DJ Dri Toscano: 15 Years of Sound, Resistance, and LGBTQIA+ Dancefloor Connection

With a career spanning over 15 years of transformation, Dri Toscano hasn’t just witnessed the evolution of the LGBTQIA+ electronic scene. She’s been an active part of shaping it. A carioca full of energy and intuition, Dri built her artistic identity across Brazil and around the globe — from underground clubs to massive festivals — always with a sharp sense for who’s dancing in front of her.

Her versatility didn’t happen by chance. From her very first party playing for a mixed crowd of celebrities to her residencies at iconic venues like 00 and The Week, Dri learned how to connect with diverse audiences. She turned that experience into her signature. Her ability to read a crowd goes beyond technical skill — she plays from the heart, delivering sets filled with powerful vocals, emotional memories, and genuine connection.

As a woman in a male-dominated field and an LGBTQIA+ artist in an unequal industry, Dri carved her path with talent, strength, and warmth. Her sound is political because it embraces. It’s artistic because it moves. It’s alive because it comes from lived experience.

In this exclusive interview with Cultura Queer and Radio Power Strike, DJ Dri Toscano opens up about her influences, behind-the-scenes stories, the challenge of staying true to her artistic identity, and the legacy she hopes to leave for the next generation of queer DJs.

Exclusive interview with DJ Dri Toscano

 

You have more than 15 years of experience and are known for adapting masterfully to any dance floor, always interacting with the crowd in a striking way. How did you develop this versatility, and what was the most challenging moment when you had to read the crowd to win over a diverse audience?

Well, I was “challenged” right from the start, because the first party I ever played at had a mixed audience, in a straight club packed with celebrities! Everyone liked different things, and the idea was to play classics from various decades in tribal house style.

Then I started playing at Noite Preta (Preta Gil’s weekly show at the former The Week Rio) and became a resident. Again, the crowd was a mix of artists, straight people, and gay folks, mostly from the pop scene.

I was also a resident at the former 00, a traditional nightclub in Gávea, for many years until it closed, where I played at Duo, the trendiest Sunday party in Rio. Once again, a completely heterogeneous audience.

All these experiences were key in shaping me as a DJ and gave me the skill to read the dance floor so effectively.

Your journey includes performances in several countries, from Portugal and Spain to the United States and Colombia. What have these international experiences taught you about different dance floor cultures, and how does the Rio-born Dri incorporate Brazilian elements into her sets to connect with such diverse audiences?

Before traveling to any country, it’s important to know what people are listening to there. What are the top hits, and is there any national song that’s a huge trend? If there is, I always try to include something with it.

I also pay attention to the average age of the audience at that specific party. I never plan a set in advance. It depends entirely on the crowd’s energy.

In general, Rio DJs have a more cheerful, uplifting vibe. That energy naturally flows onto the dance floor.

You’ve performed at major electronic music events like Hell & Heaven, Rio Music Conference, and the Chemical Music Festival. What is it like to bring the sound of the Brazilian LGBTQIA+ scene to such big and diverse stages? Was there a particularly memorable performance that changed your perspective as an artist?

Yes! Two performances marked me deeply.

At the Chemical Music Festival in 2012, I played in the house tent, which was right next to the main one that featured psy-trance. The floor was empty at first because one of the headliners was playing on the main stage. By my third track, I couldn’t see the end of the crowd anymore. It was packed, the energy was incredible, and the straight audience was loving tribal (a bit adapted, lol) and interacting with me the entire time.

I also did the warm-up for Bob Sinclar at the Rio Music Conference, and that was a unique experience.

Besides being a DJ, you’re also an entrepreneur with your project Smart DJs. Could you tell us more about this initiative and how it contributes to the professionalization and inclusion of new talents in electronic music?

This project is still in its early stages.

The idea is to rent equipment from DJs who have gear sitting at home unused. We have a lot of corporate events that need equipment, and sometimes ours isn’t enough. It’s kind of like an “Airbnb” for DJ gear, lol. It’s not ours, but everyone benefits.

We’re also starting to organize logistics for DJs who don’t have an agency, since my business partner owns a travel agency and has been in tourism for a long time.

As a woman DJ in a space often dominated by men, especially in LGBTQIA+ parties, what barriers did you face early in your career? How did overcoming those challenges shape your artistic identity?

Today, women are treated equally in the Brazilian scene. In some countries, there’s still a preference for men, often due to the themes of the parties.

