Sofia Kourtesis – Los Poemas No Siempre Riman (DJ-Kicks)

Peru-born, Berlin-based producer Sofia Kourtesis has recorded the first DJ-Kicks mix of 2026, out March 27 on !K7 Records. “Los Poemas No Siempre Riman”, made with Peruvian group Novalima, is the lead single — one of four original tracks she wrote for the set. The others are “It’s You”, “Texas Changing”, and “A Brief Look in Your Eyes”. Exclusive contributions also come from Jon Hopkins, Axel Boman, Myd, JOY (Anonymous), and Laurence Guy, alongside selections from Aphex Twin, Avalon Emerson, Octo Octa, and others.

The mix was compiled during a period of grief following the death of her mother. Kourtesis is open about how that shaped the project: “Losing my mother, my idol, knocked the wind out of me. But as the seasons shifted, I found myself back in Peru. Being there made me feel close to her again, like she was in the air. Slowly, music started to come back to me, not as noise, but as strength”. That context runs through the whole thing — it’s not a straight club mix but something that moves between the dance floor and quieter, more introspective spaces. Kourtesis cites the DJ Koze DJ-Kicks entry as a defining influence, one she describes as living in her DNA. Her own approach follows the same logic: “The best ones aren’t about showing off; they’re about taking people on a journey. They move, twist and surprise you”.

Kourtesis released her debut album Madres in 2023 and followed it with the Volver EP last year. The DJ-Kicks mix is her first major project since, and she’s treated it less as a selection exercise and more as a full creative statement — four new originals, a hand-picked roster of exclusives, and a running emotional thread. “I wanted emotion, tension, release”, she says. “I wanted this mix to feel alive”.

---

Tracklist:

1. Jon Hopkins – Home Station (DJ-Kicks Version)
2. Aphex Twin – Flim
3. Sofia Kourtesis – It’s You
4. Cos-Ber-Zam – Ne Noya (Daphni Mix)
5. Laurence Guy – Make Me Feel Better
6. Myd – You’re a Star
7. Axel Boman – Rock Top
8. Sofia Kourtesis – Texas Changing
9. JOY (Anonymous) – JOY (Look Up Now)
10. Avalon Emerson – One More Fluorescent Rush
11. Logic1000 – Her
12. Sofia Kourtesis – A Brief Look in Your Eyes
13. Sedef Adasi – Mermaids On Acid
14. Nick León – Xtasis (ft. DJ Babatr)
15. Ahadadream – Piano Skank
16. Chloé Caillet, Luke Alessi – The One (ft. Jocelyn Brown)
17. Octo Octa – Find Your Way Home
18. DJ GTi – Santa Teresa
19. Sofia Kourtesis, Novalima – Los Poemas No Siempre Riman (DJ-Kicks)
20. Dave DK – Lagoon 69

---