For Sofia Kourtesis, joy is a living practice. It runs through her stage presence, her productions, and the emotional energy that has defined her work—from her 2023 debut album Madres to her 2025 EP Volver. The Peruvian DJ and producer has built a vibrant international career, taking her from Lima to Berlin and to some of the world’s most celebrated clubs and festivals.
Her debut DJ-Kicks mix brings together the same emotional richness that has made her connect so deeply with listeners. Compiled during a period of profound personal loss, the mix took shape as Kourtesis navigated grief after the death of her mother. Returning to Peru became an important source of closeness, healing and reconnection, and music gradually returned to her as a source of strength.
The result is a chameleonic journey through the moods, sounds and emotions that shaped her inner world during that time. Moving fluidly across the electronic spectrum, the mix balances dancefloor energy with moments of introspection, reflecting Kourtesis’ belief that the best DJ sets are not about display but about taking listeners on a journey full of movement, tension and surprise.
Deeply personal and full of feeling, Sofia Kourtesis’ DJ-Kicks is a heartfelt offering of love, gratitude and emotional release. Bringing together highs, lows, warmth and unexpected turns, the mix captures the instinctive way she thinks behind the decks — letting different worlds collide, overlap and come alive.
