Hugo Ferreira
Encyclopedia
Hugo Ferreira is a Portuguese-American
African-born rock musician and singer-songwriter for the band Tantric
.
colonial settlers. After the independence of Angola
in 1975, his family moved to Hudson, Massachusetts
in the United States. Hugo began playing the piano
at around age 5. According to his biography, he began thinking about writing and composing music at 14 years of age. Before becoming a more mainstream artist, Ferreira was a member of wedding bands, dance music groups, "off-tune" rock groups, and Portuguese folklore groups. After graduating from Hudson High School
in 1992, he moved to Detroit, Michigan
, where he started the band Merge. In the course of the next four years, the band self-released a record and a six-song tape.
in 1999, where he co-founded the band Tantric
along with former members of Days of the New
: Jesse Vest, Todd Whitener, and Matt Taul. The band released their first album
in 2001, with Hugo providing lead vocals. This debut proved a success, but after their second album
, label troubles led to frustrated bandmates leaving. Ferreira saw no other option but to continue working under the Tantric name; as he once joked "I had the band name tattooed on me, so there was no going back." He remained the only original member for the release of Tantric's third album
in 2008. As of 2009, Ferreira is still working under the Tantric name and completed its fourth studio effort
that same year.
Currently living in Louisville, Kentucky.
Portuguese American
Portuguese Americans are citizens of the United States whose ancestry originates in the southwest European nation of Portugal, including the offshore island groups of the Azores and Madeira....
African-born rock musician and singer-songwriter for the band Tantric
Tantric (band)
Tantric is a rock band from Louisville, Kentucky. The group has released four studio albums since 2001; although, their last two albums only retain Tantric's original singer, Hugo Ferreira...
.
Biography
Hugo Ferreira was born on March 7, 1974 in Luanda, Angola, which at the time was a Portuguese colony, to PortuguesePortuguese Angolans
Portuguese Angolan is a person of Portuguese descent born or permanently living in Angola.-History:The first Portuguese settlements in Angola were established in the 16th century. Some Portuguese settlers married native Africans resulting in a mixed-race population...
colonial settlers. After the independence of Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
in 1975, his family moved to Hudson, Massachusetts
Hudson, Massachusetts
Hudson is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 19,063 at the 2010 census. The town is located in central Massachusetts, about a 40-minute drive, or about , west of Boston, and about a 20-minute drive, or about , northeast of Worcester.Before its...
in the United States. Hugo began playing the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
at around age 5. According to his biography, he began thinking about writing and composing music at 14 years of age. Before becoming a more mainstream artist, Ferreira was a member of wedding bands, dance music groups, "off-tune" rock groups, and Portuguese folklore groups. After graduating from Hudson High School
Hudson High School (Massachusetts)
Hudson High School is a public high school located in Hudson, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It is administered by the Hudson Public Schools system, and serves grades 8 through 12 . The current principal is John H...
in 1992, he moved to Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, where he started the band Merge. In the course of the next four years, the band self-released a record and a six-song tape.
Role in Tantric
Hugo Ferreira moved to Louisville, KentuckyLouisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
in 1999, where he co-founded the band Tantric
Tantric (band)
Tantric is a rock band from Louisville, Kentucky. The group has released four studio albums since 2001; although, their last two albums only retain Tantric's original singer, Hugo Ferreira...
along with former members of Days of the New
Days of the New
Days of the New is an American alternative rock band from Louisville, Kentucky, formed in 1995. The band consists of vocalist/guitarist Travis Meeks and a variety of supporting musicians...
: Jesse Vest, Todd Whitener, and Matt Taul. The band released their first album
Tantric (album)
Tantric is the eponymous debut album of American post-grunge band of the same name. It was released February 13, 2001 and debuted at #193 on the Billboard 200...
in 2001, with Hugo providing lead vocals. This debut proved a success, but after their second album
After We Go
After We Go is the second studio album by Louisville post-grunge band Tantric. Released on February 24, 2004, it debuted at #56 on the Billboard Album Charts but quickly lost momentum due to the lack of a strong single. Despite the lack of radio success, the album is considered a success by singer...
, label troubles led to frustrated bandmates leaving. Ferreira saw no other option but to continue working under the Tantric name; as he once joked "I had the band name tattooed on me, so there was no going back." He remained the only original member for the release of Tantric's third album
The End Begins
The End Begins is the third studio album from Louisville, KY-based band Tantric. It is the first one recorded without the band's original members Todd Whitener, Matt Taul, and Jesse Vest...
in 2008. As of 2009, Ferreira is still working under the Tantric name and completed its fourth studio effort
Mind Control (Tantric album)
Mind Control is the fourth album by American post-grunge band Tantric and was released on August 4, 2009. It is the band's second album under Silent Majority Group and was produced by Brett Hestla, marking Tantric's departure from mainstay producer Toby Wright...
that same year.
Currently living in Louisville, Kentucky.