Peruvian-born DJ and producer Diego Barrera has been shaping his own corner of the electronic music landscape since age 13. With performances across Latin America and Europe, his sound fuses cultural roots with global underground energy, creating a sonic language that transcends genre. After turning a dismissive remark into his breakout EP “Who the F is Diego Barrera”* on Timo Maas’s Stripped Down Records, he followed with charting releases on Kittball and collaborations with Kevin McKay, earning support from artists like Martin Garrix, Carlita, and DJ Tennis. As he prepares a new tribute project with Riva Starr honoring the legends of house music, Barrera continues to expand his “unified ecosystem” of sound—one that celebrates authenticity, connection, and the shared rhythm that unites dancefloors worldwide.

Diego Barrera talks to 6AM about turning defiance into art, building a unified sonic identity, and paying homage to the house pioneers who shaped his journey.

 

Hi Diego! Thanks for taking the time to talk to 6AM. How are you?

I’m good, feeling really inspired lately! I’ve been spending a lot of time in the studio and also preparing for some exciting releases. It feels like one of those moments where everything’s connecting — so yeah, couldn’t be better. Thanks for having me!

 

For those just getting to know you, you’ve been performing since you were 13, across places like Costa Rica, Barcelona, and Argentina. That’s a lot of cultural influence to absorb at a young age. How did growing up between those different scenes shape your perspective on what “electronic music” means to you today?

It’s crazy to think how much I absorbed from each place at such a young age. Every city and country had its own sound, its own pulse, and its own way of understanding what “electronic music” is. Growing up between so many scenes made me realize there’s no single definition — it’s more like a shared language that each culture speaks in a different accent.

That shaped not only my sound but my way of being. It taught me to be humble, adaptable, and always open to discovering new perspectives. Traveling through those scenes showed me that, no matter where you are, the heart of electronic music is the same — it’s about community. Especially in the underground, where everything starts. Whether you’re in Barcelona, Buenos Aires, or Miami, it’s always that same energy: a bunch of people in love with music, living fully in the moment, and connecting with each other through sound.

 

Your EP “Who the F is Diego Barrera”* came out on Timo Maas’s Stripped Down Records and definitely caught people’s attention. What story were you trying to tell with that title, and what did releasing that project mean for you personally or creatively?

“Who the F* is Diego Barrera” is one of those projects that feels like a snapshot from my life diary. The whole concept came from a real moment — during an afterparty, someone literally said those exact words to me: “Who the f** is Diego Barrera?”* It was so unexpected and random that it stuck in my head. I wrote it down in my notes, and later decided to open the EP with that quote, performed by a voice actress. It became a playful way to turn an uncomfortable, even rude, moment into art.

I think most people in this industry have crossed paths with that kind of energy — people who dismiss or underestimate you without knowing who you are or what you do. So instead of taking it personally, I flipped it into something fun and self-aware.

Musically, the EP lives in that space between underground and commercial. It’s not fully one or the other — it plays with both worlds. There’s elegance, groove, and a bold, in-your-face attitude that reflects exactly where I am as an artist right now: confident, experimental, and unapologetically myself.

 

You’ve said your music exists as a “unified ecosystem” not just a collection of genres. Can you walk us through what that means in practice? How do you decide when a track fits your sonic universe versus when it belongs somewhere else?

For me, keeping my artistic integrity means staying true to what I feel, not to what a genre demands. I’ve always moved between tech house, afro, house, and minimal, but I never saw them as separate boxes — they all orbit around the same creative center. Each track represents a different emotion or chapter, but they all come from the same universe of sound.

That’s why I call it a unified ecosystem. My music doesn’t exist to fit a trend or a market; it exists to express where I am in that specific moment. Whether it’s groovier, darker, or more melodic, it’s still connected through my imprint — the textures I use, the rhythm of the percussion, the energy I transmit. Once you dive into it, you start realizing it’s not “the same track in different versions,” but rather a connected world that keeps unfolding with every release.

At the end of the day, that’s what fulfills me. Making music that coexists, that speaks to each other, that keeps expanding but always stays authentic to who I am.

 

“Filthy EP” hit the Beatport charts and “Kofumba” landed in the Afro House Top 100, but “Libertad” seems to have reached a wider audience with support from Martin Garrix and DJ Tennis. Do you see those moments as validation, or just as signals that your sound is starting to travel further?

I think it’s both — validation and evolution. Seeing my tracks connect with bigger audiences and respected artists feels rewarding, especially knowing that each release explores a different corner of my sound. “Filthy EP” and “Kofumba” charted in completely different spaces, yet both carried the same DNA. That shows me my sound is starting to travel further, beyond the limits of subgenres.

But “Libertad” was something different — it carried a message that went deeper than the dancefloor. It’s a track about emotional and personal freedom, about letting go of what holds you back, and I think people felt that. When Martin Garrix supported it on his show, and then DJs like Tennis and Carlita started playing it, it wasn’t just about exposure — it was proof that a message born from something personal could resonate on a global level.

For me, that’s the real validation — when your music speaks to both the underground and the mainstream, not because it’s designed to please them, but because it’s honest. “Libertad” taught me that vulnerability and groove can coexist, and that staying true to your story can still take you far.

 

You’ve got a big collab album coming up with a pretty big figure in the dance world who's name we'll keep a secret. What can you tell us about how that came together? And since it’s described as a tribute to the house legends that inspired you, who were the artists that made you want to do this in the first place?

I’ve always had a deep love for house music — it’s been present in every stage of my career and every set I’ve played. From the very beginning, I was fascinated by the groove, the warmth, and the timeless energy that the legends brought to the dancefloor. When I first started producing, I constantly looked up to artists like Marshall Jefferson, Masters at Work, Todd Terry, David Morales, and so many others who shaped the sound of house.

This upcoming EP is gonna be my personal tribute to that golden era. It’s not about recreating a sound — it’s about honoring a spirit. That feeling of connection, community, and raw joy that true house music represents. I wanted to capture that essence and reimagine it through my own perspective.

There will be two EPs in this tribute series, and I can’t wait to share more details soon. Maybe even a special vinyl release, just like the old-school legends used to do — because some music deserves to be felt in your hands as much as in your soul.

 

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