Kim Alves

Published by caboverde on 09/18/202509/18/2025

Joaquim Fernandes Alves

Kim Alves at the KMagic Studio, Praia, 2004.
Photo: Gláucia Nogueira

Praia, Santiago, 1966

Songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, music producer, arranger

Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, music producer, and self-taught sound engineer Kim Alves, before founding his own recording studio in 2003 – KMagic Digital Studio in Praia – spent several years living abroad, working as a musician and producer to fulfill a promise he made at the age of 15: “In the face of the difficulties we faced with instruments, travel, etc., I promised myself that one day I would save enough money to have my own recording studio.” Through his studio, numeral musical works in various styles – by Cabo Verdean artists and beyond – have been produced.

But his journey as a musician began much earlier. His father, Nho Djonzinho Alves, a violinist, used to bring his children – while they were still young – to accompany him at the dances he played in the city of Praia. One of his fondest memories from that time is night when, at the age of 8, he was assigned to play the rattles. In the rhythm of the party, the same song could last over half an hour. With exhausted arms and no permission to stop, he eventually began crying – but kept steady with the rhythm. Crying and playing, that momentary hardship didn’t keep him from music; on the contrary, by age 9, he had won a guitar solo contest. Later, he and his father and brothers recorded two albums under the group name Pai & Filhos.

During his adolescence, he participated in several groups in the city of Praia, such as Sodade, Voz d’África, Zeca Santos, and Abel Djassi. In the 1990s, he joined Os Tubarões and Finaçon.

His compositions have been recorded by artists from various musical styles. Regarding solo projects, Kim Alves has released only one album to date – an instrumental work that blends various Cabo Verdean musical genres.

Kim Alves in the 1970s (right) and 1990s (center). Photos courtesy of Kim Alves. On piano (left) at an event at the Palace of Culture, Praia, 2005. Photo: Gláucia Nogueira

Songs

(list not exhaustive) Amor ki bom; Ano 2000; Badiu si…; Bu mundo a parte; Caxon ca tem cofre; Congonha; Demo d’inferno; Dibrui; Dificuldade di imigraçon; Dispidida; Djan djan; Djon d’inferno; Flor encantada;Fronta Maria; Homis di gossi; Iluson (Solidon); Inconsolada; Jogo de amor; Ka bo frontam; Kumpadri Palo; M’ba ku taça; Milénio; Nha Damáxa; Nha Dunda; O meu malandro; Paixon; Pomba branca; Pedracin; Prosa di paz; Pulguinha na língua; Simplicidade; Sonho consoladu; Tradiçon;Volta pa mi coraçon.