GI.O

In the concrete womb of Berlin's nocturnal chaos, where fog machines blur reality and sound systems become confessional booths, few voices echo with as much raw emotional gravity as GI.O’s. A newcomer by Berlin standards, but a seasoned soul shaped by the rhythmic pulse of Brazil, GI.O is not merely navigating the underground, she’s reconstructing it from within. Born out of a culture where music bleeds into the streets and bodies instinctively move to ancestral syncopations, GI.O’s journey from Brazil to Berlin reads like a manifesto of resistance and rebirth.

What defines her is not only the ability to blend Latin euphoria with trance’s celestial drive, but the sheer force of presence she brings as a Latin woman in the male-dominated machinery of European electronic music. Her sets shimmer with joy, yet simmer with subversion, a duality that refuses to be tamed. I met her in a dimly lit corner of Kreuzberg, the conversation spilling over with sincerity, vulnerability, and rhythmic insight. In every word she uttered, there was cadence. In every anecdote, a bassline. This is not just the story of a DJ finding her sound. This is the story of GI.O, a cultural bridge, a sonic insurgent, and a woman dancing through resistance.

The transition from Brazil to Berlin is not just geographical for GI.O, it's alchemical. What begins as a relocation transforms into a redefinition of self and sound. Her voice holds both nostalgia and defiance as she reflects on that shift.

“I always had a connection with music; in Brazil, we say that ‘music is in our blood’ because it represents so much of our culture, and I had it in me since I can remember. As I started DJing in Brazil, my relationship with music got even deeper, and when I moved to Europe (NL), I found out that I could reach new levels with my career, finally deciding on moving to Berlin and focusing 100% on it. The cultural contrast between the two cultures is constantly shaping me in every way, musically, personally, in my relations, and in my day-to-day life. It’s two opposite cultures with one common thing: the love for music.”

Berlin, with its industrial edge and defiant nightlife, challenged GI.O to evolve. She faced both an open field and a high wall, where access meets gatekeeping.

“Berlin’s musical scene is something completely different from what I ever experienced before, from the clubber perspective (music style, clubbing culture, safe spaces, easy access to your favorite artists) to the artist perspective (how the scene works, how important music production is, DJ skills, agencies). I’ve realized how challenging it is to become an artist in Berlin. At the same time that it’s ‘easy’ to learn how to DJ and everyone can be a DJ, it’s very hard to become an ‘artist’. It was difficult to absorb everything, but it also gave me the motivation to improve myself and work hard to become a real artist.”

Yet her Brazilian identity remains the compass through this evolution.

“The Brazilian culture will never leave me; it’s in my inner self. I carry it as an artist, in my music, in my person. I’ll always be a ‘warm’ person with a lot of emotions and carry the Brazilian excitement and energy in my sets.”

This warmth is palpable in her productions, an electrifying hybrid of trance, samba, and baile funk. Her sound doesn’t ask for permission. It enters the room and owns it.

“When I moved to Europe, it opened up my mind music-wise. I discovered so many new rhythms and styles that I had never heard in Brazil’s techno scene, which led me to a different direction in my music. I started producing not so long ago, just before moving to Berlin, still in the process of shaping my sound identity. But from the beginning, I had support from amazing artists like Ki/Ki, Trym, Bad Boombox, David Löhlein, Otta, and many more, which was super important and motivated me to keep exploring new sounds.”

“On my first released tracks, they were still 100% trance, but over time, I wanted to blend my Brazilian roots and give more rhythm to it, like I did on ‘Samba Comigo’ released on Hot Meals Records. Since then, I’ve been trying different things, shaping my music and bringing more percussion blended with happy trance energy, like in my latest track ‘Se Solta’ on Hotties. Someone in Colombia called it ‘eletrosamba’, and I love that.”

Cultural fusion is not trend-chasing for GI.O, it's survival.

“It was a process until I figured out how to create my musical identity, but I believe now more than ever, I’m starting to shape it in a way that blends my roots and inspirations. What inspires me the most is how an artist can develop their musical language and translate it to the world. That’s what drives me, to be able to translate myself artistically.”

Her artistry also intersects with her identity as a Latina woman, a dual lens through which she experiences both marginalization and power.

“Being a female artist in the industry already challenges you a lot. In my personal experience, I had to prove myself twice as much, once for being a woman and once for being Latina. I don’t have my culture in Berlin, nor my community; I had to build it from scratch. It’s hard to find support because everyone is fighting for their interests. But I found wonderful people in this journey who helped me start building my community.”

“I feel that being a female artist already says a lot. But it also feels super powerful to be able to say you’re accomplishing the same or more being a woman, and showing other women that IT IS POSSIBLE. Being Latina adds another layer. We usually don’t have the same opportunities and access in this techno world, so being able to play in events like Baum Festival, Amnesia Ibiza, Intercell, Teletech, it’s an honor.”

Her sets are jubilant, but there's a deeper emotional current flowing beneath the euphoria.

“I’m a very emotional person, and you can see it through my sets. Sometimes it’s even a struggle to separate emotions from my work. I always connected with music emotionally. That’s why I try every time more to bring JOY and HAPPINESS in my sets, because even when I’m having a bad day, I know music can make it better, and that’s what I want to bring to people.”

As trance reclaims its space in club culture, GI.O sees herself as a catalyst in the movement, with a difference.

“Trance was always part of my music, even when I played other genres. This new wave showed me a happy and bouncy trance, and I fell in love with it. But it’s important to bring something different. So many artists are into this new style of trance, I feel it’s essential to create your own identity and not standardize the ‘hits’.”

And identity, for GI.O, always leads back home.

“As a Brazilian, I feel we are the ones that most know how to express our culture. A while ago, if I played a track with funk, people wouldn’t engage. Now they go crazy. But we must remember this is our culture, samba, baile funk, and it’s honorable to share it. That’s why we Brazilians need to spread it with pride.”

GI.O is a truly captivating artist, not just for her sound, but for the intention and spirit behind it. With her creation of "eletrosamba," she brings something entirely her own to the global electronic scene — a vibrant, rhythmically rich hybrid that speaks both to her Brazilian roots and her futuristic vision. It’s clear that this isn’t just a clever genre fusion, but a deeply personal language she's building, a way to honor her culture while pushing the boundaries of trance music. In doing so, she offers listeners more than a beat — she gives them a story.

What’s especially compelling is the way GI.O carries herself within the scene. While many artists adapt to fit into the Berlin techno mold, she does the opposite: she questions, adapts selectively, and carves out a space that feels true to her. Her comments about the difference between technical skill and artistic essence reveal a thoughtful, almost philosophical approach to music-making. She’s not just trying to sound good — she wants her work to mean something, and that depth of purpose really sets her apart.

There’s also a striking honesty in how she talks about identity and belonging. GI.O doesn’t shy away from naming the challenges of being a Latin woman in European club culture — the constant need to prove herself, the subtle and overt exclusions. But instead of being bitter, she channels that struggle into something beautiful and resilient. Her music holds space for joy, resistance, sensuality, and pride — all at once. You can feel that emotional richness in every track.

Ultimately, GI.O feels like more than just an emerging talent — she’s a force of change. She’s opening up new possibilities not only for what trance music can sound like, but for who it can represent. There’s a sense that she’s playing a long game — one rooted in integrity, curiosity, and cultural grounding. Watching her rise feels exciting not just because of what she’s doing now, but because of everything she’s on the verge of creating next.