Stop Over Buenos Aires: "It's Great When People Dance, Have Fun, and Are Just Happy."

"When I'm looking for inspiration, I need a connection to nature," says Franzizca, whose real name is Francisca Lopez Miller. "That's the key." That's when the 25-year-old DJ from Buenos Aires likes to take a stroll through the Parque de la Memoria, named in honor of the victims of Argentina's military dictatorship. Her two mixed-breed dogs, Uma and Finita, accompany her.

DJ Franzizca: At Home in Buenos Aires, in Demand Around the World

Franzizca is no longer just behind the turntables in the clubs of Buenos Aires. She is also in demand in Europe, where she has fired up dance enthusiasts in Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, and Berlin with her electro beats. "I love the night," she says, "but the nightlife can also be tough. That's why a healthy lifestyle is important to me." Comfort food is still a must from time to time. "I love pizza," says Franzizca. "And the best is at La Mezzetta in Buenos Aires."

The small pizzeria, adorned only by a white and red neon sign, is located in Villa Ortúzar, the neighborhood where Franzizca grew up. "We are a family of artists," she says. Her parents work as actors, and her younger brother also became a musician. As a child, Franzizca learned the piano and was passionate about classical music, Bach, and Mozart. This love has remained. "If you want to experience a really good opera, you have to go to the Teatro Colón," says Franzizca. "The acoustics there are simply fantastic!"

Three Favorite Tips 

1) Enjoy country life in Pergamino 

2) Snack on choripán: chorizo sausage in a bun with chimichurri sauce 

3) Eat out at Sacro, one of the best restaurants in the city

Cool Little Clubs in Buenos Aires Are Called Antros

Franzizca became interested in electronic music as a teenager, listening to it at home and going out to party. At 18, she started DJing herself. "Back then, it was in really small clubs that we call antros in Argentina," says Franzizca. "Small, dark venues. Really underground and very cool."

Franzizca describes her music as experimental: unusual sounds meet a really groovy bass. "Because I think it's great when people really get going while dancing, have fun, and are just happy."

A lot has changed in Buenos Aires' nightlife scene. "The queer parties have increased, which I particularly love," says Franzizca. Her favorite clubs in Buenos Aires include Dune Park, Crobar, and Niceto. Franzizca likes to buy her vinyl from her friend and fellow DJ Javier Zuker, who runs the record store AZdiscos. The store is located in a private house and visits are only possible by appointment – preferably via Instagram. "It's hard to get really good records in Buenos Aires, but I always find what I'm looking for at Javier's," she says.

Franzizca runs her own party series called Numbers, always at different locations. "When DJs come to Buenos Aires to play at my party, I take them to Chui beforehand," she says. "It's a vegetarian restaurant with great food, and the wine list is also top-notch." To round off an evening or to enjoy a glass before a gig, Franzizca recommends the Naranjo wine bar. "It may not be easy to find electronic records, but we definitely have good wine in Argentina."

Photos: Valentina Marozzi;  Producer: Carsten Kalaschnikow

About

DJ Franzizca is shaking up South America's electronic scene and has already performed on stage in Buenos Aires with famous acts such as Kraftwerk, The Blaze, and Disclosure. European clubs and international festivals including Primavera Sound, Lollapalooza, and Mutek have also booked her.