Our guest today is Lokier Mexican-born, Berlin-based DJ, producer and founder of the LightStrike label. Known for a powerful sound that moves through techno, breakbeat, trance she has built a distinctive presence in the international underground through sets and productions that feel dark, visceral and uncompromising., alongside an exclusive podcast capturing her signature sound.Recently, I’ve also started a new project called Reikol, which represents another side of me creatively. As a DJ, Reikol is focused exclusively on breakbeat, which has been one of the sounds I’ve felt most connected to lately. At the same time, I’m also using Reikol as my name for songwriting and production work for other artists. I’ve been collaborating with producers and topliners from different parts of the world, getting involved with new production and songwriting teams, and focusing more and more on creating music beyond my own artist projects. One of my main goals right now is to write, produce and release music with other artists.
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Originally from Mexico and now based in Berlin, Lokier’s sound is shaped by breakbeat, trance, and 90s rave influences, driven by emotional intensity and instinct. Her sets focus on tension, movement, and unpredictability, unfolding less as a sequence of tracks and more as a continuous emotional journey.
Listen to Lokier’s podcast on KEYI Magazine
In this interview, Lokier reflects on creative evolution, perfectionism in production, and the emotional role instinct plays in both her DJ sets and studio process. She also shares her current obsession with breakbeat, her approach to digging culture
Hey Yoan so happy to have you back with KEYI ! What did you do this morning?
Hey, happy to be back! Honestly, my mornings are usually pretty slow, it takes me a while to fully wake up. But lately I’ve been making myself banana pancakes and trying to fit in a workout. Which feels like a pretty good way to start the day.
“BEING AN ARTIST IS ABOUT INSTINCT, EMOTION, AND HONESTY.”
Your sound never stands still – what are you chasing right now? Fearless evolution or controlled chaos, which defines you more?
Controlled chaos. Change has always been a big part of who I am creatively, but that doesn’t mean it comes without fear.
Every evolution means letting go of a previous version of yourself, and that can be uncomfortable. But staying still feels even worse.
What’s one rule in techno you love breaking?
Honestly, I don’t really believe in rules when it comes to music. Some of the most interesting artists are the ones taking risks and doing things differently, that’s what makes them stand out. For me, being an artist is about instinct, emotion, and honesty.
Mexico to Berlin, what part of you never changed?
Following my instincts. That’s always been the constant. I’m a very sensitive person, and music has always been a very emotional language for me. No matter where I am, I’m always curious, always looking for new sounds and new feelings to connect with.
“EVERY EVOLUTION MEANS LETTING GO OF A PREVIOUS VERSION OF YOURSELF – AND THAT CAN BE UNCOMFORTABLE. BUT STAYING STILL FEELS EVEN WORSE.”
When does a track feel dangerous enough to release?
I can be a bit of a perfectionist, so I test tracks everywhere, speakers, headphones, laptop, phone, even just playing them in my room and walking around to hear how they feel in the space.
But for me, it’s also about whether all the elements actually make sense together. Sometimes one sound can throw the whole thing off, a synth, hats, whatever, and the moment you change it, everything suddenly clicks.
So for me, a track is ready when everything blends naturally, feels like it belongs together, and after hearing it a hundred times, it still gives me something emotionally.
Your sets feel raw and hypnotic. Where does that energy come from?
Even when I first started DJing and making podcasts, my intention was always to make them feel like one long song rather than a collection of tracks.
I’ve always been interested in creating tension, emotion, and a sense of story in a set, taking people somewhere rather than just playing tracks.
90s rave, trance, breakbeat, which influence hits hardest today?
Definitely breakbeat right now, but the 90s energy is always there. I’m really drawn to music that feels playful, unexpected, and a little risky, but still has depth.
I love tracks that surprise me, the kind that feel bold, slightly weird, but incredibly exciting when they’re done right.
How do you keep emotion alive in high BPM intensity?
Instead of focusing too much on speed, I focus on finding tracks with elements that feel memorable, interesting, impactful, or emotional.
It doesn’t have to be something obvious or melodic, sometimes it’s just a certain sound, texture, rhythm, or moment that creates a feeling. That’s what keeps the emotion alive for me.
What’s something fans would be surprised about your process?
Probably how much of my process happens alone. I spend a lot of time researching, digging for music, exploring artists, local scenes, different genres, I genuinely love discovery.
I also always buy my music, even my friends’ tracks, I don’t think they even know that. And a lot of inspiration happens outside the studio too, long walks with headphones, visiting exhibitions, listening to completely different genres, just getting myself into a certain mood creatively.
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