Who is Activemirror? In short, they’re a group of four talented young musicians from Aruba, creating a blend of sounds that’s captured the hearts of listeners around the world.

Let’s start with Elias Janssen, the bassist. He’s the shy, quiet one, usually tucked away in his corner, letting his basslines do the talking. His musical journey began when his dad played him “Dr. Feelgood” by Mötley Crüe—making his dad the real “Dr. Feelgood” in his life, minus the drug reference, of course.

Then there’s Marco Henriquez Alva on drums. Though he’s quiet offstage, once he’s behind the kit, it’s like he’s unleashing a storm. Marco was initially drawn to various instruments as a kid, but the moment he discovered the drums, it was like love at first beat. Fun fact: he used to drum so hard as a kid that his neighbor would call the cops on him. Luckily for us, that never slowed him down.

Next up is Me’Shaq, the band’s guitarist, who creates these massive soundscapes that transport the crowd into another world. His musical roots trace back to listening to his father play a reggae band called Self Vibration. From that moment on, he taught himself how to play guitar by ear. Fast forward to today, and he’s captivating audiences with tricks like playing the guitar behind his neck during live shows.

And of course, no band would be complete without its frontman, Liam Sean Kelly. He’s the charismatic singer with a booming voice, often seen strumming a guitar with only a few chords and somehow making it look effortless. But don’t let that fool you—Liam’s multi-talented. Not only is he the lead singer and guitarist, but he’s also the band’s lyricist. His love for music began when, as a nervous kid, he sang “In My Life” by The Beatles for a junior high project. Those nerves never left, but neither did his passion for music, which drives the band to keep making their signature sound.

In 2022, the four bandmates started officially creating music together after playing their first gig at Alfie’s, an independent Canadian pub in downtown Oranjestad. Their innovative style immediately caught the attention of international industry spotters. Since then, they’ve been booked for two consecutive years at Aruba High Winds, one of the island’s biggest water sports and music events. They also rocked stages at Rocktober Fest and Aruba Art Fair 2024 and headlined the return of Battle of the Bands. In 2024, they even played a show at Cas di Cultura. So, yeah, these guys have been keeping busy.

On top of their live performances, Activemirror has already dropped three singles, all of which will feature on their debut album set to release on November 1st. Their latest single, “Opal,” racked up over 35K streams in its first month—a big deal for an alternative rock band hailing from a small island like Aruba. Even better, the song is picking up steam in Brazil, where it was featured on the popular radio show ‪Capela FM1 059.

From playing local gigs in small pubs to gaining international recognition, Activemirror’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. With their album on the way and a fan base that’s growing by the day, these four musicians from Aruba are proving that no matter where you come from, talent and passion can take you far. If their past is any indicator, Activemirror’s future is going to be one to watch.