Max HeyraudThis week’s Local Selection comes from Brazilian-born Ortega, who delivers an hours live set of stripped-back, powerful house. The mix weaves in and out of syncopated synth lines, swirling acid, and Drexcyian electro euphoria.
Ortega, also known as Boomtz Boom, is a DJ and electronic music producer from Taboão da Serra, Brazil. His journey into dance music began at the age of nine in 1993, eventually leading him to pursue DJing in 2006.
By 2012, Ortega had made his mark on São Paulo’s club scene and became a key member of the Smile Collective, where he immersed himself in the city’s vibrant club culture. In 2016, he shifted focus to production, blending elements of electro, house, techno, and acid with latin, jazz, funk, and disco influences.
Ortega has played at several notable festivals and venues, including Electric Picnic, Tengu, Wigwam, Fidelity, and Skol Beats Factory, sharing the stage with many of his musical idols.
His production highlights include the 2017 album Diggin’ For Beats Batuque with Beat Maker Rasec, and three EPs released between 2021 and 2023, including Tropic Lines, a collaboration with Bunny Kawaii. In 2024, Ortega was invited by Kawaii to run the label Canario Records. Under his Boomtz Boom alias, he has also released a series of singles on his Bandcamp.
Ortega’s live set is steeped in deep, rolling basslines and intricate percussive grooves, as he expertly navigates the journey through hypnotic, atmospheric breakdowns and nuanced, minimalistic power. The hour mix showcases a producer and performer who has earned his stripes, shifting through various moods and crafting a seamless journey where it was hard to tell where one track began and the next ended. The result is a persistent, organic journey that keeps you locked in, with each drift feeling natural and free-flowing.