Zambianco: The DJ from Brazil’s Queer Scene Who Conquered the Global Electronic Music Circuit

Studio artist and dance floor DJ in equal measure, Zambianco has emerged as a standout name in the LGBTQIA+ electronic music scene, blending sonic sophistication, emotional depth, and unwavering consistency. His sound weaves melodic atmospheres, emotional tension, and pulsing beats that radiate identity. From Brazil to Sweden, Madrid to Paris, his sets transcend borders — provoking, connecting, and celebrating.

His journey wasn’t shaped solely behind the decks, but also in the silence behind the scenes. Introspective, observant, and deeply attuned to visual aesthetics, Zambianco has cultivated a unique style that fuses sound and image, emotion and concept. With performances at international festivals, landmark residencies, and original productions resonating across dance floors worldwide, he proves that the club can be a space for storytelling, healing, and belonging.

In this exclusive interview with Cultura Queer and Radio Power Strike, Zambianco opens up about his international career, his deep connection to LGBTQIA+ dance floors, the challenge of staying authentic in a shifting industry, and the subtle gestures that inspire every track he creates.

Exclusive interview with DJ Zambianco

Your journey in electronic music spans over a decade, and today you’re recognized as a standout DJ and producer on the international scene. What was the most pivotal moment or important decision in your career that helped launch this trajectory — from your early steps in São Paulo to the global stage?

It was when I realized that both national and international DJs were playing my tracks and even started asking me to remix theirs. That’s when it hit me — I wasn’t just a guy making music in my room anymore. My productions were actually circulating the world and connecting people on the dance floor. That was the moment I knew I had to take it seriously and truly commit to turning my passion into a career.

You’ve been a resident DJ at iconic São Paulo venues like the legendary The Week and High Club, and currently you hold a residency at Komplexo Tempo (SP) and the Xcape party in Stockholm. How have these very different experiences — a Brazilian club of reference and a party in Sweden — challenged and enriched your work as a DJ, especially when adapting to different audiences?

I’m currently not a resident at any Brazilian club, but I do have upcoming dates at High Club and continue playing at various parties and events across Brazil and abroad. Being a resident — whether in the past at The Week or now at Xcape — has always been an incredible learning experience. Every dance floor has its own energy and particularities, and understanding that is essential.

In Brazil, the connection is intense. The crowd gives in with full energy. In Sweden, the response is different — sometimes more reserved at first, but once they open up, the vibe is amazing. Moving between such distinct environments has helped me evolve a lot, especially in how I read the room and adapt my sets. Today, I feel more prepared to deliver performances that make sense anywhere in the world.

Beyond the decks, you’re also known for your work in music production, releasing original tracks and remixes. How does studio work influence your live sets, and vice versa? Could you share a track of yours that holds special meaning or has an interesting backstory?

Studio work is an essential part of my identity as an artist, just as much as performing live. Producing my own tracks and remixes allows me to tell stories and explore soundscapes that often influence the energy of my live sets.

It’s a constant exchange. What I create in the studio shapes the vibe I bring to the dance floor, and what I feel from the audience feeds back into my production.

One track that’s especially meaningful to me is Master & Slave, a collaboration with Las Bibas from Viscaya. I often say it was a turning point in my career — not just sonically, but for the boldness of the theme. The song deals with fetish, and I’m actually a very shy person. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me the chance to explore a different aesthetic and narrative. That track marked a transition and a moment of maturity in my path.

You’ve performed at major international events like Madrid’s LGBTQIA+ Pride, the WE Party Festival, and Circuit Festival in Barcelona. What does it mean for you to bring Brazilian energy to such high-profile stages? Is there a particular memory or audience reaction that stayed with you?

Performing at large-scale international events like Madrid Pride, Circuit Festival in Barcelona, the WE Party, and gigs like Alegria in New York and Miami, Xcape in Sweden, Selva in Chile, Paris, and Mexico has been an incredible journey.

Bringing Brazilian energy to such diverse and visible stages is always special. It’s an opportunity to showcase our culture, our sound, and the joy we bring to the dance floor.

