Marta Dias' first professional recordings were with the pioneering, Lisbon-based
Hip hop tuga artist General D, (originally from Mozambique). She was featured on his songs "Amigo Prekavido" and "Raiz Desenraizadao" for the album
Pé Na Tchôn, Karapinha Na Céu (EMI-1995), one of the first hip hop releases in Portugal. The recording (and concerts) with General D led to more acquaintances within the Lisbon music community. She soon recorded the song, "Bairro De Lata" with the jazzy hip hop band,
Cool Hipnoise and also recorded the songs "Good Cookies", "Umbilibus" and "Escape From The City Of Angels" with
Ithaka Darin Pappas, a Greek-American artist residing in Portugal, for his album
Flowers and the Color of Paint. In 1996, Marta recorded her first solo album, "Y.U.É" produced and composed by UK musician Jonathan Miller for the Portuguese label, União Lisboa. Californian songwriter, Ithaka provided lyrics for two of the tracks, "Learn To Fly" and "Look To The Blue", (on
Look to the Blue, Ithaka also appeared as a guest vocalist). The album earned Marta the "Best Female Vocalist" award at Channel
SICTV's annual televised
Premios Blitz, (the Portuguese "
Grammy Award". António Chainho and Marta Dias performed together for the first time in November 1998, at a concert in honor of the guitarist's 30-year career. Marta Dia sang "Barco Negro" and "Nemes Paredes I confess". It was the beginning of a musical association that would last almost a decade. Through the years, she continued to collaborate with other artists on both recordings and live performances. In 1997, she appeared on Ithaka's track "Ursula Of Ithaka" for the album,
Stellafly. In 1998, she performed with singing star Kika Santos at the
Expo '98 ((1998 Lisbon World Exposition). The song, "Amazing Grace" by African Voices. "Invisivel" by Fernando Cunha for his album Só Há Tempo P´ra Viver Agora. The song and "Nada Mudou" by Santos e Pecadores. In 1999, she also participated on TV personality
Herman José's Christmas album. In 1999, Marta Dias release her second solo effort entitled "Aqui"(Here), which included several cover versions by known Portuguese language artist such as; "Dream" originally by
Madredeus, Madresongs such as "Fado Morno", the traditional Galician "En el Sagrado en Vigo", from the songbook of Martim Codax, "Toxicity" of the GNR, Madredeus "Dream", "Eu Contigo "by Sérgio Godinho," Ossobô ", by the Brazilian Marcelo da Veiga," Grão de Arroz "," Senhora "by João Roiz de Castel-Branco," Sou Tua "or" Ahora Baixou o Sol ", this collection Giacometti. This album was nominated for the José Afonso Awards. Until the end of 2001, Marta Dias toured nationally with the songs from Aqui, also performing concerts in Spain and special a concert in São Paulo, Brazil with
Ney Matogrosso, in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the arrival of the Portuguese in Brazil. In 2003, António Chaínho and Marta Dias, after years of touring internationally together since 1998 released the album "Ao Vivo no CCB" (Live at the Centre Cultural de Bélem, Lisbon), recorded January 28 and 29 of 2003. The record includes seven original tracks, four of which having never been recorded before. The two have continued to collaborate on recordings and live concerts until today. ==Recent career==