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Chris Gorrie mixes Nightclubber 218
Madrid’s underground has no shortage of strong voices, but Chris Gorrie has carved out a space of his own with a sound shaped by years spent moving between Brussels, Rome, Buenos Aires and now the Spanish capital. As the driving force behind the much-respected Quinoa label, he has built a platform that balances curiosity with intention, pairing club culture with a broader artistic vision that has taken the project across Europe and beyond. His approach to mixing mirrors that path: purposeful, stripped back and rooted in emotional clarity rather than excess.
That ethos runs through the mix that he recently contributed to our mix series, where he aimed to “include the minimum necessary elements to encompass the current scope of my sound”. From trusted staples to long-sought gems and unreleased cuts, Chris blends precision with spontaneity in a way that continues to define both his sets and the evolving world of Quinoa. It’s been a pleasure to have him on, and we’ve no doubt you’ll dig the mix as much as we do. Before you do, be sure to read our quickfire Q&A with Chris below…
You recently shared a mix with us that we’re really digging! Vibe-wise, what were you aiming to explore with it overall? Do you always have a theme in mind when you settle down to do mixes?
I was going for a more essential, low-slung vibe with this one. A recent goal of mine has been reducing the amount of information in the tracks while maintaining a steady energy level. The idea behind this particular mix was to include the minimum necessary elements to encompass the current scope of my sound.
The flow moves between energy and space, and is quite upbeat in parts and almost introspective in others. How do you think about pacing and mood when you’re recording at home?
My goal is to strike a balance between steadiness and excitement. Tickling the listener’s curiosity while establishing trust. Despite the increasing trajectory of the tempo, the energy intentionally oscillates back and forth from warmer and more enveloping to dynamic and more enthusiastic. I do approach most of my mixes with the intention of striking that kind of balance.
How did the overall selection for the mix come together by the way? How did you select the tracks?
They are a combination of recent finds and records that have been hovering around my bag for a few years already but haven’t really found the chance to be played as they deserved. Some are the kinds of records that needed a special setting, like this mix. I’ve also included some tracks I’ve been obsessed with lately and a couple of unreleased ones too for good measure.
…and when you’re putting a mix together, what usually guides your choices... instinct, structure, or something in between?
I used to tackle recordings with a stricter sequence in mind out of a slightly broader selection. This time, however, I’ve tightened the selection quite a bit and let things flow more freely within that perimeter. I think I’ll stick to this approach from now on as it allows me to focus on a more concrete message while preparing but keeps it more fun and spontaneous while performing.
In terms of inspiration, which DJs or scenes have shaped the way you think about music and mixing?And what was the last DJ mix you heard or witnessed that really blew you away? What made it so special to you?
The latest was by Carl H at a party called Trama organized by my friend Betamax in Madrid last month. Everything from selection to mixing was executed with mastery and elegance.
Energy, groove and emotion in just the right doses without too much of anything. He had the entire dancefloor enthralled and committed.
Besides him in recent years I’ve been finding most inspiration in artists like Margaret Dygas and Jane Fitz. Despite their styles being very far apart, they share the ability to calibrate the energy in a space near-perfectly and to take the audience on a journey with confidence and sensitivity.
Keep up with Chris on Instagram and Soundcloud
Keep up with Quinoa on Instagram, Soundcloud, Bandcamp