Raunchy, cosy, radical: Latineo

“Hot outfits, endless dancing, lots of kisses, and plenty of ass-shaking,” Latineo recall just another night in their world – as if describing a checklist for our perfect party. In less than two years, this Barcelona-based collective has become a beacon of Queer, Latinx force – an unapologetic, genre-defying answer to the city’s often techno-saturated white-men-dominated electronic scene.

“For us Latinos living here, techno is great, but we wanted more variety, something that resonated with what we grew up dancing to,” the founders reflect on Latineo’s beginnings. “Barcelona already has a diverse migrant community, so it felt natural to carve out a space to explore the identity of these sounds, how they shape the city, us, our friends, and the artists we admire.” In this exploration, the very core of Latin music congeals with its continental and queer-ed derivatives, setting the grounds of this dynamic space for all of Latineo’s acolytes.

“Now, more than ever, these genres are gaining visibility, leading to more festival bookings and more recognition for the artists behind them.” Latineo embraces this momentum, spotlighting a dynamic blend of Latinx diasporic talent, while fostering a sense of belonging for Barcelona’s multicultural communities. More than a party, Latineo is a celebration of heritage and individuality, a rebellion against uniformity of club spaces. For the marginalised communities it nurtures, the party’s Queer-Latinx focal point is about more than merely safety  – it is about solace; a shared, conscious (and hedonistic!) act of resistance. “For us, queer Latinx people are our safe haven”, the founders emphasise as final words.

The images capture the ecstatic nucleus of the party – taken by the regular Manuel Cardozo.