We sat down with Gabriel Brasil, a São Paulo native and sonic trailblazer whose spellbinding live sets blur the lines between the precision of the studio and the raw energy of the dance floor. As a key figure in D.O.C Records, the label curated by the legendary Gui Boratto, Gabriel is redefining electronic music with a fearless, genre-defying sound. His latest EP, Unknown, is a masterclass in immersive, hypnotic textures that make the listener lose themselves in both the club and the subconscious. When he’s not turning heads with his solo work, Gabriel is at the helm of Lo-Kaus, a forward-thinking live duo that fuses mesmerising psychedelic sonorities with deep techno, while also pioneering the groundbreaking It’s A-Live Festival in Brazil – an exclusive celebration of live electronic performances. With standout sets at Ame, Universo Paralelo, and Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), Gabriel’s ability to push boundaries is unmatched. His latest track, ‘Devotion’, released with Lo-Kaus on Tune City, is already setting the tone for what’s to come. With a stack of fresh tracks ready to make waves, Gabriel Brasil is just getting started – and his journey is bound to leave a mark on the global electronic scene. In this exclusive interview, he offers insights into his journey alongside an exclusive mix that showcases a gripping selection of his sounds.
Read our interview with Gabriel and stream his exclusive mix for PLAYY Magazine below.
What sparked your passion for the arts in the first place? Was there a single moment or experience that solidified your decision to pursue this path?
I grew up surrounded by art at home. My parents didn’t work directly in the arts, but both are incredibly creative people who always encouraged me to seek my own answers and carve out a unique path in life. When it comes to music, I started producing when I was 18, right in the middle of business school. What sparked this decision was the realization of the endless possibilities in music – I remember thinking, I will never get bored. Then the pandemic hit. With the world in lockdown, all I did was make music. Before I knew it, I was fully immersed in it. I entered the pandemic as a business student dreaming of the stock market and came out as an artist.
When you create, what leads the way – a feeling, a story, or the sound itself?
I always start composing in a very abstract way—tweaking synths, experimenting with new plugins, and listening for anything that sparks curiosity or inspiration. I never begin a track knowing exactly how it will sound; it’s always a natural process shaped by my mood and what the music itself calls for. It’s a free and fluid approach, layering ideas and shaping abstract sounds into something more structured. I usually start with the ambiance, pads, and the “soul” of the track. Setting the mood first helps me establish the tone, creating a blank canvas where I can freely jam and experiment.
What’s in your toolkit? Share the gear, gadgets, or software you can’t create without.
Nowadays, my studio is always evolving. I’m constantly buying, selling, and trading synths and instruments, especially here in Brazil, where music equipment is scarce and expensive. This helps me keep experimenting with different gear, though I do have my go-to pieces. The first is my computer with Logic Pro X, the foundation and mothership of my creations. I also love the Syntakt by Elektron—it’s become my go-to gear for live performances and studio work. I’m also really into a synth I recently acquired, the analog Mopho by Dave Smith, along with the UAD Volt interface. This setup is perfect for me because it’s compact and fits into one bag, allowing me to take my studio wherever I go and set up a pocket-sized studio anywhere.
What’s your go-to ritual or trick for getting into the creative zone?
One of my greatest passions in life is jamming freely, without worrying about the outcome. The act of experimenting and exploring new ideas always brings me into the present moment, silencing the noise of the world around me. My trick is to constantly seek out fresh inspirations so I never get bored, using my curiosity as a tool to immerse myself in the creative flow. At the end of the day, I strive to make the studio a space where every idea has value and the freedom to take shape.
What’s the one item you always keep within arm’s reach while creating or performing?
Although I’m addicted to synths and everything that makes a sound, the most essential tools in my creative process are my laptop and headphones. For years, they were all I had to make music, so I learned to create quickly and anywhere. The gear is always fun, but you need a solid foundation to use it properly.
How did you ultimately end up defining your sound?
This is something I don’t have a definite answer for—and probably never will. In a broad sense, it’s electronic music, usually made for dancing, but pinning it down to a single genre is tricky since each track has its own unique mood and outcome. If I had to describe my sound in a few words, I’d say it’s psychedelic, pure, authentic, and honest.
How has your creative process or perspective shifted since you started your journey?
