At the end of August, four artists and bands took up residence at Casa Saga and De Roma for the very first edition of our Speelweek (Musical Week). Over the course of four days, they received guidance and coaching from music industry professionals to further develop their songwriting, stage presence and promotional skills. M.ara, Arrubio, David Saldanha and TigJez gave it their all and will present the results to the public on 10 October during a showcase at De Roma.

M.ara

For fans of: Meskerem Mees, Eefje de Visser, Sylvie Kreusch

M.ara is a 21-year-old singer-songwriter who effortlessly captivates an entire room with her distinctive, deep voice. Through her music, she gives shape to the thoughts that occupy her mind, ranging from a love for life’s small moments to questions bigger than herself. In 2024, she participated in the JBL Music Academy, and in 2025 she was selected for JonGeduld, where she was able to further develop her artistic trajectory as one of ten laureates.

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Arrubio

For fans of: Tame Impala, Frank Ocean, Blood Orange

Arrubio is a Moroccan indie artist based in Antwerp who blends alternative R&B, indie rock and soul into a warm, atmospheric sound. Rich synth textures, layered guitar work and a strong focus on emotion and mood define his music, creating sonic landscapes that feel both intimate and immersive. His musical journey began at a young age with GarageBand, where he developed a distinctive production style in which instrumentation plays a central role in shaping feeling and space. Together with his band, Arrubio delivers live performances that strike a compelling balance between intimacy and energy, bringing dreamy soundscapes and heartfelt emotion to the stage.

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David Saldanha

For fans of: Fontaines DC, Black Country, New Road, Nine Inch Nails

David Saldanha creates music somewhere between post-rock and alternative indietronica. What often begins with a guitar evolves into a dense weave of layers, sounds and ideas that do not always fit neatly within a single genre. He started making music at a young age, and what began as an experiment with recording has since grown into a persistent and consuming obsession.

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TigJez

For fans of: De Ambassade, The Cure, Lebanon Hanover

TigJez is the musical alias of Oskaar Dewallef, a 23-year-old darkwave and post-punk artist from Tongeren, Belgium. Since his debut in 2023, he has steadily built a distinctive universe in which darkwave, coldwave, electronics and gothic post-punk merge into a dark and captivating sound.

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