Julio Torres on Immersive House, 90s Brazilian Roots and Club Culture
- 10 hours ago
- 3 min read
Julio Torres has spent decades shaping House music across Brazil, Europe, and the global festival circuit. Since his early days in São Paulo’s 90s club scene to residencies at D-Edge and Green Valley, his journey has always been rooted in patience, instinct, and respect for the dancefloor. Torres’ solo debut on Abyssal Deep, Rave Harmony, continues this trajectory, merging 90s disco-rave influences with modern production techniques to create a release built for both movement and absorbing listening.
“Coming up in São Paulo in the 90s taught me that longevity is about patience and consistency. Trends came and went very fast, but the people who stayed were the ones who respected the music and the dancefloor. I learned early that you don’t build a career chasing moments; you build it by showing up, listening, and evolving without losing your core,” Torres explains. That ethos informs every release, live set, and production decision, grounding his music via a deep understanding of rhythm, timing, and crowd dynamics. Buy/Stream it here: https://outnow.fanlink.tv/rave-harmony.
His 14-year residency at D-Edge in São Paulo was formative. “D-Edge was a LAB for me. Playing there month after month forced me to read the room deeply and trust my instincts. It shaped my sense of tension, timing, and restraint. That residency wasn’t about playing hits — it was about storytelling, and that still informs everything I do as a DJ and producer.” The experience translated seamlessly to international stages, from Tomorrowland to Warung, Space Ibiza, and Ultra Music Festival, where Julio adapts his approach to suit both small-scale clubs and massive audiences. “The mindset is the same, but the scale changes. In a club, you can be more intimate and take risks slowly. On a big stage, clarity and energy become crucial. In both cases, the goal is connection just expressed differently.”
Torres’ work outside club culture has also influenced his creative vision. Collaborating with Brazilian artists such as Maria Gadú, Roberto Carlos, and Sandy expanded his musical vocabulary, giving him insight into melody, silence, and intention. “Working outside club culture expands your emotional range. Artists like Maria Gadú or Roberto Carlos taught me a lot about melody, silence, and intention. Club records are powerful, but those collaborations remind you that music can communicate far beyond the dancefloor.”
This union of instinct and intention is apparent in tracks like "Like Before," which emerged naturally rather than through conscious reduction. “I wasn’t trying to strip things back, I was just listening more. At this stage, I’m less interested in filling space and more interested in what really needs to be there. Confidence often comes from knowing what to leave out.” The subtle acid touches running through the track accentuate his understanding of House history without relying on nostalgia. “The 303 is not about nostalgia for me. It represents attitude and movement. When used subtly, it brings tension and humanity to modern House. It’s still relevant as long as it serves the groove, not the ego.”
Julio’s commitment toward immersive sound extends into Rave Harmony’s Dolby Atmos mix, where depth and layering create a spatial listening experience intended for both headphones and high-end club systems. “I was very involved. Dolby Atmos allows you to think in layers and depth, not just left and right. I want people to feel surrounded by the music, whether they’re on a proper system or headphones. It’s about immersion, not spectacle.”
After decades in the scene, curiosity continues to drive him. “I’m excited by small details, textures, groove, emotion. With this project, I’m chasing honesty more than innovation. I want the music to feel timeless, not urgent.” This focus on connection, clarity, and respect for both the dancefloor and the listener experience cements Julio Torres’ position as an artist who moves seamlessly between Brazil, Ibiza, and the world’s most iconic stages whilst maintaining the genuineness that has marked his career from the very start.
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