Written by Mavvi
Nicola Cruz is a household name at Rio Hostel. Three times already, the terrace has been packed to hear him play his distinctively eclectic DJ sets. We’ve heard him banging acid house, techno, trance, a dash of merengue, and even some far-flung calypso at various sunrises. This time, he headlines Bonanza for the first time, presenting an exclusive live act.
We interviewed him in the studio as he prepares a live performance that will only be heard at Bonanza, and this is what he had to tell us.
One thing we love about your work as a DJ and producer is how eclectic and adventurous you can be, playing with different influences, beats, and genres. Where do you think this all comes from, and how has this sonic universe been built over the years?
Perhaps it is the need not to be static in my sonic curiosity, to continuously explore different textures and techniques, and continue finding ways to present my musical journeys. I feel like music is so vast, and I’ve approached it through so many angles in my life that it is a “relief” to continue learning new ways to see it. I owe it to several teachers who have shown me things.
What can you tell us about this live set for Bonanza 2027? What differentiates it from what you’ve already presented live?
My live act is always morphing, as I try to find new ways to do things while challenging myself. I’m not entirely sure yet what will come of it. Right now, all I see in my head is Rio Hostel’s beach, at the different times of day I’ve been there before, and I’m trying to bring that sensation into the studio.
Is there anything the live format allows that a DJ set doesn’t?
I like a live act because it is something extremely honest, even vulnerable, you could say. I also love that expression can be a bit more overblown, somehow. For example, I can exaggerate a state in which all the machines click and find a certain harmony, which translates into a great dancefloor moment, and as a performer, I can stay there, stretching that loop at will.
What is your process like when you start building a live set? Where do you begin, and where do you see it heading to?
I first enjoy choosing instrumentation, partly based on the kind of show I will play. Within the universe of electronic music instruments, there are all kinds; some are more ethereal, and others have more corporeal sounds. Once I have those tools in mind, I know what I can or want to compose for each part. For me, sound is highly synesthetic, so time, space, and show energy influence a lot how I contrast and choose a certain palette.
How do you decide what goes in a live set, and what stays in the studio?
When I work on pieces and motifs for a live set, these are ideas that have no beginning or end; they’re only main ideas, so to speak.
So, when I play live, I create the narrative on my own and develop that main idea, giving it an intention. Every time something different comes up.
I like that the experience responds to every different situation in which I play live. Of course, it also has to be fun to perform a certain song live. Plenty of times, if I keep developing an idea further, it ends up staying in the studio.
You’ve played at Rio quite a few times since 2023. What makes you come back to this place, and how do the surroundings influence what you decide to showcase?
To me, Rio is like Goa in South America today. That’s what I tell everyone. I’ve never been to Goa, but I’ve heard great stories of the place, especially about the golden age of trance.
It’s my little story that I envision every time I go there. Perhaps because I usually play long sets from early morning to sunrise, and we all end up on a highly psychedelic trip (?). Nature there has something really special (starting with the howling monkeys coming out early in the morning). It will be my first time playing at Bonanza.
Will this new live act premiere at Bonanza 2027, or will you test it on other stages first?
I think it will be showcased only at Bonanza; I don’t have plans to play it anywhere else.
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Get your tickets now on RA and AllTicketsCol, and join us on the dancefloor to experience this exclusive live set from Nicola from March 3rd to 8th, 2027 at Rio Hostel.
Written by Mavvi