DJ SUAR3Z

Genre-blending sets from afrobeats to Latin house

Kat performs as DJ SUAR3Z, a name inspired by her family roots. In Colombian culture, it is common to carry more than one last name, and “Suarez” comes from her dad’s side, so she gave it a modern twist as a way of honouring him.

She grew up in a musically rich home where no genre was off limits. Jazz, soul, Brazilian and Latin music, afrobeats and EDM all lived side by side, and she spent as much time singing and performing as she did dancing. Wanting to see better representation in the clubs, she decided to step behind the decks herself, and her reputation for smooth, genre-blending sets grew from there.

One of her most memorable shows was her very first gig, a six hour beach set where everything seemed to happen at once. Dancers arrived from another rave to join the crowd, people brought out juggling light balls and flow toys, and even when her gear misbehaved she kept things moving. Experienced ravers were surprised to learn how new she was to DJing at the time. Driving home that summer night, she knew that if she could handle that, she could grow into this for real.

Musically, Kat is known for sets that move from country to country without losing the dance floor. She loves afrobeats, dancehall, baile funk, Latin house and dembow, but she is always open to something new if it fits the moment. Lately she has been incorporating more scratching into her performances, inspired in part by seeing Jazzy Jeff live at an event she worked. She studies other DJs, Boiler Room sets and different transition styles, then brings those ideas into her own mixes.

For weddings and corporate events, Kat focuses on how the night should feel. She asks clients about their dream vibe, their guests and their “must play” and “no play” songs, then builds a set that fits their crowd. Her favourite part is meeting new people, trying new combinations and watching a room light up when the right track hits. A personal favourite blend is “Shake It to the Max” by Shansea with “Just a Lil Bit” by 50 Cent, an unexpected pairing that tends to surprise people in the best way.

When she is not DJing, Kat enjoys painting, writing, surfing and cruising around in her classic Volkswagen convertible. Music is still always close by, whether it is Spotify in the background or a feed full of new sounds and ideas to explore at the next show.