Each place has its own way of experiencing music. In countries like Portugal and Chile, I feel a response very similar to Brazilian crowds — warm, vibrant, and deeply connected. In places like Sweden and France, the reaction is often more contained at first, but always intense in their own way. It’s beautiful to witness how music unites people, even across such different cultures.

One moment that truly moved me was hearing Master & Slave played and enthusiastically received on international dance floors. Seeing something that was created in the studio, with so much dedication, resonate globally and create a positive impact — that’s definitely one of the most rewarding experiences of my career so far.

You’ve built a strong international presence, performing in cities like New York, San Francisco, Paris, Santiago, Lisbon, and Bogotá. In your view, what is it about the dance floor that universally connects such diverse audiences, and how do you adapt your sets to reflect the unique atmosphere of each place you visit?

Before performing in a new country or city, I make a point of researching what the local crowd is listening to, which artists are standing out, and how trends are moving in that scene. I also enjoy talking to DJs from the local community to understand their perspective on the dance floor and what truly resonates with that audience.

Those exchanges are incredibly valuable and help me build sets that respect each location’s identity while staying true to my artistic signature. This mix of research, dialogue, and intuition is what allows me to adapt my set to the unique energy of every place while maintaining a genuine connection with the crowd — wherever I am.

Your tribal and pulsing beats are a trademark of the “Zambianco sound.” What are the roots of this musical identity? Do you incorporate Brazilian or other cultural references in your productions to create the intense experience that sets you apart in the global circuit?

My musical identity comes from a combination of melodic, sometimes dramatic atmospheres, with tribal and driving beats that keep the dance floor moving. I’ve always felt deeply connected to the emotion that music can convey. I like to build tension, shape moods, and release energy at just the right moment — and that comes through in both my productions and live sets.

I also try to stay tuned into what’s happening on the global scene. I listen to what’s trending, what’s heating up dance floors worldwide, and think about how I can incorporate those influences without losing my essence. And of course, Brazilian culture always finds its way in — whether through percussion, grooves, or subtle textures that reflect our heat and intensity.

I believe this balance between emotion, rhythm, and relevance is what helps shape the experience people now associate with the Zambianco sound.

You’ve led major LGBTQIA+ dance floors across Brazil and Europe, witnessing powerful moments of pride and freedom. How would you describe the cultural and emotional impact of music in those spaces? Can you recall a moment when you felt your set transformed or united the crowd?

Playing for predominantly LGBTQIA+ crowds is always a powerful experience, because those spaces go far beyond music. They represent freedom, belonging, and resistance. It’s where people feel safe to be who they are without fear of judgment — and music plays a fundamental role in that. It connects, uplifts, heals, and unites.

What moves me most in those moments is the freedom I have to experiment. I can drop more expressive vocals or bring in tracks from genres that might not fit into a conventional set — and still feel the floor react in deep, honest ways. There’s an emotional surrender that’s incredibly powerful.

I remember a set in Lisbon where I got excited and started playing Brazilian artists like Anitta and Pabllo Vittar. Seeing the international crowd respond to those iconic voices from our culture was amazing. It felt like I was bringing a piece of Brazil to that moment, and the connection it created on the dance floor was unforgettable. It’s in moments like that I see how music can unite people from completely different places in a single, shared vibration.

Breaking into the international circuit as a Brazilian DJ comes with challenges. What obstacles did you face to establish yourself outside of Brazil — in terms of industry, language, or style adaptation — and what strategies or lessons helped you overcome them and reach global recognition?

Breaking into the international circuit as a Brazilian DJ isn’t easy. There are many challenges, from practical things like language to more subtle barriers, like understanding each market’s dynamics and adapting your sound without losing your identity.

At first, one of the biggest obstacles was finding that balance — staying true to who I am as an artist while connecting with audiences whose references and expectations are very different from what we’re used to in Brazil. I also had to build a network outside the country, which takes time. You have to be present, build relationships with promoters and local DJs, understand each city’s scene, and show consistent work.

