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The de Souza Family Singers have just released their new album, "Passports".

Born in New Zealand, raised in Australia, attended primary school in Fiji, studied in France and now living in the United States, this family of 8 children bring to you a collection of songs from all round the world. You can hear folk songs from Ireland and Australia, marching songs in Zulu, traditional songs from France and a Patriotic Medley from the USA.

"It's been six years since we cut their first album," says Theresa, their mother. "They've continued singing in and out of different choirs and choral groups during our relocations to France and then the United States."

"People will hear a different quality," says Dominic, 21. "The sopranos in 'Sensus Sacrorum' are now our base singers."

Even with a difference in quality, the de Souza Family Singers have retained their unique blend. "We're not a group of volunteers in a church choir," says Dominic. "We're a family of eight children. I think the fact that we're all brothers and sisters has played the biggest factor in how we sound."

Nunzio Mondia, International producer-composer said that they are "Sensational and soulful, a great ensemble. The blend and balance of harmony is outstanding."

"This new album is really a journey," says Theresa. "A journey that takes you places most people have never heard any music from. I find it amazing to hear how the children have all sung not only in seven different languages, but they've pulled off four different accents depending on whether the song is American, British, Australian or Irish."

Their singing history has shown their interest. After a performance in an archdiocesan conference in Australia, an article in ‘The Record’, Perth’s Catholic weekly newspaper, jokingly exclaimed that ‘they sang in every language except Chinese and Eskimo!'  In their love for languages, Raymond and Theresa had taught French nursery rhymes, Latin madrigals, English folksongs and various national anthems in their original tongues, among many others.

Their most famous song from 'Sensus Sacrorum', "Gaudete", is used in the DVD series created by EWTN Home Video. "Jesus Christ: True God True Man" is a 13 episode series featuring Raymond de Souza.

In 2009, the de Souza Family Choir made their United States debut at a Catholic Conference in Central Valley, NY. Before a crowd of over seven hundred people, all eight sang folk songs and hymns to a resounding ovation.

Whereas their previous album focused on the discovery and maintenance of the sense of the sacred, this new album focuses on cultural heritage and distinction. "The history of the world and all its cultures is incredibly rich," says Raymond. "Our modern age is rapidly losing its sense of cultural identity into a single super-culture that is essentially de-Christianized. This CD is our contribution to fight this and restore cultural diversity."

And a contribution it is too. The album's title "Passports" is an effort to bring back the wonder that travelling to other countries used to have. "You never see this any more," says Dominic. "The concept of a global village has made all cities look the same. I can't remember the last film I saw where going to another country was a cultural adventure, and not just an airport stopover."

In the last twenty years, members of the de Souza family have travelled to every major continent. "We want to share what we've picked up along the way," says Theresa. "And if you grab your "Passports", you can share it with us!"

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