In Session: Florentino

Florentino is the British-Colombian artist pairing heartfelt reggaeton with UK bass structures. His nickname ‘el mas romantico de los romanticos' ('the most romantic of the romantics’) reflects an intention to showcase the flamboyant and sweet side of his Latin American roots. After all, Colombia is one of the world’s biggest producers of roses.

Read this next: Reclaiming Medellín from gang rule has transformed the Colombian city's music scene

The artist grew up exploring two vastly different environments in Salford and Bogotá, simultaneously inheriting a profound enthusiasm for music from his parents. On a trip to Colombia circa 2014, his cousins encouraged him to blend sounds from their culture with the UK soundsystem mentality he acquired in Manchester. This laid the foundations for the club-primed Latin tracks on debut ‘Tu Y Yo’ EP and his audacious approach towards DJing.

Read this next: Florentino explores his 'Bloodline' on Swing Ting

Behind the decks, Florentino brings South American heat to dancefloors, with growling bass, rhythmic soca energy, sprightly dancehall, and swinging dembow with seductive Spanish vocals and raspy rap. His energetic sets have made him an in-demand DJ, with recent gigs including a headline slot at Barcelona’s Nitsa and a back-to-back with Felix Hall at Joy Orbison’s Notting Hill Carnival after party in South London. He also played at the WHP Halloween special last year with Manchester-based Swing Ting, an innovative label on which has has released a string of hip-shakers and played a host of parties with.

This month Florentino is heading out on a month-long tour to celebrate the release of his recent grime-infused reggaeton EP ‘Ilimitado’ on Brooklyn-hailing label Mixpak. The journey sees him play a one-off show in Guatemala, twice in Puerto Rico, three times in Colombia and four times in Mexico, before jetting off to Canada for two more shows in Toronto and Montreal.

Read this next: Bogota nights: Colombia's after-hours scene is an an anarchic, cultural melting pot

His In Session mix begins with an eruption of Latin percussion before ascending through vivacious club workouts, keeping things refreshing and exciting. Bone-rattling bass and thudding kicking drums are accompanied by flutes, whistles, horns, and Latinx lyrics which make you feel like you’re deep in a wild South American street party. Listen and check out the tracklist below.

Tracklist:

YAGA Y MACKIE FT PITBULL - MUEVETE (INSTRUMENTAL)
FLORENTINO FT KAYDY CAIN - TU MIRADA
YOMO - BAZOOKA (INSTRUMENTAL)
YOMO - BAZOOKA
(96) Hector El Father ft Yomo -
Déjale Caer To el Peso Instrumental (DJ Alexandro Diaz Remake)
RUBEN SAM FT WISO G - MISS GOODIE GOODIE INSTRUMENTAL
JOHN ERIC - ATANGANA
FLORENTINO - FUERTE
SKEAMZ - VIOLIN MAN (FLORENTINO REMIX
MESS KID - WU TANG
YNFYNT SCROLL - BLOW THE WHISTLE X LENTO
LECHUGA ZAFARO FT MATMOS & SEBA TC - PARA ABAJO
EAST CONNECTION - WE’RE READY DEVIL MIX (FLORENTINO REFIX)
FLORENTINO X K MILL - ???
DANNY WEED - CREEPER HOE (FLORENTINO REFIX)
FRANKIE BOY - BOOM
DJ WONDER - WHAT (FLORENTINO REFIX)
KELMAN DURAN - LENTO X KATANA
FLORENTINO - LATIGO (PERREO VIP)
LAVA DOME - HAIR DOWN
QUIMICO ULTRA MEGA - EL VECINO
UNINAMISE - ALL RIGHT
WILEY - ESKIMO 3 (FLORENTINO REFIX)
2 In a Room, DJ Nelson & Playground - Vamo'A Gozar
MC Joe - Es Lo Que Hay
Josh Wink - Higher State of Consciousness (Florentino Refix)
Florentino - Da Hoolbow VIP
Orlando Moreno Feo -Eeoo
Quest?onmarc - Smokescreen
MikeQ & Kingdom - Chizel Cut
Masters At Work - Work (DJ Alex LMM Refix)
Leonce - Shade Incarnate (Instrumental)
Benga & Coki - Night (Florentino Refix)
Various Production - Hater (Florentino Refix)
MC GW - Olha O Barulhinho Do Amor
Dot Rotten - Beatbox (Florentino Refix)
Florentino x MC Bin Laden x MC Buzzz - Na Fuga
Merca Bae & Atodamadre - ID
Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You (Florentino Refix)

‘Ilimitado’ is out now on Mixpak

Harry Franklin is a freelance writer, follow him on Twitter

Read this next: Get the best of Mixmag direct to your Facebook DMs