Ten years after joining forces in the studio, Harm Coolen and Merijn Scholte Albers bring to Porto the best version of Weval: creatively reinvigorated, free of self-imposed constraints, uninhibited and unashamedly positive.
Over the last decade, the Dutch duo has cultivated a unique sound, immediately identifiable, where electronic funk and emotive synths cohabit with bold but gentle melodies, beautifully composed. Their contrasting influences - Coolen was into pop, r&b, and later went into jazz; Merijn was lost in electronic music - were explored in a climate of musical experimentation and converged in a perfect sonic balance, which unearths that pristine, authentic, youthful energy overflowing with romanticism and innocence. A happy and prolific meeting - the single Forever is the latest copy of an assiduous discography - that earned them a global fan base and high praise from Pitchfork, that, in 2019, outlined an auspicious destiny for them, calling them "the next great crossover artists".
They’ve stepped on stage at some of the most prominent European festivals with their five-piece band, but their first time at Pérola Negra comes in DJ set format, opening the first night of our 4th anniversary celebration.
And since a good party asks for long time friends, Adriana Ruas and João Azevedo will also be blowing the candles with us. Regular and always cherished presences in our basement, they are the ideal introduction and closure for a night that really shouldn’t end.