“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.