Prejudice, judgment, and misrepresentation have plagued the LGBTQ+ and transgender communities for many years, but self-acceptance and liberation have defined their spirits.
A bold message that Sofia Kourtesis–a Berlin-based house music producer born in the scorching climate of Magdalena, Lima, Peru–champions on her fifth EP release, Volver, a fitting follow-up to her 2023 debut album, Madres, which tackled the sensitive subject of cancer treatment with a bold twist of celebration because she celebrated the inward strength of her mother.
The Peruvian polymath eases the EP into motion with “Corazón”—a honeyed house anthem that gives the Spanish word for “heart” a surefire sonic translation.
Whimsical textures of spacious bass and contorted vocals gradually settle into a peculiar tech-house groove, where retreating, oscillating synths work in tandem with dusty drums. Plaintive vocals weave softly around the shuffling beat, crafting a meditative mood.
"Unidos," the lead single, follows up on the gradual jubilance of the opener by doubling down on the cheerful, revelatory spirit with a more club-oriented energy.
Adding a 2000s French house to Dan Snaith's multi-layered vocals on the guest feature as DAPHNI, Sofia ups the ante by dropping the danceable endearment hard on your ears as the refrain of "You'll never let them get you down" dissolves any air of sadness into sand.
Like wiping your tongue into a Flake 99 on a hot summer's day, "Canela Pura" delivers a cooling antidote to high tempers as the third robust, rounded outing on the project.
An ode to the sensual affairs of romance, Sofia playfully navigates a reggaeton vocal delivery across dulcet, trance-inducing elements of Euro-house with the ease of a paraglider. A looping jazz guitar enhances the bubbling yet secretive sense of ecstasy, weaving through colorful yet controlled synth pads
"Ballumbrosio"–a salient tribute to an activist – is the most poignant tribute to LGBTQ+ people and transgender women on the record thus far. A bold left turn for Kourtesis, the rising star lures you into a false sense of security with meticulous wisdom as reverb-drenched rhythms bring harsher, more delicate textures to the spiritual warmth of the rich harmonies.
Although we have reached a late portion of Volver at this junction, "Nitzan and Aminaa" proves that our Ninja Tune-signed protagonist has plenty of creativity left in the tank.
Beginning with a rippling two-chord pattern unfolding over percussive congas and sharp shaker loops, the track expands as elegant, Chicago house–rooted piano rolls let the melody briefly dissipate before resolving again—creating a clever sense of motion where Kourtesis achieves virtuosic organization without collapsing under the elevated diversity of emotive resonance.
Held together by a fluid weaving of house and techno influences—passing through them as lightly as a wind chime—“Sisters” closes the six-track offering with a sugar-sweet nod to communal sisterhood. Alchemical and heart-pounding, it brims with the exuberant chants of carefree women and the gleeful patter of footsteps.
Although the lyrics are foreign, the gospel sensibilities of the rhythms ensure that even English-only listeners can feel the pride resonating throughout. The dexterous timbre of the production makes that emotion unmistakable.
As a closer, the track connects the dots between Kourtesis' role as auteur and the broader intent of the record, as her ability to merge personal, political, and spiritual themes into a single piece feels both crystal clear and carefully considered.
After a pair of years away from releasing new solo material, Volver proves that Kourtesis should be taken seriously as a future star of the electronic music scene.
Accessible in its cheerful quality yet experimental in its virtuosity, the record feels captivating and powerful in how she can layer intriguing rhythms and multi-prismatic sampling techniques that show how Sofia takes her time to get everything right.
Although it can feel a little familiar when heard in close proximity to Madres, the EP has the depth and duration as substantial as most modern chart Pop album releases, as her cuts feel like paintings that are detailed with a sense of calm confidence.
Melodically mischievous and vibrantly produced, Volver transforms protest anthems by replacing angst with uplift, as its vivid colors radiate solidarity in this near-perfect tribute to the fearless spirit of the marginalized communities who inspired it.
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