THE PASSION PROJECT OF LUKAS RAFAEL KNOWN ON THE STAGE AS VINTAGE CULTURE CONTINUES TO EVOLVE, PUSHING SOUND FAR BEYOND ITS PERIPHERAL BOUNDARIES
BY MADELYN DAWSON
BORN: Vintage Culture was born Lukas Rafael Hespanhol Ruiz in 1993 in Mundo Novo, Brazil.
SOUND: From the very beginning of his career, the DJ and producer was inspired by the sounds of electronic music’s early pioneers of the ‘80s and ‘90s, citing artists such as Kraftwerk and Depeche Mode as influences. Vintage Culture’s sound unites the sleek beats of classic synth pop with the warm sensuality of Brazilian dance music, underscored by a strong sense of contemporary deep house sensibilities.
BIG BREAK: It was Vintage Culture’s father who instilled an excitement for music in the young DJ, raising him on the sounds of rock, new wave, and synth-pop. In the early 2010s, Vintage Culture began to record and release his own remixes, using songs like Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall” and New Order’s “Blue Monday.” These attracted international attention alongside his versions of Brazilian classics like Cazuza’s “Bete Balanço.” He helped to expand the evolving sound of what would later be dubbed Brazilian Bass, introducing slower, more complex layering to Brazilian electronic music. By 2015, he earned himself a place on DJ Mag’s top DJ list.
NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Just last year, Vintage Culture was named the world’s #1 House DJ of 2022 by DJ Mag, a position determined by over 1.3 million votes from fans around the world. He has collaborated with mega names like DJ ALOK, Tiësto, Jorja Smith, and David Guetta, and continues to amass prestigious accolades, from a cover on Rolling Stone Brazil to a spot on Forbes’s 30 Under 30 list. He is a multi-platinum artist with over two billion global streams and has a residency in Ibiza and a touring schedule packed with club and festival dates. He’s also a mental health advocate, opening up about his struggles with anxiety and depression, urging fans to talk about their mental health, and assuring them that no life is perfect.
LATEST WORK: He now manages Só Track Boa, a record label, clothing brand, and festival where he and other artists play to crowds topping 30,000 people.
Vintage Culture