharsis” was born. In 2010 they became official and started recording under a label, while playing a few small concerts around Portugal and subsequently all over America and Europe due to their success.
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DANIELA FONSECA
Daniela was born on 18 November 1993 in Bragança. During her teenage years, Daniela had a huge disappointment; at the age of 14, she started dating a boy of a humble, low class, but hardworking family. After 2 years dating, being this relationship not approved by her family at all, her grandfather decided to put an end to it by murdering her boyfriend. When Daniela found out about it, she became completely devastated and fell to alcohol, the only way she could find to relive the pain and suffering. One day, she decided to sign herself in rehab in order to straighten her life up. Then
Andreia came along and gave her the strength she needed to carry on. A few days after she also met Ana and Joana, which were also Andreia’s friends by then. When the idea of forming a band was floating around her head, she suggested that it should be a trip rock band. This musical style was appreciated by the four, it was well accepted and “Catharsis” was born. In 2010 they became official and started recording under a label, while playing a few small concerts around Portugal.
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JOANA ENES
Joana was born on 30 August 1992 to Carlos Enes and Anabela Silva in Faro. At the age of 7, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Due to her illness, Joana refused to take her medication and instead started cutting herself and taking drugs, which only made her condition a lot worse. When her parents became aware of the seriousness of the situation she was immediately assigned to a drug rehabilitation clinic where she later met Ana, Andreia and Daniela – her band mates. As well as the others, she overcame her drug related issues (and also the self-mutilation problem) through music, which
she loves dearly since an early age. Composing music is the reason why she never felt depressed anymore and was able to contain her bipolarity. The girls band – Catharsis - was made official in 2010. Since then, they have been touring mainly throughout America and Europe. Joana’s utter dream is to reach world success.
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