Lisbon: Music for all tastes on the San Miguel stage < 10

Heartworms, MAQUINA, Boy Harsher and Róisín Murphy were the names on the San Miguel stage, with the audience able to see and hear a variety of musical genres.

Heartworms

The British Heartworms musical project of English singer and songwriter Josephine “Jojo” Orme. A captivating artist known for her blend of post-punk, gothic rock and dance-punk, often incorporating elements of electroclash, post-industrial and electronic music.

Their songs feature deep, pulsating bass lines, sharp guitars and intense rhythms, creating a melancholic and immersive soundscape. You can hear clear echoes of bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, Joy Division and The Cure in their sound.

Despite the dark themes, many of their tracks have an undeniable dance-punk energy, making them very appealing. Heartworms have a strong visual identity, with Orme often performing in vintage military attire and berets, contributing to their disciplined and striking stage presence.

Their lyrics explore themes of control, vulnerability, personal struggles and social observations, sometimes using military imagery as metaphor.

They are signed to Dan Carey’s Speedy Wunderground label, known for its fast-paced production, which matches their energetic sound. Their debut EP, A Comforting Notion, is due out in 2023, and their debut album, Glutton for Punishment, in 2025.

MAQUINA

Making it big is Portuguese rock band MAQUINA, a Lisbon-based trio known for their minimalist approach and raw energy. Formed by Tomás Brito (bass), Halison Peres (drums, vocals and lyrics) and João (guitar), they operate as a cohesive unit to create a sound that is both hypnotic and danceable.

MAQUINA is a fusion of repetitive and hypnotic rhythms that invite dance, EBM (Electronic Body Music) and Industrial Techno, incorporating the pulse and intensity of electronic music.

With abrasive guitars and a relentless energy that harks back to punk and more experimental rock, the band focuses on the power of their instruments (guitar, bass and drums) without the use of synthesisers, creating an “organic dance music” that is equal parts punk and psychedelic.

They describe their music as something that “brings together the rocker with the sideburns with the young alternatives with the sideburns”, indicating their ability to appeal to a diverse audience. Their live performance at MEO Kalorama was hard and intense.

Discography
“DIRTY FAILURES FOR CLUBBING” (EP, 2023)
“PRATA” (Album, 2024)

model/atriz

Coming from New York, the model/actress brought their experimental and post-punk rock to MEO Kalorama.

The quartet is known for their abrasive, visceral and often claustrophobic sound, which manifests itself both in the studio and in their intense live performances.

The band is composed of:

Cole Haden: Vocals
Aaron Shapiro: Guitar
Jake Lazovick: Bass
Ruben Radlauer: Drums

With propulsive rhythms and guitars that vary between angular and hypnotic, to elements of noise and dissonance, create a tense atmosphere and textures and beats that refer to industrial sound.

They are always pushing the boundaries of rock, unafraid to be unconventional. Cole Haden is known for his powerful and emotionally charged vocal performances, which can range from whispers to guttural screams. His lyrics address themes of sexuality, desire, anxiety and power politics.

Their Discography includes:

Their critically acclaimed debut album, Dogsbody (2023), solidified their reputation as one of the most exciting bands to emerge from the underground rock scene. The album is a raw and pulsating exploration of identity and desire, with tracks such as “Crossing Guard” and “Amaranth”.

Boy Harsher

Boy Harsher’s shows are highly regarded for their intense atmosphere, powerful sound and the magnetic presence of Jae Matthews – nothing is more true – they quickly won over festival audiences.

They often incorporate visual elements that complement their dark aesthetic, creating an intense experience for the audience.

Formed in 2013, American electronic music duo Boy Harsher, consisting of Jae Matthews (vocals, lyrics) and Augustus Muller (production, instruments), based in Northampton, Massachusetts, has gained a significant cult following for their dark, intense and often cinematic sound.

Boy Harsher’s music is known for its blend of various genres of dark electronic music, most notably Darkwave, which is characterised by atmospheric synths, often melancholic melodies and a melancholic mood, but also Minimal Synth/Coldwave, EBM (Electronic Body Music), post-Industrial and electropop.

While dark, their music often maintains a pop sensibility, Jae Matthews is the defining element, ranging from hushed, sensual tones to raw, emotional chants and screams. Augustus Muller’s production creates a stark, pulsating, and often unsettling soundscape, with minimalist beats and blaring synths.

Discography

Lesser Man EP (2014) – An early release that gained significant underground traction.
Pain (EP, 2015) – Features their iconic track “Pain,” which became an underground hit and was featured in films such as Terrifier 2.
Yr Body Is Nothing (2016) – Their debut album.
Careful (2019) – One of their most well-received albums, further cementing the band’s sound.
Country Girl Uncut (2019) – An extended version of her 2017 EP.
The Runner (Original Soundtrack) (2022) – A companion album to the horror short, showcasing her cinematic influences.
Burn It Down (EP, 2022) – Featured on Halloween Ends.
Machina EP (2024) – Her most recent EP.

Róisín Murphy

Róisín Murphy closed the second day of the San Miguel Stage. Acclaimed Irish singer, songwriter and music producer, celebrated for her innovative approach to electronic, art-pop and dance music, she first rose to fame as a member of the duo Moloko before embarking on a highly successful solo career.

Róisín Murphy’s sound is a rich and eclectic mix of Electropop and Dance-Pop, with catchy beats, sophisticated electronic arrangements and a strong emphasis on rhythm, which combines Art Pop and Avant-Pop, Nu-Disco and Trip Hop but also Jazz and Funk.

Róisín is known for her captivating and theatrical live performances, with a striking stage presence. Her impactful voice can range from cool and detached to soulful and powerful.

Róisín explores diverse themes, often with an ironic or introspective touch, and is known for her strong sense of visual aesthetics in her music videos and images.

Her discography includes:

With Moloko:
Do You Like My Tight Sweater? (1995)
I Am Not a Doctor (1998) – with the hit “Sing It Back”
Things to Do and Do (2000)
Statistics (2003)

Solo:
Ruby Blue (2005)
Overpowered (2007) – with her solo hit “Overpowered”.
Hairless Toys (2015)
Take Her to Monto (2016)
Róisín Machine (2020)
Hit Parade (2023) – Her most recent studio album, which received significant critical acclaim.

The Panorama Lisboa stage featured Viegas, Identified Patient, Kelly Lee Owens and Helena Hauff on the second day, with dance and electronic rhythms once again being king.

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