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[title]Rocío Portillo is an electronic music producer, DJ, and singer. She is also a brave, grateful, and conscious woman. Her full-time passion for music came after overcoming cancer, which made her hold on to life.
At 25, she obtained a degree in Social Communication and since then, she has worked in prominent media outlets in Mendoza. In 2024, after battling leukemia for five years and focusing on her recovery, she gave up her career as a journalist to dedicate herself solely to music for a while.
During the summer, a tour took her to the main electronic music stages across Argentina: Rosario, Buenos Aires, Bariloche, Córdoba, and Mar del Plata. Before that, with the help of an agent and her own promotion, she planned her first European tour, performing in cities across Spain, Italy, Germany, and France.
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With an elegant and sober style, Rocío steadily advances as a leading female figure in electronic music. She proudly says she is part of the line-up of festivals where her own role models also perform: among others, Hernán Cattaneo, Nick Warren, Sasha or John Digweed.
Her mother’s encouragement, which led her to take singing, dance, theater, and piano lessons, along with the support of her father, a choir director, invited her to explore the possibilities of art and the diversity of music. In her performances, she combines original pieces with hybrid sets where she includes her own voice.
What characterizes the music you make?
I’m still defining my sound, studying, and experimenting. I think what characterizes me are certain specific elements, such as percussion, groove, and vocals. In my shows, I always use or debut my own music. I like that the places I visit inspire me to compose without getting stuck in a single sound. I enjoy mixing different elements and genres, trying to break the rules, working with diverse artists to learn and expand. I also like that my music reflects where I come from, who I am, my life experiences, and emotions, to be as honest as possible when communicating.
How did your DJ training come about, and what are your main musical influences?
I started at 25, shortly after graduating with a degree in Social Communication and working as a journalist. At that time, there were no academies in Mendoza, so I trained both in DJing and production with local artists simultaneously. My influences were and continue to be DJs with whom I’ve had the privilege of sharing stages, such as Hernán Cattaneo, Nick Warren, Guy J, John Digweed, and Sasha.
When did you decide to fully dedicate yourself to DJing? What motivated that decision?
I’ve been living off music completely for a year now. I had to make that decision because, despite my love for journalism, it was unsustainable to do both activities at the same time. I’m now looking for ways to pursue these compatible passions: sharing the music I love and telling the stories and knowledge of artists from all walks of life.
How did opportunities to share stages with figures like Hernán Cattaneo, Nick Warren, or John Digweed arise? What important performances do you have ahead?
I’ve connected with other artists through music, sending them my songs, and then releasing my tracks on their labels. Most of the time, they’ve invited me to be part of their shows, and on other occasions, important promoters have trusted me with that role. In 2025, I have a new tour lined up for Europe and some other Latin American countries, along with releases on prominent labels.
What changed after overcoming the illness you had to face?
The illness was an opportunity, a blessing, because I was able to see life from a different perspective, appreciate the small things, do everything I want to do, understand how strong I can be, and realize how unconditional the people around me are. My diagnosis was AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia), and I underwent three rounds of chemotherapy, no transplant, and almost a year and a half of isolation between hospitals and my home. Today, five years later, I’ve received the all-clear and lead a completely normal, healthy life.
What projects do you have ahead?
I’m working on launching a brand, continuing with journalism, taking my music to other countries, and releasing again, as well as debuting on the record labels I’ve dreamed of. As for my brand, I can only say it’s a podcast with sets, possibly a series of parties, and a record label.