Hailing from Barranquilla, Colombia, house music producer and DJ Jörgen is building off of the early international success he gained in Colombia at age 17, Iceland by 24, and most recently, Los Angeles. Jörgen started his musical journey in his early teens, training in classical piano, guitar, and French horn before discovering electronic music. His sound is a fusion of his European and Latin roots, influenced by his experiences living in three different continents. With productions geared for the dance floor, his global perspective has garnered support from DJs such as Leandro Da Silva, Tom & Collins, Westend, Tita Lau, and more.
Last year, Jörgen took his career to new heights with performances at SXSW (For SPIN), Miami Music Week, and Beyond Wonderland SoCal. He’s released tracks on Black Lizard, Magnifico (Under Warner Brazil), and Terms & Conditions, as well as co-founding his own label and event series under This Is Dance Music.
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“Throughout my life it seems that everyone around me except for myself knew that I was going to end up in music. All I cared about (and still do) is to take something I like and make it better. It’s like a voice in the back of my head that always guides me into pursuing something creative. It started with DJing as I just wanted to make better mixes for my car; fast forward a decade and what I enjoy the most now is to make my own music and share it with those who’ll listen.” -Jörgen
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We connected with Jörgen to talk about the history and culture he stands for, the eclectic influences which shaped his sound, the impact of Miami club music, what’s next, and more. Stream “La Flauta” here and check out his SPIN SETS below. Want more SPIN SETS? Head over to SPIN TV to keep up with all the latest and greatest DJ’s/producers pushing the boundaries of electronic music.
Who is Jörgen and what do you stand for?
Jörgen is an artist deeply rooted in the history and culture of house music. Having fallen in love with the genre at an early age, I’ve always been inspired by its ability to bring people together and its rich legacy of self-expression. My music is a celebration of those roots while pushing the boundaries of what house can be today, bringing my own influences and experiences into the mix. I stand for honoring the past while creating something fresh and authentic—something that resonates with people on a deeper level. For me, it’s about carrying forward the culture of house music, respecting its origins, and ensuring it remains alive and evolving for future generations.
Tell us about your sound – where does your style originate from and what have been your biggest visual, social, and sonic influences?
That’s a great question. I think my style has really evolved over time, influenced by different cultures and experiences as I’ve grown up. I’ve always been drawn to club music, so when I’m producing, my main focus is making something that people can dance to. You can hear that in my basslines, which are heavily inspired by artists like Flight Facilities, Poolside and Pawsa. Early on, I was shaped by Latin music—Joe Arroyo, in particular, really influenced how I think about grooves. And growing up with a love for rock ‘n’ roll, especially AC/DC (they’re still my favorite band), I think that energy and punch definitely finds its way into my productions.
Was there a definitive turning point to your success? When did you realize the magnitude of your impact within the industry/community?
When your passion turns into your job, especially after years of grinding, you deal with a lot of imposter syndrome. I’ve basically restarted my life several times—growing up in Colombia, then moving to Boston, Iceland, and finally LA. Each time, I learned that even if you’re crushing it in one market, it doesn’t mean much when you’re starting over somewhere new. The real turning point for me was moving to LA. Suddenly, opportunities like playing Beyond Wonderland and SXSW opened up quickly, but that was all built on the foundation of years of work before and the desire to keep going no matter what. To a lot of people, it might look like I just came out of nowhere, but I know how long and winding the journey has been to get here.
Where did the name Jörgen come from?
When I moved to Iceland I had a lot of free time in my hands and that’s when I started taking production more seriously. Previously I only used my name to DJ since I didn’t really think much of it, however this time I wanted to take my artist project seriously. After a few weeks at work everyone at the office got a nickname and as a term of endearment everyone started calling me Jörgen (I guess Jorge wasn’t Icelandic enough). A few months later once I started planning releases and thinking more seriously about my artist project, I just decided to use my Icelandic nickname since it felt like a part of me. Also, as a Colombian living in Iceland, it definitely made me more bookable in a scene that was driven by local talent haha.
What was the inspiration behind your first song?
For my first song, my friend YAMBI and I went to a friend’s studio an hour outside of Reykjavik. It was during the pandemic so we basically spent the whole night just working on ideas until one stuck. We left the studio in the morning with what I didn’t know at the time would be my first release. If you can find it, it’s called Maze. Definitely a more melodic-driven track to my current productions that was inspired by Icelandic nature and the uncertainty of the times. To this day some of my friends still say Maze is their favorite song of mine.
Has Miami club music inspired your music if so, in what ways?
Absolutely! I grew up in Barranquilla, Colombia which is just a 2 hour flight away from Miami. I’d go to Miami every year with my family and once I was old enough, that was my first club experience outside my city, which didn’t have the biggest electronic scene at the time. I remember going to Miami Music Week around 2012 and once I got to experience it, I’ve been back every year. What I love about it is that every year artists from all over the world come and debut their new music during MMW, which in a way gives you a better perspective on what’s happening around the scene. Miami feels like a melting pot of cultures, of course very latin influenced, it was the sound that felt closer to home for me. Most of us know Space but aside from that, spots like Floyd and Treehouse (Now closed) also had a big influence on me.
In what ways have you pushed yourself beyond existing self-imposed limitations?
When starting out, I only did things out of need. I needed mixes with songs I liked to play in my car and when I got tired of looking for good ones (They never have all the songs you want) I just decided to learn and do it myself. Production is a bit different, you have to be proactive about it and keep creating constantly, especially in the early stages. One thing I focused on was that instead of just trying to make one genre or stay in one box, whenever I didn’t feel like producing I’d mix it up and make something outside of my comfort zone.
What’s next for Jörgen?
Right now all my focus is on my next release. I’ll be dropping a new track “So Fine” on February 21st through This Is Dance Music. A label I started with Nima Cheraghi in 2023 that we’ve used to throw events in LA, Pittsburgh and Milwaukee. This will be my first release of the year and it’s a song that rings in a new era for my sound. I also have some very sick projects and shows coming this year but I can’t reveal those just yet.
What do you wish for the future of electronic music? In what ways would you like to see it evolve?
When I first got into electronic music, it felt like its own little world—totally separate from mainstream stuff. Back then, I was the “weird” kid because I was so into it while everyone around me was listening to reggaeton or hip hop. Over the years, one of my favorite things has been showing people who aren’t usually into the genre that it’s actually for everyone. Looking ahead, I hope more people keep embracing dance music but also take the time to understand and respect the culture behind it. I’d love to see more electronic tracks dominating the charts—like on Billboard—and becoming just as popular, if not more, than what we’re used to hearing now. We’re definitely getting closer to that, but there’s still some room to grow, and I’m excited to see where it goes.
Any last words for the SPIN universe?
A few friends and I went out to Joshua Tree for the weekend to kick off our first writing camp for This Is Dance Music. On Day 2, we recorded this set together, and the idea was not to just share my music but to tell a story—letting the music evolve and change as the sun went down. We had such a great time putting it together, and I hope all that energy shines through in the video. Hope you enjoy it SPIN universe!
Shoutout to Nima, Elijah, Ava & MeiMei for the help
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