Undrscovered: Leonor On Cultural Collisions, Instinct And His Remix For CHLOÉ + Guest Mix
- Feb 26
- 4 min read
The Paris club circuit has long shaped artists who understand tension. That lineage runs straight through Chloé Thévenin and her Lumiere Noire imprint, and now through Leonor, whose remix of ‘Distorted Dance’ lands as part of the new five-track EP.
Built from a driving minimal framework, his version pushes into rave motifs and progressive techno structures without losing the track’s underlying pulse. It follows a breakout run that has seen the Guadalajara-born producer release on Lumiere Noire, AEON and Borders of Light, while earning support from Solomun, Dixon and Âme. The trajectory is clear, but the foundation runs deeper than recent momentum.
“First of all thanks for inviting me to your platform, I was born in Guadalajara, raised in Texas and spend 10 years in France and now back to Mexico. So yes throughout my life I have experienced many types of music from regional, hip hop, rock, disco to many native music from the Yaqui and Seri community. So yes definitely you can hear in this mix many cultures colliding.”
That collision sits at the core of his Undrscovered guest mix. Across acid lines, ethno textures and darker new wave tones, the thread is movement. Leonor refuses to lock himself into one lane.
“I have always considered myself a very versatile DJ as well as producer. When I do a dj mix live is different from recording one for a podcast at home. I love living all my energy on the dance floor when playing to people live. In this case recording this mix at home the feeling is different a live mix is for one moment and the recorded mix is registered for the audience to play it as many times as they want, so I feel there is a bit more of a pressure to make the mix more suitable for the ear so I lean into more light tracks with more vocals, more dynamic that way people can hear it anywhere.”
That balance between energy and control mirrors his production catalogue. Early downtempo experiments evolved into full dancefloor material, opening doors to labels across the spectrum, including My Favourite Robot and Toolroom.
“As I commented in the last question, I’m a very versatile producer, in my beginning I produced downtempo tracks that range from 90 to 105 bpm. Later, I decided to make my tracks for the dancefloor, so I started experimenting with different sounds. All this has helped me release in many different Labels and genres.”
High-profile support has followed, but it has not altered his creative process.
“I’m very grateful to have artist of that calibre showing support to my music and obviously yes it helps me to do better and push myself to give a better product to the listeners. Now in my studio when I produce, I produce from how I’m feeling one day I can produce a dark submissive track like ‘YO SOY’ or ‘SENSEI’ another day I can make a track full of happy sequences like ‘TIME’ or ‘XANTOLO’. At the end is all for the love of music.”
That instinctive mindset defines his DJ philosophy. Preparation takes a back seat to reaction.
“This mix I let my instinct take over I never prepare my set list when I mix. As the great Laurent Garnier once said in an interview ‘is not the DNA of being a DJ’. It’s easy to prepare a set list at home anybody can do that. Is all about improvisation! You have to tell a different story in your mix every time. Hope you all enjoy this journey.”
Remixing also follows that same open framework. Having seen his own tracks reworked by names such as Sascha Funke and Damon Jee, he values interpretation over control.
“I tell every artist that has remixed my music to have freedom in their interpretation. Now someone like Sacha Funke, Lauer, Damon Jee and other big names I can only sit back and enjoy their talent. I’m extremely thankful for every artist that took their time to remix my music.”
As mid and downtempo techno edges further into the mainstream, Leonor remains detached from forecasting trends.
“I’m a person that lives in the present, the past and future are things that really don’t have an impact on me. As for the scene, I’m happy where is at there seems to be more festivals, and more collectives that are making electronic events. Just I it’s starting to become more mainstream as well big corporations behind all this. At the end is the music that transcends. Yes, now is easier to produce and yes dj selection has become more about popularity than talent. But it is what it is! enjoying every day like is the last one.”
With his Lumiere Noire remix landing alongside contributions from Hannah Holland and Miles J Paralysis, and an Undrscovered mix that captures the full scope of his influences, Leonor continues to carve a lane defined by instinct, cultural breadth and dancefloor narrative.
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