Created by Portuguese drummer, composer and producer, Miguel Sampaio, “ANTI_MEDO” is an invitation for listeners who are predisposed to dive into a sonic spectrum where the realm of electronic and synthesized sound meets the roots of acoustic drums in a Solo Act.
Here, a personal inner universe is explored without restrictions, without concessions, from frustration to overcoming. A deep emotional childhood memory that traveled through time rescued here from the past and from the preconceptions aqquaired through life’s heavy impositions. It is also about embracing the cold of emptiness, discovering the courage to crave your own path.
Sonically it is a journey through hypnotic soundscapes punctuated by organic beats and melodies. This is also a dialogue between the machine and the 21st-century human being trying to keep up, while reflecting on our interaction with technology, linking the present with the past.

“ANTI_MEDO”, translated as Anti-Fear, is a product of a melting pot of influences encompassing artists such as Aphex Twin, Simon Popp, Nils Frahm, Skee Mask, Thievery Corporation, Mark Guiliana, Max Roach, to name a few.

Bio

Miguel Sampaio is a Portuguese drummer and session musician based in Porto. His childhood was spent near the Ria de Aveiro in Ovar, close to nature, in a house filled with love, vinyl records and CDs belonging to his father and older sister. It was through these two people that his passion for music first emerged and occupied a special place in his life.

When Miguel was about 13 years old, his sister Cristina bought a “Cajon” (Peruvian instrument), which sparked his interest to learn rhythm along with the desire to know more about music. At 14, he finally got his first drum kit. Since then, music became a fundamental part of his life, leading him to seek all he could learn about music while discovering how much sharing art with others is important to him.
After high school Miguel went to study design at ESAD caldas da Rainha.  He didn’t know that he would be completely dragged towards music again during that period. There he met a lot of like-minded people who sought to express themselves through music, more than any other art form. Some of this people include Nelope, a very important friend who welcomed Miguel to a African Percussion Project called Conguitos, Roberto Afonso and Patrícia Relvas from the project Lavoisier, Lulas from Cachupa Psicadélica, Tiago Margaça from Musgos and many more. It was in this melting pot of people that Miguel understood is life would always revolve around music.

Musical Journey

Miguel’s youth was immersed in various musical styles, including Punk, Funk, Rock, African percussion groups, electronic music, experimental, and Jazz bands. To deepen his knowledge, he attended the Jazz School of Torres Vedras, the Porto Jazz School, where he studied drums and double bass. Following that period he graduated from the Superior School of Music and Performing Arts in Porto, where he studied jazz drumming.

Throughout his career, Miguel has distinguished himself by the diversity of musical styles he engages in. He has had the opportunity to share the stage with talented musicians such as Mário Laginha, Maria João, and Marta Hugon with Estarrejazz and Carlos Bica with Lavoisier, also with a lot of musicians from Oporto jazz scene, such as Pedro Neves, João Paulo Rosado, Rui Teixeira, AP Neves, Eurico Costa, Ricardo Moreira, Filipe Teixeira, Rogério Francisco, Eduardo Cardinho, Luís Ribeiro, Brian Blaker, to name a few.

Collaborations

Miguel has collaborated on projects such as Puzzle3 Trio, Estarrejazz, Bison’s Big Bang, Uhai, Musgos, Guitarra Amarantina by Rui Fernandes, Rogério Francisco Quinteto, Dusty James Bondage, Aníbal Zola, among others. All these experiences have enriched his musical trajectory and broadened his artistic vision.

Recent Projects

Recently, Miguel was selected to be part of the Eurotoire 2024/2025 artistic training program.