DJ-Kicks: Sofia Kourtesis (2LP) [K7]

Format: 2x12" in gatefold sleeve.
CAT: K7452LP

For Sofia Kourtesis, joy is a living practice. It's evident in her effervescent stage presence and her explosive sets, which confidently traverse territories between house, electro-pop, and melodic techno. Joy also manifests in her own productions, as in her acclaimed 2023 debut album, Madres, where she combined her luminous vocals with soulful grooves to build a sense of euphoria, and in her 2025 EP, Volver, which expanded her view of sisterhood.

The Peruvian DJ and producer has built a vibrant and distinguished career that has taken her to every corner of the world: from her native Lima to the coveted booths of the planet's most important clubs and festivals, and to her current base in Berlin, where she enjoys what she calls "that chaotic and beautiful emotional soup that gives music so much power."

Indeed, Kourtesis's DJ-Kicks debut is a powerful blend of that complex and beautiful emotional soup that has connected her so deeply with her followers. But during the process of selecting and assembling the mix, Kourtesis faced one of the most difficult emotions she has had to go through: unbearable grief.

"Losing my mother, my idol, left me breathless. But as the seasons changed, I ended up returning to Peru. Being there made me feel close to her again, as if she were in the air. Little by little, music came back to me, not as noise, but as strength. It was like reconnecting with her spirit, honoring everything she gave me. This chapter of my life forever changed the way I listen to music. Now it's more fragile and, in a strange way, it feels like a gift she left me; a reminder that even in loss there is still beauty and connection."

The mix is a chameleon-like journey through the moods, sounds, and emotions that made up her inner world during the creation process. It naturally traverses the entire electronic spectrum, catering not only to the needs of the dance floor, but also to the quiet moments of introspection.

"DJ-Kicks is a series that shaped the way I thought about DJing and listening to music. I listened to DJ Koze's mix an unhealthy amount of times, to the point where it practically lives in my DNA," she says with a laugh. "Those mixes taught me that the best ones aren't about showing off; they're about taking people on a journey. They move, twist, and surprise you. They give you goosebumps when you least expect it."

If the memory of Kourtesis's mother is a gift with the power to comfort and heal, then this installment of DJ-Kicks is Kourtesis's way of sharing and passing it forward: a heartfelt offering of love, movement, and eternal gratitude.

"This mix was about bringing together all the different sounds and emotions I carry with me. The highs, the lows, the warmth, those strange little detours. That's basically how my mind works when I'm behind the decks. This is my way of letting those worlds collide, overlap, and dance with each other," she explains. "That's exactly what I wanted to do here. I wanted emotion, tension, release. I wanted this mix to feel alive."