Gian Varela Sheds Light on "The Other" Latin Culture on His Debut EP "L.O.C."

Artists: Gian Varela
Title: L.O.C. EP
Label: Mixmash Records
Release date: May 5, 2023

Dance music was long considered a counterculture, a fact that wasn’t lost on Gian Varela. The Latin producer found “La Otra Cultura,” (L.O.C.) or “the other culture”, when he fell in love with electronic music and entered it himself. He now honors the road less taken in the form of his L.O.C. EP, featuring six tracks that fuse traditional Latin culture and music with his favorite genre. With a fresh, modern take on rhythmic melodies combined with driving basslines on tracks like already fan-favorite “Ponme Loco” with Laidback Luke featuring Melfi and sultry lyrics with house beats on “Party Sexo Alcohol”, Varela brings and invites everyone to the dance floor. The EP follows his recent single release “Lo Que Siento” with Tom Enzy, also a part of the EP, and introduces brand new track “Papi” with Chuwe to Gian Varela’s discography. As an up-and-coming producer determined to break genre barriers with each release, Gian is only going up from here.

“‘L.O.C.’ = ‘La Otra Cultura’, which means ‘the other culture’ in Spanish. In Latin America, there is the ‘Para La Cultura’ phrase, meaning ‘for the culture’. We use it a lot when we want to celebrate achievements that push the Latin culture forward. However, there is a whole culture of Latinos who do not fit that stereotype. For me, it’s about diversity and being different while always respecting my roots. My mother was a radio host, so I grew up with world music, from classic rock to Spanish rap, until I discovered dance music and its culture, which I fell in love with. There are many like me who connected with this ‘other culture’ (dance music) instead of listening to, e.g., reggaeton, which was born in Latin America and was considered a purely Latin thing. To summarize, the EP is about ‘La Otra Cultura’, fighting stereotypes, and about Latinos who love their heritage and their roots but draw their inspiration from what happens outside of Latin culture. I want to push this more into the world through my music, and this EP, which consists of 6 tracks ranging from afro house to the strong side of tech house, perfectly represents my sound spectrum when I play and produce. Having Mixmash Records’ support and their approval of this idea and my sound means so much to me.” – Gian Varela

Hailing from Panama and honed in the United States, Gian Varela is a dynamic and groundbreaking house music DJ, producer, and songwriter who has quickly risen to global acclaim. With an innate rebellious spirit, Gian’s distinctive style of seamlessly blending Latin genres and electronic sounds has cemented his position as a master of his craft. His upbringing in Panama, the birthplace of reggaeton’s roots, and subsequent move to the US have resulted in a unique, globally oriented sound that has won him legions of fans worldwide. Gian’s impressive track record includes viral collaborations with Latin superstars like Sech, Feid, El Chombo, and Maffio, as well as releases on some of the world’s top dance music labels, including Spinnin’ Records, Armada Music, and Mixmash Records. His tracks and remixes have gained support from top DJs and producers like Armin van Buuren, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, Laidback Luke, Hugel, Wax Motif, and Vintage Culture. With an innate ability to connect with crowds and transmit powerful energy, Gian has honed his craft through years of performing across the Americas. His mastery of the decks allows him to seamlessly transition from his signature Latin tech house on festival mainstages like Ultra Abu Dhabi to his Afro/Caribbean tech sound in more intimate venues. His creative vision has seen him push the Caribbean-infused house genre to new heights, and his dynamic live performances have electrified audiences across the world. From Afro house to peak hour tech-house, Gian elegantly blends his productions while always remaining true to his unique sound. This year promises to be a standout year for Gian, with high-profile collaborations and high-energy fusions in the dance music world that will showcase the full spectrum of Latin house music. With his signature global sound, Gian is sure to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the years to come.