The Journey

It all started in Niterói, RJ. At 15, I discovered Zouk and realized that music could be more than just background sound. While others listened to rock and pop, I lived with my head (and ears) in my father's cassette tapes, paying attention to Caribbean and Brazilian rhythms.

The transition to the decks came naturally years later. The meeting with professional Brazilian Zouk happened in 2012. When I heard that smooth and, at the same time, super marked sound, I felt that was where I fit in. I started playing at local parties and soon had the honor of joining Renata Peçanha's team of DJs, playing annually at the Rio Zouk Congress, the largest genre congress in Brazil.

The following years were of much study and hard work. Balancing day work with nights on the internet learning to mix, I tried to understand music theory and, most importantly, observe the dance floor. I sought to understand how music changed people's vibes. My intention was always to create a moment where people could close their eyes and just enjoy the dance, without rush.

World recognition arrived in 2022, at Ilha do Zouk, where I won the awards for Best Remix and Best DJ Performance. It was an absurd honor! But, if I'm 100% honest, the trophies stay on the shelf. What I really take with me are the connections: the couple that met during one of my sets or the person who lost their shyness to dance listening to a song I played.

Nowadays, the community talks a lot about the idea of 'cremosidade' (creaminess) — a term that describes a dance of pure continuous fluidity. This aligns perfectly with how I value playing! Each set for me is like having a conversation with whoever is on the floor. I try to send the right message so that people leave feeling they had a pleasant and light moment.

At the heart of it, Brazilian Zouk is the soundtrack. What really matters are the friendships, the connections, and the time we spend enjoying the sound together.