zizi K | Soundcloud | Instagram | Resident Advisor
Having recently relocated to Europe, Medellín-born DJ zizi K reflects that the energy and passion for music she’s encountered isn’t so different from her city back home – “it’s pretty similar, just in a different setting”. Growing up during Colombia’s golden age of hardcore punk, it’s clear how the genre’s raw drum-driven energy and rebellious attitude could serve as a gateway to equally intense electronic music. Yet, there’s an introspective depth and balance to the way she navigates her tastes and approach to DJing. Over the past year, she’s been a resident on Internet Public Radio with her themed morning show, Look Inside, where she invites DJs to curate mixes of the music they’d love to hear when waking up or making their first cup of coffee. The results are a heartfelt blend of styles, from downtempo breaks and low-slung house grooves to delicate electronics and ambient soundscapes. A designer by day, it’s no surprise she’s completely embraced the curative side of being a DJ. She shares that she loves crafting mixes with a fluid, cohesive flow, but what truly matters to her is ensuring they resonate emotionally. Her Truancy Sessions mix showcases this beautifully, with tracks from Skee Mask, Vince Watson, Joe Koshin, and Nathan Alexander seeping through with those sincere euphoric undertones.
Can you take us back to your first experiences with electronic music? What was it like growing up in Medellin and what were some of your formative experiences with both music and dance-music? “Well, let’s start with how I got into music, which was a pretty special experience: I grew up during the golden age of hardcore punk in Colombia, and it all started in “La Ceja” a small town near Medellín. From a young age, I was hooked on the raw energy, the wild drums, the chaotic percussion sounds, and the breakneck speed of some of those tracks were what really caught my attention. Bands like 2Steps, Sangre y Fe, Consternación and 5 de Menos were the soundtracks to my youth. As I got older, my love for techno, deep bass, breaks and breakbeat eventually led me into more intense sounds. But of course it wasn’t all hardcore. My first real contact with dance music was through house. I’ll never forget my first rave, when I was 13 or 14 years old, up in the mountains, where I heard Mhein River play. One of the guys in that duo later became a key part of my journey as a DJ.”
Can you tell us a little bit about the parties you first started attending when you first got into dancing music? Who were some of the DJs you were going to see? I imagine there must have been lots of locals, possibly in Medellin? “Yeah, of course. The first raves and parties I went to were very underground, like those events where nobody knew how to get tickets, but somehow, everybody ended up there. They were held in houses, farms, in the mountains, always a bit off the grid. At first, it seemed like a collective experiment where people didn’t just go to dance, but to be part of the atmosphere. Sometimes it was so dark and the sound so intense that it felt like we were getting lost on the dance floor forever.
As for the DJs, I didn’t know many names at first, but I quickly started to see the locals who were already making waves. Guys like Gladkazuka, Julianna, Markovich, D’Santy at that time, Vélez, who was an important name to the local scene, and other guys from labels and collectives in Medellín like: Move, Culto and Música Concreta in “el oriente antioqueño” or “the east side of Antioquia” were and are currently my closest friends and musical mentors from whom I learned a lot.
Also, from time to time, international artists came to the usual clubs or to the mountain parties, which you only went to if you were really into this music, because they were quite deep in the woods. Artists like, Intergalactic Gary, Marco Shuttle, Aurora Halal, Move D, Voiski, Ben UFO, Kórnel Kovacs among others… were some of the names you would hear in those times.”
When did you start DJing, and how has your approach evolved? What’s your process for discovering new music and curating your sets? “I started DJing not too long ago, after getting into this world, I was always surrounded by close DJ friends from whom I was always learning, asking, watching and especially listening to their fine-tuned selections. I learned how to dj on a couple of CDJ 400, where you could only see the bpm and the name of the song, so that’s when I started to tune my ear more and try to do it better and better. It was a lot of trial and error. I remember the first few times I tried to mix, it was an absolute disaster, but you learn fast when you’re thrown into those kinds of situations. Over time, I started to get a real feel for how to read a crowd and understand the flow of a set. Though I’ve always been a bit hard and picky on myself, I’ve also learned that behind every mistake, there is someone behind trying to fix it, and I think that’s also the magic.
Now, my process is more focused on building a vibe that’s both dynamic and unexpected. I like to mix different styles—sometimes deep house, sometimes breakbeat, sometimes a bit of techno or some breaks—so there’s always a bit of a twist. I’m not afraid to experiment in my sets; the goal is to keep the energy flowing while keeping it interesting.
