Brazilian Dance Music Meets the Underground: Inside Dimes Vol. 18
Brazil has been part of the House Of Hustle story since the beginning. Not as a trend we jumped on, but as a constant thread running through our releases, our roster, and the community that's grown around the label over the past decade. So when it came time to put together Dimes Vol. 18, the focus was clear.
Curated by our Brazilian A&R Nokari, this tech house compilation brings together five producers from across Brazil's underground scene: Kess, Jane Kovitz, Júlia Cruvinel, Patty (BR), and Ana de Araújo. Each one arrived through a different path. One is a medical doctor. Another spent years as a pastry chef. One runs a party that's been going for 13 years. What connects them is the work itself, groove-driven club cuts shaped by rhythm, restraint, and that unmistakable Brazilian energy.
This edition is entirely led by women, not as a statement, but as a reflection of the talent coming from Brazil's underground scene right now.
We asked each of them five questions about their journey, their studio, and what the Brazilian dance music scene means to them. Here's what they told us.
Kess: "That's When I Understood That I Wanted to Live That"
Kess knew she wanted to produce when she noticed something most people on the dancefloor don't think about: the crowd reacts differently when the artist plays their own music. That exchange of energy between creator and listener became the thing she wanted to chase.
In the studio, Serum is her go-to (check out our Modern House Serum pack). She uses it for building basses and leads with personality, and it shows up in almost everything she creates. But there's another side to her creative process that most people don't see. Kess has been taking keyboard lessons for seven years, running almost parallel with her production career. She describes it as a space for pause, a way to slow down from the beats and clear her mind. That balance between intensity and stillness feeds directly into her music.
On the Brazilian scene, she's direct: diversity and power. A scene growing stronger by the day, full of identity, mixing references, and not afraid to take risks. "Being a part of it means knowing that you can be original and still reach the world."
Her dream collaboration? Night Funk. They've already exchanged ideas, and Kess is convinced the result would be something with serious personality.
Kess's track on Dimes Vol. 18: "Dance In The Dark"
Jane Kovitz: From Pastry Chef to the Booth
Jane Kovitz's origin story starts on the dancefloor, but not in the way you'd expect. She wasn't lost in the music. She was watching the DJ, wondering what that felt like from the other side. "I looked at the artist playing and thought: I want to feel what he is feeling right now." She enrolled in a DJ course, production followed, and seven years later she's still here.
Like Kess, Serum is Jane's favourite plugin (check out our West Coast House Serum pack). But the real surprise in her story is what came before music. Jane used to work as a pastry chef. She knows her way around sweets and cakes, a detail that catches people off guard when they find out.
Jane's dream collaborator is Melanie Ribbe, an artist she's been following closely, especially after Ribbe played one of her tracks a few times. That kind of recognition from someone you admire changes the dynamic completely.
On the Brazilian electronic music scene, Jane sees real progress. Friendships built within the community. More opportunities for women on stages and across Brazilian labels. "It's still not as big as we deserve, but little by little we are earning our space."
Jane Kovitz's track on Dimes Vol. 18: "Cupcake"
Júlia Cruvinel: Science, Art, and the Dancefloor
If there's one artist on this compilation who lives between two worlds, it's Júlia Cruvinel. She's a medical doctor. That's not a metaphor. She literally splits her life between medicine and music, and she sees them as complementary rather than contradictory. Science and art, feeding each other.
The dancefloor was where she found that sense of belonging that eventually pulled her toward production. "It allowed me to express myself without filters, just feeling the music and the connection with people. That sense of belonging stayed with me and became a calling to create that feeling for others as well."
Júlia's studio leans on Arturia plugins across the board. She values how musical and expressive they feel, describing them as tools that make sound design more intuitive and inspiring. She's also a singer, which adds another layer to how she approaches the production process.
Her dream collaboration is with Dixon. She admires how he builds narrative in his sets, treating the dancefloor as an emotional experience rather than just a sequence of tracks. That vision connects deeply with what she's trying to create as an artist.
On the Brazilian scene: diversity, energy, and creativity. "It's a space where artists are building strong identities and sharing our culture with the world."
Júlia Cruvinel's track on Dimes Vol. 18: "Your House"
Patty (BR): Turning Emotions Into Sound
Patty knew she wanted to make dance music the moment she felt the connection between the DJ and the dancefloor. That exchange of energy and emotion showed her that music could tell stories and create unforgettable moments.
In the studio, FabFilter is her weapon of choice, particularly for shaping sounds and adding brightness and presence during mixing. She describes it as the tool that brings more clarity, definition, and life to her elements.
Her dream collaborator is Chelina Manuhutu, someone she sees as a reference point for strength, authenticity, and freedom in electronic music. "She represents great inspiration, especially for women in electronic music."
Patty's take on the Brazilian dance music scene centres on identity and transformation. She sees it as a space where different cultures, stories, and sounds come together. Being part of that movement as a woman, DJ, and producer is deeply personal to her, because it represents breaking barriers and showing that women have their own voice in the scene.
The fun fact about Patty? She describes herself as highly sensitive and intuitive, and she channels that directly into her creative process. Music is her way of turning emotions and life experiences into sound.
Patty track on Dimes Vol. 18: "Batucada"
Ana de Araújo: 13 Years of ZigZag and Counting
Ana de Araújo started making music because the ideas in her head needed somewhere to go. She wanted to create something with her own identity and play it for people. "Imagining the crowd's reaction to music made by me is fascinating."
Her studio setup keeps things clean. FabFilter Pro-Q 3 is her go-to, simple and effective. No long explanations needed.
When it comes to collaborators, Ana looks to both the new wave of Brazilian DJ producers and international names. Artists like Beltran, Roddy Lima, and DJ Glen from the Brazilian scene, alongside international acts like Discip, Detlef, and Bessey who feature regularly in her sets.
But the standout detail about Ana is her party, ZigZag. It's been running for 13 years and is one of the longest-running events in her state. That kind of commitment to building community on the ground level says everything about how she approaches music.
On the Brazilian scene: "I'm extremely proud to work alongside so many talented people who are raising the bar to huge levels. We have a melody that's truly our own, and it works perfectly on the dancefloor."
Ana de Araújo's track on Dimes Vol. 18: "Holy Groove"
The Full Tracklist
- Kess - Dance In The Dark
- Jane Kovitz - Cupcake
- Júlia Cruvinel - Your House
- Patty (BR) - Batucada
- Ana de Araújo - Holy Groove
Dimes Vol. 18: Brazil is available now on Beatport and all streaming platforms.