How QRTR Channeled Her Portuguese Heritage Into Her Debut LP

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, is a Brooklyn-based electronic music producer and DJ, who's musical journey began in the smoky discotècas of Portugal.

With a dynamic repertoire that blends high-energy DJ mixes and original live sets, Rodriguez has shared stages with an impressive roster of artists including 

, Phantoms, Galantis, and Oliver. She has graced the decks of renowned New York nightclubs such as The Brooklyn Mirage, Output (RIP), Good Room, Elsewhere, and Bossa Nova Civic Club. Rodriguez's live performances are an immersive experience, weaving together international beats into intoxicating soundscapes that compel listeners to dance.

While Rodriguez's heart lies in Brooklyn, her talent has taken her on international tours, performing in Portuguese open-air clubs and the atmospheric lounges of Paris. DJ Mag describes Rodriguez's music as a unique meeting point between an "art house film composer and basement rave," a testament to the fusion of creativity that defines her sound.

Control

, released on the renowned LA-based record label Dome of Doom, marks the beginning of her sonic journey. Hailed by 

 as "a spacey body of work that spans house, ambient, and techno," the album has garnered widespread praise. BBC Radio 6's Tom Ravenscroft, Nina Las Vegas, Magnetic Magazine, CoS, XLR8R, Resident Advisor, Pitchfork, and more have all voiced their support for Rodriguez's artistry.

, Rodriguez's talents were recognized. Her 2018 single, "DRIVER," premiered on Jubilee's BBC Radio 1 show, garnering attention as part of a wave of energetic house music emerging from Brooklyn. Collaborations have also played a significant role in Rodriguez's journey, with her remix of indie folk artist Nora Rothman's work premiering on Earmilk.

Rodriguez's extensive experience in the film industry has shaped her music, infusing it with conceptual depth that sets her apart within the dance music community.

All U Need by QRTR

With millions of streams worldwide and a dedicated fan base that extends far beyond her East Coast origins, Rodriguez has established herself as an undeniable force in modern electronic music. Her passion, talent, and ability to transport listeners through her captivating compositions make her an artist whose sonic journey is destined for even greater heights.

United States

nyc club

QRTR

Romania

Luzi Tudor

miami electronic

Coffintexts

Branqueeno

art pop

electropop

escape room

indie pop

Rinas

BLUE

Superior Ingredients Roof

BLUE: QRTR, Luzi Tudor, and Friends

Spain

spanish techno

Anna Tur

afro house

funky tech house

tribal house

DJ Chus

Netherlands

circuit

dutch tech house

house

Franky Rizardo

United Kingdom

tech house

uk tech house

Mason Collective

South Africa

THEMBA

bass house

Westend

Italy

Yaya

OCHO Episode 6

Canada

canadian electronic

canadian house

Bob Moses

Germany

alternative dance

dance-punk

electro house

fidget house

filter house

german dance

german techno

new rave

Boys Noize

melbourne bounce

pop dance

progressive house

uk dance

Chris Lake

Chris Lorenzo

Destructo

deep disco house

Justin Martin

Patrick Mason

garage house

uk garage

Todd Edwards

Switzerland

Charles Meyer

Mikey Lion

Lee Reynolds

Marbs

Nala

Porky (DH)

Mary Droppinz

Russia

brazilian edm

VOLAC

Miami to Harvest Caye, Belize

Friendship 2024

Walker & Royce

Dillon Nathaniel

The Brooklyn Mirage

uk house

TSHA

electra

Elkka

Honey Bun

Debut

Gray Area's new venture, "Debut," aims to bridge the international house music community by bringing established and emerging artists to cities they've never performed in. This initiative seeks to expand artists' fan bases and provide fans with fresh, exhilarating musical experiences. Having played a role in introducing major artists and brands like elrow and Awakenings to new audiences in the past, Gray Area believes in the magic of first-time experiences. By promoting artists in new venues and cities, they hope to cultivate a thriving, unified house music ecosystem. Debut is not merely a marketing strategy but embodies Gray Area's commitment to fostering collaboration, unity, and musical discovery.