I guess when you start working with different people and instruments, new doors and perspectives naturally open up. When I first started, it was just me, my laptop, and my Apple headphones. But over time, adding new plugins, synths, and instruments unlocked endless possibilities for making music. Especially today, with phones having great mics and gear becoming more portable, I’ve become less concerned with how we achieve a certain sound and more focused on the final outcome.
Walk us through a recording session: what’s the most memorable moment you’ve had in the studio?
The most memorable studio moment I’ve had was when my friend Jackson and I packed up our entire studio in São Paulo and took it to a small town called Ilha do Ferro, a remote place in northeastern Brazil with only 500 residents. The whole process was filmed and turned into a music documentary called Coleções: Ilha do Ferro. What made it truly special was its simplicity—we were in the middle of nowhere, just me and my friends, with no distractions, focused on one thing: making music.
Are there any unexpected or dream collaborations hidden in your work?
I guess my dream collab is to one day work with Radiohead, they had a huge influence in shaping my music.
Any side projects you’re working on?
I work on two side projects. The first is Lo-Kaus, a live psychedelic band that blends rock and techno. Everything happens in real-time—I control the synths and drum machines, while my partner Jack Rosset plays guitar and bass, and a percussionist fuses rock with Brazilian rhythms. Lo-Kaus is also the resident act at my festival in Brazil, It’s A-Live Festival, where every artist performs exclusively live sets.
The second project is Sistemas Complexos, an ambient jam group focused on creating immersive sound journeys and soundscapes. It was founded by me, Brazilian DJ and producer Jackson (BRA), visual artist Alexandre Furcolin, and Gabriel Benarros.
Who’s an emerging artist you think deserves more recognition right now?
Entropia is a Brazilian live act and producer who, in my opinion, creates one of the most authentic and groovy techno and house music. The way he fuses Brazilian music with electronic elements always hits the spot for me.
Which song, album, or playlist do you never get sick of no matter how many times you listen to it?
One my favourite albums is Dorothy Ashby’s Afro-Harping album, that, to me, is the perfect blend of psychedelic and groovy music outside of the electronic genre.
Are there any unexpected hobbies or projects you’re exploring outside of your main work?
Nowadays, I spend over 90% of my time and energy on music, but I’ve always had a deep passion for nature, particularly aquatic animals. So, I like to think I might be a marine biologist in a different timeline or dimension.
If your life and career were an album, what would its title be, and what’s the hidden track only your fans would know?
If my life and career were an album, it would be called Straight Lines & Crooked Streets—a journey through intricate soundscapes, where structured chaos and deep psychedelia collide in unexpected harmony. Every track would blend raw analog energy with digital precision, just like my live sets.
The hidden track? One of my first creations—simple, raw, and 100% me. It might not follow the rules, but it holds the essence of everything that came after. Only the real ones would recognize it.
Give us a glimpse into the future – what surprises or milestones are coming up for you this year?
Get ready for a wave of fresh music and exciting surprises at my festival, It’s A-Live! I’ll be dropping more tracks on D.O.C Records, the renowned label curated by Gui Boratto, and that’s just the beginning. There’s a lot more in the works—stay tuned!
Famous last words?
Curiosity, chaos, love for the unknown – and of course music, music and more music.
Listen to Gabriel Brasil’s mind-melting exclusive mix for PLAYY Magazine now:
Mix Tracklist:
1. Gabriel Brasil – Cluster Memory (unreleased)
2. Gabriel Brasil – De Los Mares (The Vanguard)
3. Gabriel Brasil – Life Has it’s trials (unreleased)
4. Gabriel Brasil – Midnight Meeting (DOC Records)
5. Gabriel Brasil – Left Handed bassist (unreleased)
6. Lo-Kaus – Devotion (Tune City)
7. Gabriel Brasil – Hardwire (DOC Records)
8. Gabriel Brasil – Dry Season (unreleased)
9. Gabriel Brasil – untitled 5 (unreleased)
10. Gabriel Brasil – Angled (DOC Records)
11. Gabriel Brasil – Gentle reminder (Things might change; Trumpet version) (unreleased)
Follow Gabriel Brasil:
Spotify – Soundcloud – Youtube – Instagram
