Everything you need to know about RISE
RISE is the LNKS Luanda Music Group programme for new Angolan artists whose music is already moving. This is the full guide: what RISE is, who it is for, how artists are chosen, what they get, and what is coming next.
What RISE is
RISE is named for what it does: it finds artists on the rise and puts the whole group behind them. It is not a talent show and it does not start from zero. It is for artists who are already doing the work on their own.
Once an artist is on RISE, they work with all four divisions of LNKS Luanda Music Group at the same time, on one plan, for a full year. That way the person planning the release has heard the record, and the person mixing it knows the date.
Who it is for
RISE is for new Angolan artists whose career is moving faster than their stage would suggest. We look for three things:
- Steady releases. Music coming out regularly, not one song and a long silence.
- Real work on stage. Songs taken to live audiences, not only posted online.
- A growing audience. People finding the music and coming back for more.
How artists are chosen
There are no auditions, no application form and no demo inbox for RISE. Our team finds RISE artists in three ways:
- On our own roster. Artists already working with the group.
- Through labels and managers. They can put an artist forward through the contact form.
- Through #RISEbyLNKS. Artists post their music on Instagram or TikTok with the hashtag. Our team listens to what is shared and reaches out to the artists we want to meet.
Every choice is based on what the artist is already doing on their own: the songs they release, the shows they play and the audience they are building.
RISE never costs anything
Being on RISE is free. LNKS Luanda Music Group never charges a fee to listen to music or to sign an artist, and that includes RISE. If anyone asks you for money in our name, do not pay. Report it through the contact form.
What a RISE artist gets
Each artist works with every part of the group at once:
- LNKS Records. A release plan for every single, from the date to the campaign around it.
- LNKS Studios. Studio time to record, produce and finish the music.
- LNKS Publishing. Songs registered and protected, so the work keeps paying the writer.
- LNKS Management. Live dates, partnerships and the day to day of a career that is starting to move.
A year on RISE
The programme runs as one plan over a year, in six stages:
- Chosen. We meet the artist, listen to everything and build one plan for the year with all four divisions.
- In the studio. Sessions at LNKS Studios to record, produce, mix and master the music.
- The release. A single released on every major platform, with a campaign planned around it.
- The visuals. A photo shoot and a music video that give the release its own look.
- On stage. Live shows, and a seat on the RISE Podcast.
- Next level. A plan for what comes after RISE, with the whole group still behind them.
The class of 2026
The first artist on RISE is Duda Marcolino, RISE 01. She is a singer and songwriter from Lubango, now based in Luanda, making Afrobeats and kizomba, with four releases since January 2025.
Read why we chose her, or start with our guide to her releases.
What is coming next
RISE will keep growing. These are the next steps, and each one will be announced here on the news page first.
RISE 02
The next RISE artist is being chosen now. When they are ready, you will meet them here and on the RISE page.
RISE Sessions Coming soon
RISE artists performing their songs live, filmed in one signature room. A new session for every artist, coming to YouTube.
RISE Podcast Coming soon
Conversations with RISE artists about their music, their story and the road to the chart. New episodes coming to YouTube and Spotify.
The RISE playlist Coming soon
Every RISE artist in one place, coming to Spotify and Apple Music and updated with each new release.
How to get involved
- Artists. Post your music on Instagram or TikTok with #RISEbyLNKS. Our team listens to what is shared.
- Labels and managers. Working with an artist who is ready to rise? Put an artist forward and tell us who they are and why.
- Investors and partners. RISE is how we find and develop the next voices of Angolan music. Find out how to back it.
Any other questions about RISE are answered in our Help centre.
