Juan Parra Rios: "Music lets me express what words cannot"

Juan Parra Rios is a Colombian DJ and electronic music producer known for his energetic sound that blends techno and tech‑house with engaging rhythms. Active on the international scene, he has released tracks on labels like Natura Viva and Suro Records and has received support from artists such as Richie Hawtin, Paco Osuna, and Markantonio. His productions, including releases like Nemesis and Mental Disorder, are available on global platforms, while his SoundCloud sets and tracks showcase a dynamic and atmospheric approach.

Music production requires technique, creativity, and a lot of experimentation. What have been the biggest challenges you've faced in defining your style?

For me, the most difficult and challenging part has been creative blocks. As artists, we're not exempt from them-you can be working on a track, have it more than halfway done, but like everything in life, the process isn't always linear. You might have a bad day, the mixes don't come out the way you want, and everything can fall apart.

What I do to overcome that is turn off the computer, go for a walk, or spend time in a park, and return once my mind feels more organized. In the end, I'm very perfectionist, and I always try to give the best of myself in every song.

The Colombian techno scene is growing rapidly. How do you see the role of artists like yourself in developing and promoting this scene on an international level?

I believe it is very important and a huge responsibility because a few years ago it wasn't like this. Nowadays, you can already see many artists from this country touring worldwide, and that inspires more people to join in. As ar-tists, we have the responsibility to educate this new audience so that the scene continues to grow steadily. This has greatly contributed to people now seeing this beautiful profession with respect.

Your first track was signed by Big Mamas House Re-cords, a German label. How did this collaboration come about, and what did you learn from the experience?

My first track with Big Mamas House Records brings back a lot of memories, because at that time I had finished a few songs-two or three demos-that I sent to several labels. / was just starting out, and many of them rejected me. So i thought, I need to change something in my sound. That's when I began experimenting with different cuts and adding some vocals, until my track DMT came to life. At first, I didn't have much faith in this song, but l started reaching out to record labels and eventually received the green light. This experience taught me that perseverance and discipline are essential in music.

Techno music is often linked to intense collective experiences, like festivals and parties. What's the most memorable live event that has marked you?

It was my second event, and that day I was very nervous because i was playing at one of the best clubs in my city, Espacio 10-60. I opened the party and played for about four hours. At first, there was no one, but then the club started to fill up, and for me, it was an unforgettable expe-rience. People responded to the tracks, everyone was dan-cing. That day I made many friends, and the happiness / felt was so overwhelming that I couldn't believe it. / was fulfilling the dream I had since / was a child-to make people happy on the dance floor despite their problems.

Looking ahead, what are your artistic and personal goals for the next few years? Do you have any special collaborations or projects planned?

My goal for the next few years is to sign with one of the best techno labels, Drumcode Records. I know it's difficult and complicated, but a long time ago achieved things with music that once thought were impossible-like Richie Hawtin playing my track at one of his festivals. That showed me that with perseverance, anything is possible.

Nowadays, I'm preparing a musical project called Extermi-nio. The track is already finished; it just needs to be relea-sed. So stay tuned, because what's coming is really good.

Finally, as an emerging artist in such a competitive genre, what advice would you give to young producers who want to stand out and find their own voice in electronic music?

The advice / would give is to resist and never give up. The small steps you take every day are what determine how your destiny unfolds. Everything is a process, and each person experiences it differently, so never compare yourself to anyone else's journey. Let your only competition be yourself-striving to improve and setting clear, realistic goals. Many of us idealize that things should happen qui-ckly, but that's not the case. Everything comes with pa-tience, and the best part is enjoying the journey along the way.

Juan, your career started in 2019, at a time when the electronic music scene was already very vast. What drew you to techno, and which artists inspired you the most during those early days?

What attracted me to techno was mainly its depth; it made it different from any other genre I had ever listened to. Since / was very young, I started listening to electronic music, but I didn't know how to distinguish the genres-just listened for pleasure.

That changed when I began attending events and festivals. I started learning more, going to more electronic music events, until one day in 2018l attended a show by Marco Carola and Paul Ritch. That experience stirred emotions within me that I had never felt before. I will never forget that day because it marked a turning point: it was the moment I realized I could express what I felt-and what I couldn't put into words-through music.

"Love Parade" is your latest release on Cafe De Anatolia. What is the main message or emotion you wanted to convey with this track?

With my latest song, I wanted to express tranquility and deliver a message of intro-spection, so that whoever listens to it can find a moment of calm and step away from the everyday routine that often weighs on peopleespecially nowadays, when everything moves so fast and we sometimes forget what truly matters: how we feel.

This track was very special to me because it made me question certain things, and sometimes that's exactly what we need in order to move forward.

How has interacting with internationally renowned artists pushed you to overcome your creative limits and evolve as a techno producer?

I love this question because it pushes me to keep learning more every day and to gain deeper knowledgenot only about how I want my music to sound but also about creating my own identity that sets me apart from other artists. / want people to say, 'I recognize this sound, it's Juan." That has helped me move forward instead of staying in one place. I try to learn from every artist I meet, from their best way of making music. Each process is different, and that's the beauty of this field: every single day you discover something new.

You've mentioned wanting to build a personal and distinctive sound. What are the key elements of your techno style that make it unique compared to others?

I try to implement my own story-so-mething emotional and distinctive-by creating ambient sound layers without straying completely from techno. In fact, before making music / watch many movies, and depending on the feeling they give me whether joy, melancholy, or nostal-gial shape the chords of the track accor-dingly. I focus deeply on my emotions before creating music because that makes it easier for me to connect with people than simply making music for the sake of it. / want each track to tell a story that changes depending on the person who listens to it.

Follow c

Instagram

Facebook

Soundcloud

Youtube