Interview with Cristhian Balcazar

From the heart of Salinas, Ecuador to the pulsing dance floors of New York and beyond, Cristhian Balcazar has carved out a name as one of the most soulful and boundary-pushing DJs in the electronic scene. Starting his career at just 17, he quickly earned residencies across South America before finding his true calling at the iconic Lost Beach Club. There, he refined a style that seamlessly blends intuition, rhythm, and emotional depth—skills that would shape his future sets around the globe.

Balcazar’s journey has since taken him across North and Latin America, with his tracks gaining support from some of the biggest names in the game, including Calvin Harris, Jamie Jones, and Marco Carola. But it was in 2022 that he truly redefined his sound. Shifting away from high-energy tech-house, Cristhian embraced a more melodic, spiritual approach—deeply rooted in his Latin heritage and inner evolution.

In this interview, we explore the man behind the music, his transformation, and what’s next on his sonic path.

1. You began DJing professionally at just 17. What was it like becoming a resident of Lost Beach Club at such a young age?
It was a dream come true. At 17 I was still in school, dividing homework between sunset sound-checks and sunrise closings. Lost Beach Club is legendary in South America, so being entrusted with a residency forced me to mature quickly, both musically and personally. I learned to build marathon sets, read an international crowd, and keep the energy alive for eight hours straight. That pressure forged my discipline and proved I could stand alongside artists I’d only admired before.

2. Your sound has evolved a lot in recent years. What inspired your move toward deeper, more spiritual house & techno?
The pandemic, relocating to another country, and plenty of inner work pushed me toward music that feels more human and less purely “functional.” I still love the classic tech-house bounce, but I needed room for emotion, harmony, and storytelling. Discovering artists like Keinemusik and Tale of Us—and revisiting Latin folk scales—helped me fuse groove with melody. The result is what I call Spiritual Dance: beats that move hips and frequencies that open hearts.

3. What does the concept of Spiritual Dance mean to you? Is it just a sound, or is there a deeper message?
It’s a philosophy disguised as a dance-floor weapon. On the surface you hear hypnotic bass lines, airy pads, and organic percussion. Beneath that, every track or edit aims to spark a specific feeling of elevation, catharsis, unity. I see the club not as an escape but as a collective ritual where people can process what they’re carrying and leave lighter. All this comes from personal experience: when the soul is troubled, we need a refuge of peace, and the club should be that option, not the exception.

4. You’ve played iconic venues across the continent. Is there a set or moment you remember as truly unforgettable?
Yes, New Year’s Eve 2019 at Lost Beach Club, my first headline on Elixir Orlando and my first time playing in Miami, at the club that’s now called The Trip.

5. Moving to New York was a big step. How did the city influence your style and creative process?
New York is organized chaos: hip-hop on one block, salsa on the next, techno until dawn. That diversity encouraged me to blur genres and toughened my kick drums—NYC crowds don’t fake it; if the groove dips, they leave. The city taught me speed without losing soul. It matured my sound and clarified what I truly wanted for myself and my music.

6. Your releases have been supported by legends like Calvin Harris, Jamie Jones, and Marco Carola. How does that recognition feel?
Deeply grateful and blessed.

7. How do you craft a set that connects spiritually and still makes the dance floor explode?
I treat a set like a film: introduction, tension, climax, resolution. I start with warm-ups around 115 BPM and use field recordings—waves, bells—to let the room breathe before dropping heavier grooves. Technically, I mix in key and layer percussive loops so transitions stay seamless. Spiritually, I stay present: I make eye contact and adjust in real time; the crowd writes half the story.

8. Today social media shapes much of a DJ’s brand. How do you balance the online world with the authenticity of your art?
I try to be as genuine as possible: if I’m busy, I don’t post much; if I have more time, I post more. When I’m happy about an achievement, I share that feeling exactly as it is. It’s enough for me if my audience can feel what I feel so we can share it together.

9. Looking ahead, what are your artistic goals? Any collaborations, label plans, or concepts on the way?

• Launch Spiritual Dance Records this winter to give a home to Latin-American melodic-groove producers.
• Establish my LIFESTYLE residency.
• Collaborate with a band without losing our essence or that spiritual touch.
• Tour across the United States and select European countries.
• Create my own festival built around this same essence.

10. If you had to describe your artistic mission in one sentence, what would it be?
Freedom, Love, and Empathy.

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