Lisbon Life with Yen Sung, Megatronic & Dj Kaspar

There’s DJ Kaspar who has released on Clone, 4Lux, Stripped and Chewed alongside his own Percebes Musica, plus long time Lisbon resident DJ Honesty, local artist Moreno Ácido, and a huge staple of the city releasing on Carpets & Snares, Groovement and Chez Damier’s Balance Recordings – Inner-Balance, Jorge Caiado, who proudly flys the flag internationally for the deep-house sound of Lisbon.

In this interview Yen Sung, Megatronic and DJ Kaspar shine a light on what is fast becoming a much-lauded dance destination in Europe.

Megatronic

YEN SUNG ASKS MEGATRONIC

What made you decide to become a music artist and when did you realise that?

Honestly, I think I still have many days when I doubt that I am actually a music artist, …as it’s such a joy to be able to do what you want and make a living from it. I guess things really started to feel real when I was in my early project Black Cherry and people would pay money to come and see us play, some people would even know the words to the songs we wrote. This is something that still really surprises me. Eventually I accepted that I was good at something, good at this. And I knew I didn’t want to do anything that didn’t have some sort of element of music attached to it. 

Who or what inspired you?   

I grew up on a busy street, in a busy town and music felt like the only way for me to express my feelings about my own individual experience. From dancing in raves in my late teens to making music with my band, to sitting by myself and writing lyrics about how I feel about the world, the love and pain has always been translated into music for me. Music has been the only true thing I can trust with my emotions. I know it’s easy to write a list of different artists, but my first inspiration was growing up in a town called London. 

How would you describe your experience so far?

My experience in the music industry or as a music artist has been a labour of love, music is like the Olympics, so many different games, so many different people competing for the same award. With every new era comes a different understanding of myself. I continue to still feel excited about each new journey, each new creation and also impressed at my ability to stay in this forever changing template of the game behind the industry. As I grow within this industry I have chosen to allow myself more time to refocus my energy instead of always trying to win the race, because after all there can be many winners, but also winning is not everything. My happiness, my art is. 

How is your Creative process? 

I feel finally I have hit the sweet spot in my creative process, I tend to not focus anymore on making music for validation of others but instead making something that in 20 years from now I am still proud and happy to listen to it. This process has allowed me to write songs so much more freely, I eliminated my biggest competition… I own ego 

And do you go out when you’re not playing?

Yes, I still very much enjoy dancing and listening to music … but I think instead of the dark smokey rooms in superclubs, I also seek for more of an experience in terms of the delivery of sounds, Lisboa is great for this, with many communities playing music like traditional music, bringing back authentic vibes.

Dj Kaspar

MEGATRONIC PUTS IT TO DJ KASPAR 

How has Lisbon’s music scene evolved over time? What are the main differences between the past and today? 

Lisbon’s music scene has evolved significantly since 1998. Back then, self-releasing music was nearly impossible, so I contributed to CD compilations that represented the early Lisbon scene. I remember collaborating with DJ Rui Murka and featuring vocals from Branko and Kalaf of Buraka Som Sistema before they formed the project. The African influence that appeals to the bass music crowd was already emerging, similar to the trends in London.

Lisbon, Bairro Alto, Cais do Sodré, Graça, Areeiro, Marvila… with its iconic old school venues like Frágil, Lounge, Club da Esquina, and A Capela (where I still DJ), has always had a unique sound. It blends roots, funk, soul, jazz, hip hop, bass music, deeper house, UK garage, drum’n’bass, techno, and electro, with a strong presence of disco and psych rock, all held together by an African influence. This eclectic mix has shaped the Lisbon sound, with local DJs adding their own spin.

Over time, the scene has shrunk due to gentrification, which pushed locals out of many venues. Many historic spots have closed, leading to a quieter city with fewer spaces for dancing. What was once a vibrant, bustling nightlife has become more tourist focused. Currently, Lisbon is in a phase of reinvention, waiting for Gen Z to rediscover the city’s nightlife and its tribal, communal energy, beyond the distractions of social media and viral trends.

