We’re thrilled to present our Nashville Spotlight artist for the month of November, in partnership with H.O.M.E!
Colombia’s own DJ Juan Vargas started his venture into the world of electronic music at the tender age of 13 years old. Inspired by legends like Marco Carola and Ricardo Villalobos, whom he first heard on a radio show called Estación Ibiza, his love for DJing was sparked. Spending seven years in Sydney, after moving to Australia in 2011, Juan kept on evolving his sound, building an identity in the local scene. There he met Parker, a S.A.S.H. resident, and debuted at the Burdekin Hotel before playing Bunk3r and Slyfox in partnership with S.A.S.H. Following his time in Australia, Juan moved on to Germany, where he stayed for six months to experience its club culture before returning to Colombia for shows at HeardFrom and Viuz.
2023 marks the year he committed his life to the music, resigning from his role as the Director of Product at a tech company in Medellin and moving to Nashville. Now he is a resident at Night We Met and has played for Artek and The Office, with appearances at Studio 615.
Juan has built his own signature style, combining Latin rhythms and Afro percussion with ’80s/’90s house and techno, as well as disco. Being a more quiet person when it comes to words, Juan puts all his heart into it when it comes to letting music speak for him.
We had the pleasure of chatting with Juan about his art and what inspires him. Keep reading for a closer look at his music journey and his latest projects.
Coming from humble roots with a heart that beats for electronic music, Juan dreamed big when it comes to being an artist. Despite all the hardships, he pressed on.
Everything changed when I moved to Australia in 2011. I started going to clubs, meeting DJs and the community, collecting music, and playing my curated playlists at friends’ events. Around 2015 I met Parker and decided to start organizing events in Sydney where my DJ career began. I’d never had music training or used the gear before, but I knew I had a strong selection and a huge passion for music. I watched a few YouTube videos on how to use the equipment before my first show. It went well, the reaction was great, and that gave me the confidence to keep building my skills and my music library.
Since Juan doesn’t produce his own tracks yet, his music lives in how he designs and delivers his DJ sets. Travelling the world over the years, he absorbed all kinds of different cultures he can now incorporate into his own sets.
I’ve defined my sound and now see myself as a storyteller when I play. I can feel people who have never heard me before connect with me through my sets on a deeper level, which is really special. I’ve been focused on building a unique and diverse music library that moves through deep house, afro, tech house, techno, disco, and many Colombian rhythms.
The themes that guide his work come from a deeply emotional place. Whatever he feels in the week leading up to a show guides where his set is going.
Since I build my sets as a story, my mood becomes the starting point. Being bilingual, it’s not always easy for me to express everything with words, so music becomes the way I communicate on a deeper level. The flow of the set, how I choose tracks, build tension, and release it, is how I share what I’m feeling and connect with the crowd.
Sadly, many people still don’t see DJs as musicians since they often don’t create their own music. Visit one of Juan’s shows, however, and you will be proven very wrong.
But after playing multiple shows, connecting with crowds, and hearing their reactions, I’ve realized how much impact a DJ can have on how people experience music. My mission is to create unique, meaningful moments through my sets and hopefully shift how people think about what a DJ can do.
Hungry for more Juan? Make sure to check out his upcoming sets throughout November and December and keep your eyes open for his upcoming US tour, as well as his appearance at Deep Tropics in 2026.
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