Kaganisso emerged in Alvalade, Lisbon, in 1990 and brought their short-lived journey to an end just four years later, in 1994. Their farewell came right after the release of their first and only album, Princípio do Fim, under Polygram. It was a brief career, yet marked by some notable victories in the Portuguese music scene of the time.
In 1990, at the very beginning of the project, they won the modern music contest at Pavarte, organized by Padre António Vieira Secondary School. The following year, they achieved an even greater milestone by winning the 2nd edition of Força Total à Música Nacional, a competition organized by Rádio Super FM and held at the legendary Johnny Guitar venue. These accomplishments gave them visibility and opened doors to recording opportunities.
The band was made up of Miguel Pernes (guitar), Bernardo Ribeiro (drums), Pedro Careca (guitar), Rui (bass), and Juja (vocals). Their sound could best be described as mainstream rock, heavily inspired by the likes of U2 at the time and the Spanish band Héroes del Silencio, both major references in the early 90s. While that approach wasn’t always entirely successful, it was enough to capture attention during a period when alternative rock was beginning to rise in Portugal.
Interestingly, the name “Kaganisso” was often seen as unappealing and even ridiculed, yet it didn’t stop them from catching the eye of Carlos Maria Trindade, then A&R at Polygram. After seeing them live and being won over by their energy, he offered them the chance to record a full-length album — a rare privilege compared to the usual single awarded to contest winners. And so, against the odds, the band not only released a record but also managed to keep their original name, carving out a place as one of the curiosities of 1990s Portuguese rock.