When it comes to discovering new music, I spend a lot of time digging online. I also follow a bunch of niche labels and underground artists. Sometimes it’s not about the latest track, but finding those hidden gems. I spend hours just scrolling through playlists, mixes, and sometimes even random live sets to find something that really speaks to me. The process is a combination of hunting for fresh releases and going back to older tracks that I never gave enough love to. And last but not least, having the radio residency has helped me to find many artists with an exquisite taste in music and that is very special for me.”
Can you tell us about three albums that a) define you getting into electronic music in general, b) maybe a midway album when you were fully invested in DJing and and c) a recent album that you’ve especially enjoyed? And what made these albums so special at the time.
“It was definitely the Motor City Drum Ensemble / Raw-Cuts-5 Raw-Cuts-6 album that introduced me to this business. I remember listening to it at one of those low key parties with friends, dancing in the rain in the early hours of the morning and holding a plastic sheet so we wouldn’t get wet. Those times were amazing, it didn’t matter so much who the dj was but the gems he was drop ping
Domestic Duties by WakeupNeo. I remember when I first found this album, I listened to it on a 6 hour bus ride and I think I had it on repeat for half of it. A not very well known one I think, but it marked my taste in the music I wanted to play from that day on. My favourite track was Toffee but I couldn’t find it on youtube.
Fireground’s latest release on Illian Tape has me totally obsessed. I’ve always loved how they mix techno and house with so much energy, and this album takes that formula to another level. This kind of sound defines my style even more when I’m behind the booth. It’s that perfect blend of power and groove that pushes me to take the energy to the next level in every set.”
Can you tell us a little bit about your move to Europe? It’s been quite recent but how have you been finding it all? “Yeah, moving to Europe has been pretty wild, honestly. It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster—lots of new faces, new places, and of course, new challenges. Now, when it comes to the music scene, it isn’t all that different from what we have in Medellín or other places in the Global South. The energy, the passion for music—it’s pretty similar, just in a different setting. It could be a bit overwhelming at first, trying to find my own place and making sense of where I fit in. Europe has a massive and diverse music culture, so finding the right space to stand out can be a bit more complicated, but for now I’m taking things slowly.
Coming here was about more than just the music, though. I wanted to challenge myself, try something new, and explore opportunities that weren’t as easily available back home. It’s about growing as a DJ, but I feel it’s important not to let go of my other passion, which is being a designer. For now I’m adapting. I’m trying to find my way in a totally new environment: a different audience, different expectations and a different lifestyle.”
Could you describe the process of creating this mix? Was there a specific message or feeling you wanted to convey? “I spent a lot of time thinking about the energy I wanted to create, the way the tracks would flow into each other. It was important to me that the mix had highs and lows, that it wasn’t just a constant pace. I wanted to build tension, then release it. Make people feel something, whether it’s excitement or the feeling of losing yourself in the rhythm.
In terms of the message, I’d say it was about connecting the dots between different sounds and genres, but all in the same family. I like to blend techno, house, and breaks in a way that feels fluid and cohesive, but also a bit unpredictable. So for me, it’s not just about the tracks themselves but how they make you feel. I guess the message was something like ‘stay open’, both to the music and to the moment. It’s all about letting go, being present, and letting the music take you where it wants you to go. And that there’s nothing wrong with not always getting it as it’s expected.”
Last, usual question from us, what was the last thing to put a big smile on your face and when was the last time you had a proper dance? “First of all, just being here and answering these questions already makes me happy, haha. But to be honest, moving to Europe was a big step for me. Finding some good opportunitie and seeing things start to fall into place has been a huge relief. It’s hard to explain, but the feeling of being at one with myself here is what’s really been uplifting me lately. And of course, the upcoming Artificio EP from my best friends actually brought smiles and tears to my eyes. Watching their hard work come to life again is truly something special.
I think the last time I had a proper dance was at Bonanza, the local festival we have in Colombia which is truly magical. I danced with all my friends until we couldn’t feel our feet, it’s always a great experience to have that festival in the middle of the jungle.”
zizi K: Soundcloud, Instagram, Resident Advisor
You can download Truancy Sessions S02 E04 zizi K in 320 kbps on Patreon here. Your support helps cover all our costs and allows Truants to continue running as a non-profit and ad-free platform. Members will receive exclusive access to mixes, tracklists, and discounts off future merchandise. If money is tight however and you’re desperately after any ID, please leave us a comment over on the Soundcloud link and either us or zizi K will get back to you :)