The Knockdown Center

USA Debut: TSHA presents Jackfruit NYC w. Special Guest Elkka, QRTR & Honey Bun

Giolì & Assia

Giolí & Assia on Tour: The Hybrid Set, with support by QRTR

VNSSA

MISS PIPS

The Brooklyn Monarch

Debut: Girl Math (VNSSA b2b Nala) First New York Headline Performance w. QRTR & Guests

breaks

experimental house

Interplanetary Criminal

DJ ADHD

Interplanetary Criminal & Guests

PURP

Toribio

BLUE: TSHA, QRTR, and Guests

electronica

indietronica

Moderat

France

minimal tech house

Dan Ghenacia

experimental techno

french techno

François X

hamburg electronic

melodic techno

minimal techno

Solomun

deep euro house

melodic house

Monkey Safari

italian tech house

Dimmish

Late Night Shri

Daizy

proto-hyperpop

Mindchatter

Palestine

arab electronic

palestinian alternative

Sama’ Abdulhadi

QRTR, aka Meagan Rodriguez, has a sound that is drenched in emotion, layered with wavering synths that drip with sultry sophistication. Intentionally heartfelt yet innately dancefloor focused. 

She has managed to stand out with a unique take on house music. And in a genre that often relies on recycled tropes, she bravely injects her music with a meditative sensuality that refreshes mind, body, and soul

 dropped just as the pandemic had eviscerated all hope for an immediate sense of normalcy. It was composed during a dark period in her life. She intended to open a window to her emotions and ended up holding a mirror for the state of the world.

Her music reflected her life at the time. Her job in film was grueling. She spent over 10 hours a day in an office with no windows. Exhausted and confused, she intentionally isolated herself.

Things felt dark. And she said, “I [was] creating this whole world in my head about how things are so dystopian right now.”

She engaged in a strange dance with herself. The album was another source of stress, but she insists, “It was also a release and a creative outlet. So, it's just this weird kind of Tango [I was] doing.”

She never pondered her mental health. It was the first time she recognized her depression and anxiety. "And I let that come out in the album. And I wanted to live in it a little bit because I felt like I needed to just for my own sort of evolution.”

Her goal was to express how difficult it was to be human and how existence can be painful. She never expected her emotions to reflect what was happening on a global scale. She says, “It was just a really fucked up. coincidence.”

It takes courage to lay your emotions bare the way that 

 did. Her strength and resolve are qualities she is admittedly modest about.

“I feel like I have these moments where I suddenly have intense courage and bravery. And those moments are usually pivotal for me [in] gearing me into a new direction or a new chapter.”

Her affection for melody has always been with her. She fondly recalls her dad blasting freestyle in the car when he picked her up for the weekend. It didn’t embarrass her, she just bopped along. Somehow those broken beats have now snaked their way into her music. 

Rodriguez grew up tri-lingual and mixed race. Her young mind often comingled English, Spanish, and Portuguese. One thing she was never confused about was her love for singing. Her parents always supported her passion for the arts and bought her instruments for birthdays holidays. 

They never stopped encouraging her. She was always inside as a child, creating songs and videos. In middle school, she started to play with production software when her dad bought her a computer.

“I had a PSU USB microphone. I'd plug it into my computer and sample knocking on my desk and shit. And I would make music in middle school and bring CDs and give it to friends.”

It’s hard for her to imagine her success without her parent's involvement. “I feel like, my mom was super encouraging. She was like, ‘You're an artist, you need to be an artist one day. You're a creative person.’ And always was telling me to embrace that. And then my dad gave me the tools to be able to embrace it. He got me my first computer. He was the one who pushed me to go to NYU and move to New York.“

Moving to New York was a catalyst for her artistic growth. She ended up there for film. And even though she carried a lifelong passion for music she insists, “I never thought to pursue that further than just enjoying it.” 

She didn’t become a New Yorker until she graduated. That’s when she started to explore nightlife for the first time. The seed was planted when she went to an open-air in Portugal at 16. And when Spotify notified her that Chrome Sparks was in her hood she went and the seed began to grow.

That summer she went to her first festival, Bonnaroo 2014. And as a spontaneous (now legendary) late-night art car set from Mija and Skrillex blurred into the sunrise, she had a full-on rave revelation. This was what she’d been missing from her life. 

“Sunrise is about to happen. And we're all partying still. And this is everything I didn't know I needed and now I'm hooked. And then immediately I came back from Bonnaroo and I was going to as many raves and club nights as I could.”

A friend she’d met at a work function joined her on the quest for the perfect night out. Jenny had also been there for the transcendent experience at Bonaroo. After several months they agreed it was difficult to find their people. So, they decided to create the perfect party themselves.

