WAY UP HOUSE 2024

French-Senegalese singer, songwriter and producer anaiis is fast becoming a notable force in the world of music, fashion and art. The now London based artist has spent a lifetime moving around the globe soaking up a multitude of cultures and influences that bring an innovative and genre-defying style to her artistic endeavours.

Following the releases of her EP ‘Before Zero’ and her project ‘Darkness At Play’, anaiis further raised the bar with her self released debut album ‘This Is No Longer A Dream,’ a cathartic and brave long player which was released in 2021. The album was well-received by notable critics and publications - she featured as the cover star on PUSS PUSS and FACT magazine - citing her as one of the most exciting and innovative voices in contemporary R&B. Alongside the critical acclaim, anaiis is an accomplished live performer who has been invited as a special guest at concerts by the likes of Erykah Badu, Ibeyi, Daniel Caesar, Nick Hakim and more, as well as recent headline performances in Dakar and Berlin which have all been met with rapturous praise.

Occupying the sweet spot between music, fashion and high art, anaiis has collaborated and contributed to notable works of art with the V&A, Camden Arts Centre, Palais De Tokyo, White Cube, Julien Creuzet, JulianKnxx and more. In fashion, she has featured in a Paul Smith campaign, collaborated with Valentino for her noteworthy ColorsxStudio performance, was dressed in Alexander McQueen for her Harpers Bazaar feature, as well as brand collaborations with & Other Stories, Dr Martens, Levis, Paco Rabanne’s Millions x Vice x NTS, and more. She has also worked creatively with Ib Kamara, Nell Kalonji, Rafael Pavarotti, Campbell Addy amongst others on hers and other projects.

Following a sold out headline show at Barbican’s Milton Court in September 2023 and a deluxe edition of her debut LP ‘this is no longer a dream’ released in December 2023 -which features remixes and collaborations with Olly Alexander (Years & Years), Jamilah Barry, Karen Nyame KG and more, she is set to release new music and grace more stages around the globe in 2024 and is poised to continue making a significant cultural impact for years to come.

Breaking out in late 2021, Emmy Meli reached viral stardom with her self-love mantra “I AM WOMAN.” Stemming from sticky note affirmations she left for herself in her bathroom, the empowering single urges female listeners to claim their personal power. The acclaimed track has over 300 million streams and was selected as the theme song for Megan Markle’s podcast “Archetypes,” the largest podcast sync in history.

Her new body of work, Hello Stranger, opens a new chapter in Emmy’s career, reintroducing her as a songwriter, lifelong musician, and visionary. Since breaking out, the singer performed at Lollapalooza and Firefly Music Festival in 2022 and has opened for Fletcher and Hayley Kiyoko. Her music has appeared in ad campaigns for Intimissimi, Triumph UK, Savage Fenty to Disney+. Music has been a thread throughout Emmy’s life – both her father and grandmother played instruments but never had the chance to follow their dreams. “I am making this familial dream come true,” Emmy says. “Music is in our blood and it’s so cool I am finally making it happen. I feel like it’s for all of us. It feels great to follow my own dream, but also do something that my family is so proud of at the same time.”

Stay tuned to find out more about the R&B pop musician at the WAY UP House Portugal.

Born in Peckham before moving to Catford, Southeast London, Joel Culpepper’s journey of musical self-discovery began as an ardent fan. From a young age, he was raised on the work of the legends – watching from the top of the stairs as his mother swooned to the soulful vibes of Teddy Pendergrass on the record player, attending church during the growing era of Kirk Franklin and Fred Hammond’s Gospel cool. For Joel, a true sense of belonging came with the discovery of both Prince and Neo-Soul, a fusion that shaped his ear for soaring falsetto and loose-swinging beats.

Joel has amassed 15 million views and counting for his COLORS performance of ‘Woman’, which features on his 2017 EP ‘Tortoise’. With the joyful style and ambitious focus of his highly acclaimed 2021 debut album ‘Sgt Culpepper’, Joel attracted the attention of Later… With Jools Holland, where he performed the record’s opening track ‘Tears of A Crown’ live at Abbey Road Studios.

He made his return with his EP ‘Happiness Is Only A Few Miles Away’ – that showcases why Joel has become renowned as a pioneer of his unique neo-soul sound. Later he released his new single ‘Free’ featuring Tom Misch (who also produced the EP).

Watch Joel infuse the various music influences he has encountered into the WAY UP House Portugal in a unique collaboration with anaiis.

Parthenope is a 22 year-old Saxophonist and Singer originally from Leeds. She incorporates subtle improvisation and jazz harmony into danceable songs with hooky, sparkly pop melodies and introspective lyricism. She has built a huge fanbase on social media and has a vast amount of experience on the London live jazz scene.

Parthenope's highly anticipated debut was released as a part of the ‘Bluenote Reimagined Vol.2’ compilation album, combining ‘todays finest artists in UK jazz’. With her second EP 'Bigger Picture' set to release this summer, parthenope is one to watch.

Stay tuned to learn more about her creative process and how it has influenced her song inspired by the landscapes of WAY UP House Portugal.

Charlie Allen is a guitarist based in London, touring the world with a diverse range of artists such as Tom Misch, WizKid and Incognito. Fusing a strong sense of rhythm with a melodic style that is primarily centered around jazz and blues, Charlie has developed a sound that is uniquely his own and is steadily gaining him an international following online. Self-taught, he has been working and collaborating with many of the London-scene's top artists and is currently writing and recording his debut release as an independent artist.

