“Symbol of resistance”: Tijolo is the community-first party series uniting dancefloors from New York to Brazil

Functions is our interview series profiling parties from across the world. Next up is New York-by-Brazil's Tijolo

Exploring the sounds of bass, breakbeat and Baile funk, Tijolo is the New York-by-Brazil event series platforming a range of genres from across the dance music spectrum. While also championing Brazilian sonics, TIjolo sits at a unique intersection where regional Latin sounds merge with more mainstream dance music, and though Baile funk has seen an undoubted global explosion in recent years, Tijolo heavily channels Brazilian influences in darker rhythms such as techno, footwork and breakbeats. Even SIXX4SIXX, the head honcho behind the party series and label, explains that Brazil has "managed to synthesize its own language and expression with global references and beats".

Hosting parties in different locations, Tijolo reflects the background of its founder, who migrated to Brooklyn after spending 30 years in Brazil. He formed the event during a difficult transition period into a new life and new surroundings, where alongside the challenges of a new country, culture, and financial problems, he also found that party spots were few and far between. "There wasn't much space for Latinos in the electronic scene,” he explains. “Tijolo started as a symbol of resistance, dreams, and hard work.”

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Since its inception, Tijolo has gone from strength to strength hosting a number of sold-out events, welcoming the likes of Kush Jones, BADSISTA, OSSX and other stars, as well as holding down a slot on Rinse France, and more recently, curating festival takeovers. A collaboration with BLACK RAVE CULTURE back in March saw Tijolo hold two consecutive nights in two cities, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, in their most ambitious project yet. As well as hosting dances, Tijolo also doubles up as a label with close to 20 releases from a range of artists, including many from SIXX4SIXX himself.

Although Tijolo is run by just one team member, the party is supported and sustained by a loving and multi-national community, united by a similar attitude and ethos of culture and representation, with a host of residents and collaborators. SIXX4SIXX is keen to stress its emphasis on diversity, and that Tijolo isn’t a “commercial cliché” or gimmick, but rather a place to foster deep bonds that go beyond the dancefloor.

We spoke to SIXX4SIXX about the creation of Tijolo, the importance of diversity and representation, the art of connection and community, and creating dedicated spaces for Latin clubbers. Check it out below.

What is Tijolo about, and what inspired the creation of the party?

Tijolo is a multidisciplinary label based on urban culture, with strong references to the sound of São Paulo in Brazil. The inspiration for the label came from the need to amplify the culture of the Brazilian periphery and Latin artists, considering that in 2016, the electronic scene was more geographically and socially restricted. Today, Brazil presents an advanced sound that blends its roots with global sounds, opening spaces for new expressions. This fusion is not new in Brazil, but it shows its relevance today, mainly through Baile funk and its offshoots, which are currently the most representative cultural manifestation in Brazil.

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What does the name mean, and is there a story behind it?

Tijolo means 'brick' in Brazilian Portuguese. It means construction, step by step, solid, workers, foundation!

Do you have a particular ethos, goal, or aim?

We believe in history and culture. Our goal is to reach as many people as possible, being as real and representative as possible.

How would you describe a Tijolo party; what can you expect to feel as you enter the dancefloor?

Tijolo has the energy of diversity, but not as a commercial cliché. Our representation is real, our relationships go beyond parties. I believe that everything we do reflects this, including the dancefloor.

What sort of music could we expect to hear at a Tijolo party?

São Paulo has always been a catalyst for different cultures. I believe that today, within electronic music, Brazil has managed to synthesize its own language and expression with global references and beats. And you'll find this in real time at our parties, always aiming to present a new and subversive flavour.

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So you guys are based in New York and Brazil, and you also host shows on Rinse France - how does that work?

The label was founded by me, SIXX4SIXX, born and raised in Brazil. When I moved to Brooklyn in 2018, I developed the idea of a label to spread my 30-year experience in the Brazilian music scene. As a Brazilian immigrant without financial means, living in a completely new country, in a scene where there was still not much space for Latinos in the current electronic scene. Tijolo started as a symbol of resistance, dreams, and hard work. With the arrival of the pandemic in 2020, my idea was to connect and support the producers and friends I had in Brazil - that's how we formed the collective made up of RHR, Cesrv, ERAM, Suelen Mesmo, OMOLOKO, NAICHE, Young Clubber, myself, and new residents AK1N and JACQUELONE.

What are your favourite venues/spaces that you guys have performed in?

We prefer warehouses where we can have control over everything, but we're always open to trying different situations. I believe in long term work. We still have a lot to do.

What’s been the best Tijolo party to date, and what made it so good?

I think all parties have their own uniqueness, but the one we did with BLACK RAVE CULTURE had a special flavour as we occupied two floors of a building with major representatives of the current Brazilian scene: BADSISTA, RHR, OMOLOKO, JACQUELONE, Cersv, ERAM, idlibra, Evehive, and kontronatura.

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Am I right in thinking you were a label before you were a party? Tell me about that transition...

It wasn't exactly a transition, everything developed together. We believe it's complementary to release records, create environments for connection and communication, and have the party as a place to execute these ideas.

Who would be your dream booking for the party?

We don't have a specific person as a dream booking, we believe in combinations and the collective. I always think about names that I believe are open to interacting and absorbing what we do. It's more focused on the exchange of experiences rather than big names.

What’s next for Tijolo Records? Is there anything you’d like to add?

We are working on some records, a documentary, and a party to celebrate Tijolo's 5th anniversary. And this year, we have a party on September 13 with DJ Babatr and on October 4 with Nikki Nair and some Brazilian DJs. Stay tuned for updates.

Jamaal Johnson is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow him on Instagram