“I have to say that this is a slightly atypical set for me,” says Héctor Oaks of SonarMix 018. Recorded a few weeks after the premiere of his new live show ‘Fuego Universal’ at Sónar Lisboa 2023 (the same one he’ll bring to Sónar by Day this year), it explores the Berlin-based artist’s eclectic influences. “Rap, pop, urban, punk and techno… genres, scenes and cultures that have shaped me as an artist and person.”

Kicking off with a track from Oaks’ most recent collaborators, Madrid-based duo Ill Pekeño & Ergo Pro, and ending with Grauzone’s cult new wave classic ‘Eisbär’, the mix offers a glimpse at what inspired ‘Fuego Universal’. As well as rap and post-punk, there’s acid and ghetto house from Chicago (Fast Eddie And Traxman, DJ Deeon), searing industrial techno from Italy and Birmingham (Ascion and Regis/Female), but also driving gqom (DJ Lag and Dominowe) and latinx club rhythms (Nick León, Nicola Cruz and RUIZ OSC1).

It’s a tracklist that reads like a Sónar lineup, and with good reason: Oaks has always seen the festival as a place “to discover new sounds and connect with artists from diverse genres”. This year, as well as his own live set, which he promises will be “pure fire”, Oaks is looking forward to seeing Aphex Twin (“I don’t think there’s much to say here”) and more surprisingly, Bad Gyal. He’s full of praise for the Catalan superstar, “She’s a mind-blowing artist who has managed to blend pop, dancehall and reggaeton in a unique way, transcending any trend.” It’s a choice that explains one of his fundamental beliefs: the importance of looking beyond genres and labels. “Creativity has no limits,” he says, ”and when we dare to explore and experiment, we can discover new forms of expression and connections”. A statement straight out of a Sónar press release, and one that definitely applies to his contribution to the SonarMix series.

Tracklist: 

Ill Pekeño & Ergo Pro - Riquelme Y Okocha

Ill Pekeño & Ergo Pro - Aon Wanna Know

Nick León - Apretao

Nicola Cruz - Acelera

Héctor Oaks x Ill Pekeño & Ergo Pro - Eso Es G

DJ Lag - London Riot

Fast Eddie And Traxman - Ain’t It Funky

DJ Plant Texture Pres A.662 - Non Siamo Soli

Dominowe - Woza

Los Prisioneros - Con Suavidad

Ascion - Tainted Core

RUIZ OSC1 - Qué Gracioso

Regis / Female - Hanoi Hanoi

Robert Armani - Warning

DJ Deeon - Raw Mix

Grauzone - Eisbär