Language was also a hurdle, but over time I gained more confidence to communicate and assert myself. One of the most important lessons I learned is that authenticity matters more than trying to please everyone. Audiences can tell when you’re being real.

So I studied hard, researched trends, exchanged with artists from different countries, and used all of that to refine my sound — without ever letting go of my roots and what makes me unique. That combination of preparation, resilience, and truth in what I do has been key to building my path beyond Brazil.

We live in the digital era, where online presence is key, and you’ve reached global fans through SoundCloud and social media interactions. How do you use these platforms to expand your reach and stay close to audiences around the world? Has there been any virtual fan interaction that moved or surprised you in a positive way?

Digital platforms have been essential to my journey. SoundCloud, for instance, has always been a powerful showcase for my style, a place to share exclusive sets and connect with people who might never have the chance to see me perform live. Social media allows me to stay closer to the audience, share behind-the-scenes moments, exchange ideas, and feel — in real time — how my music is reaching different parts of the world.

I use these tools strategically, but in a way that stays true to who I am. I like to keep a presence that reflects both the artist and the person. Through these platforms, I can gauge what’s resonating, discover new audiences, and even test ideas that I later take to the dance floor.

One interaction that touched me deeply was a fan who shared that they were going through a period of depression and used my music as a way to lift their spirits and find strength. That really stayed with me because it reminded me of the real power music has to transform a day — or even a life. And that’s what keeps me creating and connecting with the world.

Beyond the spotlight, what might people not know about Zambianco? Is there a passion, habit, or unexpected influence that fuels your creativity — something you rarely speak about, but consider key to your artistry?

Offstage, what many people might not know is how introspective and observant I am. Even though I work in environments full of energy, movement, and sound, my creative process involves a lot of silence and reflection. I enjoy walking alone, listening to soundtracks, watching films that stir deep emotions — especially intense or dramatic ones — and observing people, gestures, and subtle interactions.

These quiet moments help me create with more depth. Sometimes a single film scene or a casual phrase in a conversation can spark the idea for a track or an entire set. I also have a strong connection with visual design and aesthetics. I often think about how sound “looks,” how it can tell a story beyond what’s heard. That influences everything from cover art and video production to the way I build narratives in my live shows.

Ultimately, I believe that art comes from everything we feel — not always from what we show.

You’ve taken your sound to stages around the world, pulsing with diversity and celebration. How do you see the impact of your music on fans from Cultura Queer in Brazil and the global audience of Radio Power Strike? What deeper message do you hope to leave with those who experience your music beyond the dance floor?

My music has always been an extension of what I live and believe in. Bringing this sound — full of diversity and celebration — to different parts of the world is, for me, a way to reaffirm the value of queer culture, to show that it doesn’t just resist, but shines, evolves, and moves people.

In Brazil, the queer audience has a unique power — they’re intense, expressive, and affectionate. They understand every detail of a set and respond with their bodies and souls. Abroad, I find different forms of expression, but the feeling of freedom and belonging is the same — and that’s incredibly powerful.

What I hope to leave as a message goes far beyond the dance floor. I want people to feel allowed to exist with truth, to feel deeply, and to dance without fear. I want my music to be a space where no one has to fit in — but instead, can be free. If, through one of my sets, someone feels stronger, more seen, or simply more alive — then it’s all been worth it.

Zambianco is more than a DJ. He’s a storyteller who translates emotion into frequency, movement, and presence.

His music bridges distances and connects diverse audiences, always with a sharp awareness of the changes happening on the dance floor and in the world. Each set, remix, and transition reflects a keen ear and a deep commitment — the result of a journey built on sensitivity, study, and passion.

By creating spaces that welcome and empower, he shows that the dance floor can also be political, emotional, and aesthetic. Zambianco makes music that embraces, challenges, and transforms.

And if it’s up to him, the future of queer electronic music will remain bold, intense, and above all — sincere.

Follow DJ Zambianco on social media:

Instagram: @dj_zambianco
YouTube: DJ Zambianco
Spotify: Zambianco
SoundCloud: DJ Sets & Live Sessions