What is the story of your label, and what is the concept behind Percebes Música?

I worked with a few labels before starting my own. I helped develop the classic Groovement Recordings for nearly a decade, then moved on to production and sound engineering for Tomorrow Is Now, Kid! One day, after a particularly inspired moment, I boldly declared, “let there be Percebes,” and just like that, Percebes Música was born.

The concept behind the label is simple: it’s not just about house music—it’s about music as a shared experience. Once a track is part of my catalog, it becomes our catalog, regardless of genre. I’m not selfish with the music I release.

The name “Percebes” is a pun. It’s a local delicacy here—an edible crustacean representing the coastline and sea life. It is also the second-person form of the verb “to understand,” posing the question, “Do you understand?”

We release work from both local and international artists with high-quality output across genres. It could be house, techno, downtempo, jazz, experimental electronics, hip hop, or whatever sounds good to me. Life is richer with contrasts. We mainly release digitally, though we’ve also put out vinyl. My heroes like Andrew Weatherall and Theo Parrish embraced eclecticism, and I take inspiration from that.

I’m not certain of many things, but I know this: the curation of this label goes beyond genres, creating its own unique realm. Or at least, that’s what I tell myself to justify all the money I’ve invested in it!

What is your vision for the future of Lisbon’s music scene?

I want to see a stronger connection between talent and opportunity. Too often, local artists who have dedicated their lives to music are undervalued while international DJs receive the bulk of the investment. This lack of support makes it difficult to build a sustainable scene. Curators tend to reinvest in the same small circle, limiting growth for emerging talent. To truly develop Lisbon’s scene, we need more financial and structural support for local artists. There’s incredible talent here—I’m working with some of them on my label—and I hope they get the recognition they deserve.
 
What inspires you today, and what has influenced you the most throughout your artistic career?

I’m inspired by my family, friends, and above all, my love of music. The appeal of sound, the power of loud systems, meticulous mixdowns, and the balance between old and new ideas drive me. Italo Calvino’s Six Memos for the Next Millennium had a profound impact on me as a teenager, shaping my approach to creativity and artistic evolution. My journey has been one of self-improvement, guided by honesty, intensity, emotion, history, and passion. Some of my records were ahead of their time, but I’ve learned humility through that process. I’m proud of my past and excited for the future.

Yen Sung

DJ KASPAR ASKS YEN SUNG

The first time I saw you I was maybe 14 and you were on TV, tell me about your work as the official DJ for one of Portugal’s leading hip hop bands, Da Weasel and how that ties into your musical background.

Actually, I was invited to be part of Da Weasel because there was no other hip-hop DJ at that time. I started doing only hip-hop party’s because I loved it so much and could not enjoy a straight hip-hop set at any club.

Your perspective on night life and the changing of its soundtrack and public over times is unique. What can you say about the major changes from the mid-90s up until now? What moments did you think were clear and pivotal?

The most obvious change for me is the fact that back in those days people who used to go out were bohemians, nowadays everybody goes to clubs and festivals, electronic music became part of a big industry, it’s not just about the music now.  I think, the development of technology and social media changed everything. But nothing lasts forever…

What can you share of your experience as a girl in what was once a world of boys? What did you feel was difficult about it… but also in what way did you feel it was groundbreaking and uplifting?

I totally felt like there was a boys club and I was not allowed in. On the other hand, that made me look exotic because girls DJing back then was indeed very rare, only 4 or 5 I guess. Nevertheless, it was a lonely path.

If you want to show your musical expertise about what makes Lisbon what it has always been, what would be an eclectic selection of 5 local tracks or songs that you’ve used as secret weapons?

There are more than 5 tracks from locals that I would choose, and because I don’t want to be unfair I’m not going to mention anyone, or the list would be too long.