Pure energy from one of electronic music's brightest lights: Sofia Kourtesis. Clamour had been building around the Peruvian-born, Berlin-based artist's poignant brand of house music following a string of EPs and 12"s, culminating in last year's Madres—a passionate, vulnerable and excellent album that resonated widely.
Madres packed in rare specificity for a dancefloor record, combining paeans to the power of sound with direct tributes to the neurosurgeon who saved the life of Kourtesis' mother. The album's earworm melodies, sparkling production and approachable aura made it a snap favourite, helping launch Kourtesis from bubbling to breakthrough on the global stage. In both sound and impact, it mirrors another record: Swim, the 2010 classic made by Kourtesis' friend and mentor, Dan Snaith.
Even as her reputation as a recording artist swells, this power-hour of festival slammers is a sharp reminder of Kourtesis' DJing chops, teeing up a victory-lap summer ahead.
