Fifteen years ago, Príncipe Discos was struggling to fill dancefloors at Lisbon's Musicbox venue. Today, the label has sold out Lux Frágil, one of Europe's top nightclubs, with a capacity of 1,500. The March party featured local DJs Xexa, DJ Marfox, DJ Nervoso and Dariiofox, celebrating the label's 15th anniversary.
Founded in 2011 by Márcio Matos, José Moura, Nelson Gomes and Pedro Gomes, Príncipe champions Afro-Portuguese electronic producers from Lisbon's suburbs. The label's sound is built on batida, a percussion-driven style born in the Quinta do Mocho social housing project, blending Angolan kuduro with electronic influences and elements from Cape Verdean funaná and Angolan semba.
Batida is described by Xexa as 'an electronic way of doing African music from the diaspora' and 'a community sound made from and within the community'. The label's political nature lies in decolonising Portugal's dance soundtrack with instrumental electronic music by Black artists, who historically face limited opportunities in the country.
Co-founder Márcio Matos recalls distrust from artists' families when recruiting, telling one mother: 'We will release Lycox's music. And we are good people, trust us.' The label's first release in 2011 was DJ Marfox's 'Eu Sei Quem Sou', and its distinctive hand-painted sleeves reflect the DIY ethos of batida, often produced using cracked copies of FruityLoops software.