Stay tuned for more on his one-of-a-kind style and how he's teaming up with other musicians at the WAY UP House Portugal.

British bass player Dayna Fisher was born & raised in South London, UK. With musician parents it was only a matter of time before he started to follow in their footsteps and at age 11 he picked up the bass and started to learn, playing in church and for his dad's Gospel Choir 'IDMC'. Fast forward 14 years and he's one of the most in-demand session bassists in the UK, working with artists such as; Gary Barlow, Jessie J, Dave, Emeli Sande, Jess Glynne, Joy Crookes, J Hus, Plan B, Samm Henshaw and many more!

You can find examples of Dayna's heavy groove and innovative playing on Samm Henshaw’s Records ‘Church’ and ‘Broke’, as well as J Hus’ song ‘Masculine’ ft Burna Boy and Joy Crookes ‘Feet Don’t Fail Me Now’ to mention just a few.

Dayna is also known to lay down heavy grooves on bass synth and having this ability has made him a go to studio and session bassist for many artists. We look forward to watching him continue to groove! Make sure you catch Dayna if he's in your area!

Meet Rashaan Brown, a virtuoso musician hailing from the vibrant streets of south-east London. His mastery as a multi-instrumentalist has not only captivated audiences but has also earned him a spot touring with the globally acclaimed artist Pink Pantheress.

Throughout his illustrious career, Rashaan has shared the stage and studio with a plethora of musical talents, including FLO, Tiana-Major 9, Jamal Woon, Mahalia, Swindle, Joy Crooks, Loyle Carner, and Maverick Sabre, to name a few. Beyond performance, Rashaan's artistry extends to producing, composing, songwriting, vocal arranging, and musical directing, showcasing his multifaceted prowess in the music world.

In 2024, Rashaan Brown will be accompanying Pink Pantheress on her headline tour throughout Europe, showcasing his exceptional talent to a broader audience. The journey doesn't stop there; he will also join Pink Pantheress in supporting Olivia Rodrigo on her upcoming Arena World tour. Adding to an already exciting year, Rashaan and Pink Pantheress are confirmed to support the legendary Coldplay on their tour across Australia and New Zealand, promising to be a monumental experience for fans and a significant milestone in Rashaan's career. Rashaan Brown is a name that resonates with innovation and excellence in the contemporary music scene.

Now, he is bringing that contemporary and innovative style to the WAY UP House Portugal.

Martina is a drummer and musician who in her considerably short career has gained notable achievements. Deep and thoughtful yet energetic and playful, her style reflects her love of modern music and her fascination with the power of the drums. Throughout the years, she has maintained continuous growth of success preaching individuality, quality, and persistency.

Winning the best drummer award at the "T'k Tak" drum competition at just 17 catapulted her into numerous successful music projects. Active in North Macedonia's music scene, she currently tours with Funk Shui and collaborates with artists like Duper, Luboyna, Dragi Ivanov, and more. Her projects have led her on tours across Europe and the Balkans.

In 2021 she released her first solo album “Weird Fishes” and following its success she played her first Drum Festival at Alteisa Drumfest, which happened in Spain, Zamora. She also played at Prvo Pa Zhensko (Firstborn Girl), Skopje DrumFest and Prishtina DrumFest as a Solo Artist. In 2022 she released her second solo album named "Sunrise” and took part in the “Yamaha Drum Days” Festival in Paris. She was also a judge for Hit Like A Girl Contest in 2022.

In 2023, she joined the lineup for Berlin Drum Days and participated in the exciting new series at the WAY UP House Portugal.

Swindle is ahead of the curve. The South London producer, multi-instrumentalist and composer has spent the past 15 years championing what he calls the “left of centre”. His musical community is scattered through grime, dubstep, jazz, soul and rap – all genres and scenes that he has helped bring from the underground into mainstream conversation, thanks to distinctive collaborations with the likes of Ghetts, Kojey Radical, Celeste, D Double E and Joel Culpepper.

A decade ago, Swindle released his debut album Long Live the Jazz. At a time when the UK jazz scene was still regarded as a niche pursuit, Swindle fearlessly blended weighty dubstep basslines with stacked horn arrangements, thundering dancefloor-oriented beats, and live jazz instrumentation. Nominated for a Mercury Music Prize in 2022 for his work on Kojey Radical’s sprawling album Reason to Smile, and an Ivor Novello for their track “Payback” in 2023 (as well as writing the official theme song for the award ceremony), Swindle’s cross-genre stylings are currently being celebrated.

2019’s No More Normal meanwhile continued the cross-genre feel, traversing through G-Funk, jazz horns, head-nodding hip-hop beats, and dextrous verses to play out like a who’s who of the UK’s most formidable Black talent, featuring everyone from D Double E to Nubya Garcia, Andrew Ashong, Etta Bond and Kojey Radical. More recently 2021’s The New World acted as an “emergency linkup” for Swindle’s collaborators during the pandemic, all recorded over a week at Real World Studios when restrictions eased. “It became like a therapy session,” he says. “When the world was melting in 2020, that record saved me.”

His projects show no signs of slowing down. 2023 saw Swindle complete a full score for writer Candice Carty-Williams’ eight-part Netflix and BBC series Champion. “I'm never just working on one thing – that's what keeps me moving and focused,” Swindle says, “I want to keep repping that left of centre.” And with the worlds of film and TV calling, alongside developing his community of musical collaborators, it seems that although Swindle might be ahead of the curve, there is still plenty more to come.