In the beginning, I faced a lot of prejudice, but I’m such a laid-back and friendly person that I didn’t let it get to me. It also helped that I was fit, kind of a “boi”, dressed like the stereotypical gay guy. I think that helped create a connection. Kkkkk!

The LGBTQIA+ community has embraced your sound over the years, and you’ve been part of many important celebrations. How do you see the DJ’s role in creating spaces of joy and belonging for the queer community? Can you share a meaningful moment with your audience?

I always connect deeply with the crowd. Since the beginning, I’ve felt the need to touch people, bring back memories, sing along with them. I go home with renewed energy.

There’s no single moment that stands out, but I love reading the feedback throughout the week. People tell me they weren’t doing well and that my music turned their day around.

That’s what keeps me motivated to give my best every time.

Your music style moves between house and tribal, with energetic and personality-filled remixes. What artists or experiences shaped your sound, and how do you keep innovating in your sets?

We never stop learning. I think that’s the key to staying current. Being open to new styles, experimenting with different beats and elements.

Both classic and new DJs influence me. I couldn’t even name them all, since their styles are so different. I believe a house DJ needs to understand a bit of everything. That helps in building a strong musical identity.

I love when I’m playing and someone says, “I didn’t even have to look at the stage to know it was you playing.”

With a long history in the electronic scene, you’ve witnessed major cultural shifts. How does your art reflect these changes, especially in the LGBTQIA+ context, and what kind of legacy do you hope to leave?

Yes, I’ve seen huge changes in sound and audiences. I think I’ve lived through at least three different generations, lol. “Sapa rodada”!

There’s always good and bad in every phase, but I believe major clubs and DJs should help guide the scene.

Tribal almost disappeared in Brazil when pop parties took over. Back in the day, tribal was all about remixes from LGBTQIA+ icons like Maya, Deborah Cox, Deborah Cooper, Georgie Porgie. But we had to include pop in tribal or risk fading out.

After the pandemic, another shift happened. The main DJs weren’t playing, so after-hours DJs stepped in.

The younger crowd got used to a heavier sound, which became a trend. But it also caused issues like the VIP culture, excessive drug use, and low bar revenue, which often can’t even cover the event’s costs.

Digital presence has become crucial for DJs today. How has this virtual connection shaped your career, and what did you learn about reinvention, especially during the pandemic?

That’s the hardest part for me, lol. I teach my students how to do it, but I honestly don’t have the patience.

Still, nowadays, it’s almost more important than talent itself. It makes sense. A DJ’s fee is tied to the audience they can bring.

During the pandemic, I did two live sets, but with all my new projects, I’ve ended up neglecting my DJ image a bit.

Many people know DJ Dri Toscano on stage, but is there something about your personal or artistic journey that hasn’t been explored in interviews yet?

A lot of people are just getting to know me now through the episode of “PodPop” I recorded in São Paulo. I talked a lot about my personal life and career there.

But there’s so much story to tell, haha.

You’ve built a career that blends technical skill, sensitivity, and a deep passion for the dance floor. How do you believe your music can inspire both Brazilian fans of Cultura Queer and international listeners of Radio Power Strike?

My sets create emotional memories. Fans often come up to me and share stories I don’t even remember, but that stayed with them. That’s incredibly rewarding.

Now, with my students, I want to leave a legacy. I want them to travel the world, play the biggest parties, and say, “Dri taught me everything.”

I hope the listeners of the radio can also feel that connection, through classic and new vocals that have soundtracked special moments.

The stage may be the booth, but Dri Toscano’s legacy goes far beyond the decks.

Over more than a decade, Dri has built a career that merges technique, emotion, and a deep commitment to those who dance. Each set is a reunion with the past, a celebration of the present, and a promise of a freer, more inclusive, and sound-filled future.

Her music is more than entertainment. It’s resistance. It’s affection. It’s identity. And that’s exactly why she continues to conquer dance floors, hearts, and new talents who see her as an inspiration and a role model.

Dri Toscano is not just a DJ. She’s a mentor, an entrepreneur, a creator of memories and movements. And if it’s up to her, the next generation will keep playing with soul and making history with pride.

Follow DJ Dri Toscano on social media:

Instagram: @dritoscano
YouTube: DJ Dri Toscano
DJ Sessions: SoundCloud – DJ Sets & Live Sessions