TONI! + THEMANDUS
TONI! is a project from Castelo Branco that emerged in 2023, born from António Castelo’s need to face the setbacks surrounding him. With nostalgic melodies and rhythms that make any foot move, it opens space to speak to — and give hope to — everyone who listens.
The first single, “FESTA”, arrived in March 2023, followed by the debut EP “Insónias” (April 2024) — a record that puts the artist’s darker side into perspective, bringing colour, joy and a sense of inner prosperity. Now he presents “Bota Amarela”, a single that satirises the social pressure to find one’s “true love”, continuing the project’s ingenuous tone.
Along the way, TONI! has already performed at Cine-Teatro Avenida (Castelo Branco), Festival Termómetro (Sabugal), MÊDA+ Festival, Alcains Conecta Festival, among other stages.
More than a musical project, TONI! sees itself as an open diary — written and rewritten with each new song.
THEMANDUS
Starting from an instrumentation that is, at first glance, peculiar — drums, guitar and saxophone — but not entirely uncommon, the trio explores compositional ideas ranging from fully written music to completely improvised pieces. It is in this preliminary process that their instrumental and compositional boldness expands: the drum kit grows with additional snares, cymbals and accessories; the guitar multiplies its pedals; the saxophone now shares its stand with analogue synthesizers and an EWI.
This expansion of instruments is crucial, given the versatility required by the music and the limited number of performers.
Rooted in the eclecticism that jazz has always offered them, THEMANDUS traverses aesthetics such as drum ’n’ bass, ambient and post-rock, in an effort to satisfy their musical needs and, in a parallel — or paradoxical — way, to make themselves hungry for more.
The first single, “FESTA”, arrived in March 2023, followed by the debut EP “Insónias” (April 2024) — a record that puts the artist’s darker side into perspective, bringing colour, joy and a sense of inner prosperity. Now he presents “Bota Amarela”, a single that satirises the social pressure to find one’s “true love”, continuing the project’s ingenuous tone.
Along the way, TONI! has already performed at Cine-Teatro Avenida (Castelo Branco), Festival Termómetro (Sabugal), MÊDA+ Festival, Alcains Conecta Festival, among other stages.
More than a musical project, TONI! sees itself as an open diary — written and rewritten with each new song.
THEMANDUS
Starting from an instrumentation that is, at first glance, peculiar — drums, guitar and saxophone — but not entirely uncommon, the trio explores compositional ideas ranging from fully written music to completely improvised pieces. It is in this preliminary process that their instrumental and compositional boldness expands: the drum kit grows with additional snares, cymbals and accessories; the guitar multiplies its pedals; the saxophone now shares its stand with analogue synthesizers and an EWI.
This expansion of instruments is crucial, given the versatility required by the music and the limited number of performers.
Rooted in the eclecticism that jazz has always offered them, THEMANDUS traverses aesthetics such as drum ’n’ bass, ambient and post-rock, in an effort to satisfy their musical needs and, in a parallel — or paradoxical — way, to make themselves hungry for more.