Samalandra

𝙈𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙥 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙬𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙎𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙖’𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙀𝙋 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙘 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙨 — 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.

This Lisbon-based trio — composed of Débora King (synths and vocals), Tiago Martins (bass and samples), and João Neves (drums) — operates at a rare intersection where contemporary jazz, experimental electronics, and songwriting in Portuguese dissolve into one another. Their sound invites comparisons but resists classification: there are traces of future soul, beat science, modern improvisation, and something wholly their own.

Samalandra’s internal chemistry is its secret engine. Tiago’s propulsive basslines serve as both groove and launchpad; Débora’s keyboards and effects construct harmonic tension while her voice bends the narrative toward the intimate and uncanny; João’s drumming moves like shifting tectonic plates — rhythmic but unpredictable, holding time only to reinvent it.

The trio plays with asymmetry and micro-structure, offering intricate polyrhythms that feel immediate and body-ready. It’s music that smiles while pulling the rug out from under your feet — inviting, layered, always alive.