Over more than a decade, VIL has shaped Portugal’s electronic identity from the dark, bass-heavy roots of dubstep to the precision of techno. On Friday, November 22nd Control Club will team up with Supersanity to welcome VIL to Bucharest.
Vil's (aka Nuno Costa) journey started in 2008 when he first emerged under the Sinner alias. In a country where techno ruled, he brought a new voice with Warface, a crew and promotional outfit he co-founded. Focused on the throbbing sounds of dubstep, drum ‘n’ bass, and UK garage, Warface quickly gained traction as a home for heavier, bass-driven music. These nights were raw and unfiltered. A playground where Costa developed his signature intense, atmospheric, and bass-grounded style—qualities he’d carry over as he transitioned into techno.
By 2013, Costa felt ready to delve deeper into techno, finding its rigid framework an ideal counterpoint to the more chaotic sounds he’d previously embraced. He adopted the moniker VIL, signaling a shift into a genre where he could bring the weight of dubstep but with a tighter, more relentless focus. In 2015, he debuted as VIL with an EP on Portugal’s Extended Records. The release, darkly textured and hypnotic, was a hit on the underground circuit and put him on the radar of international labels. Soon, he collaborated with high-profile imprints like Lewis Fautzi’s Faut Section imprint, Synewave New York, founded by techno stalwart Damon Wild, and Shlomi Aber’s Be As One Records. At the same time, his reputation as a DJ began to rise. Sets at Lisbon’s Lux Frágil, Porto’s Gare, Ministerium, and major festivals turned into immersive experiences where his music moved between techno’s most minimal beats and atmospheric, bass-laden drops. It is an experience also captured on his many mixtape and podcast appearances, including for Bassiani, Awakenings, Reclaim Your City, and HATE.
In 2018, VIL joined forces with Portuguese artists Temudo, Menosdois, and Osse to form Hayes Collective. Hayes aimed to push the boundaries of techno, moving beyond the traditional four-on-the-floor beats to include IDM, ambient, and breaks. The Hayes label quickly became a respected name in underground circles. With Portugal as their base, Hayes thrived during the pandemic. The label’s vinyl and digital releases were celebrated for their unique minimal, experimental, yet deeply rhythmic sound, becoming a statement that Portuguese techno was ready to compete and innovate with the best of them.
Between 2020 and 2021, VIL broadened its reach by releasing several high-profile labels, including Ben Klock’s Klockworks and Stranger’s Self Reflektion. His tracks were embraced by techno’s most celebrated figures, from Berghain and fabric residents to underground tastemakers across Europe.
More recently, VIL’s curiosity has led him into new sonic territories. His latest project, Driven, sees him exploring house music's faster, deeper textures, venturing into rhythmic and melodic territories. In 2024, VIL took another step with his debut full-length album, Birds of Prey, released on dolly’s TS series. The album, which features tracks like Ritmo Duro, Drea, and Magaz, has been lauded for its ability to switch effortlessly between deep melodic, uplifting bliss and dark, out-of-the-ordinary drivers.
VIL’s journey is one of resilience and passion. As he continues to evolve, VIL remains an influential figure in Portugal and increasingly on the international stage.
