Lisbon Artist XEXA Blends Batida and Afrofuturism on Captivating New Album

As of October 1st, 2025, Lisbon-based artist XEXA has released her latest album 'Kissom' on the Príncipe label, showcasing a bold, psychedelic take on the Afro-Portuguese batida sound. While Príncipe has made its name releasing percussive batida music, XEXA's debut 'Vibrações de Prata' was an anomaly for the label last year, with its haunting, atmospheric qualities more akin to the experimental music heard at London's Cafe OTO.

However, XEXA's new album 'Kissom' binds together the far-flung ideas of its predecessor into a vibrant, fully imagined world. The rapidly oscillating synths and elastic, shape-shifting textures on tracks like "Project 8" and "Txê" create a shimmering, mirage-like effect, as XEXA weaves peculiar effects and exotic hues into her hypnotic motifs. Despite her Lisbon roots and the batida influence, XEXA is more interested in Afrofuturism and "visualising the future, where the future means development and independence."

With 'Kissom', XEXA has crafted a captivating, forward-thinking album that pushes the boundaries of the Afro-Portuguese sound, blending it with her own experimental, synth-driven vision of the future.