Wavcave was their creation. A party in what was ordinarily a punk rock venue, with no expectations or boundaries. Rodriguez and friends provided the sonics. Jenny was the badass promoter. “Our whole mission was to let people get weird. We want people smiling on the dance floor. We want people to be goofy and enjoy themselves.”

The brand organically transformed from a monthly event to a shared studio space to full-on artist collective and record label. All of which are rooted in creating the inclusive and tolerant space they desired. 

As the world begins to awaken, she’s excited to see more of that. “I'm seeing parties that [are] not a bunch of white guys. And it's amazing. It's queer people, black people, brown people. It's people that are fucking talented and weren't getting shine that absolutely deserved to be getting shine.”

It excites her that more people will experience the creativity, love, and inclusivity that she shares in everything that she touches.  

“I don't think I've ever seen such diverse and enthusiastic crowds,” she says with a touch of sincere sentiment in her voice. “It is so exciting what's happening right now. And I don't know that it would be like this if it weren't for everything that happened in 2020. I think in a weird way that was one of the only positives. That maybe we're inching toward something that makes more sense and is more equitable.”

QRTR, aka Meagan Rodriguez, has a sound that is drenched in emotion, layered with wavering synths that drip with sultry sophistication. Intentionally heartfelt yet innately dancefloor focused. 



She has managed to stand out with a unique take on house music. And in a genre that often relies on recycled tropes, she bravely injects her music with a meditative sensuality that refreshes mind, body, and soul

Her debut album Drenched dropped just as the pandemic had eviscerated all hope for an immediate sense of normalcy. It was composed during a dark period in her life. She intended to open a window to her emotions and ended up holding a mirror for the state of the world.

Her music reflected her life at the time. Her job in film was grueling. She spent over 10 hours a day in an office with no windows. Exhausted and confused, she intentionally isolated herself.

Things felt dark. And she said, “I [was] creating this whole world in my head about how things are so dystopian right now.”

She engaged in a strange dance with herself. The album was another source of stress, but she insists, “It was also a release and a creative outlet. So, it's just this weird kind of Tango [I was] doing.”

She never pondered her mental health. It was the first time she recognized her depression and anxiety. "And I let that come out in the album. And I wanted to live in it a little bit because I felt like I needed to just for my own sort of evolution.”

Her goal was to express how difficult it was to be human and how existence can be painful. She never expected her emotions to reflect what was happening on a global scale. She says, “It was just a really fucked up. coincidence.”

It takes courage to lay your emotions bare the way that Drenched did. Her strength and resolve are qualities she is admittedly modest about.

“I feel like I have these moments where I suddenly have intense courage and bravery. And those moments are usually pivotal for me [in] gearing me into a new direction or a new chapter.”

Her affection for melody has always been with her. She fondly recalls her dad blasting freestyle in the car when he picked her up for the weekend. It didn’t embarrass her, she just bopped along. Somehow those broken beats have now snaked their way into her music. 

Rodriguez grew up tri-lingual and mixed race. Her young mind often comingled English, Spanish, and Portuguese. One thing she was never confused about was her love for singing. Her parents always supported her passion for the arts and bought her instruments for birthdays holidays. 

They never stopped encouraging her. She was always inside as a child, creating songs and videos. In middle school, she started to play with production software when her dad bought her a computer.

“I had a PSU USB microphone. I'd plug it into my computer and sample knocking on my desk and shit. And I would make music in middle school and bring CDs and give it to friends.”

It’s hard for her to imagine her success without her parent's involvement. “I feel like, my mom was super encouraging. She was like, ‘You're an artist, you need to be an artist one day. You're a creative person.’ And always was telling me to embrace that. And then my dad gave me the tools to be able to embrace it. He got me my first computer. He was the one who pushed me to go to NYU and move to New York.“

Moving to New York was a catalyst for her artistic growth. She ended up there for film. And even though she carried a lifelong passion for music she insists, “I never thought to pursue that further than just enjoying it.” 

She didn’t become a New Yorker until she graduated. That’s when she started to explore nightlife for the first time. The seed was planted when she went to an open-air in Portugal at 16. And when Spotify notified her that Chrome Sparks was in her hood she went and the seed began to grow.

That summer she went to her first festival, Bonnaroo 2014. And as a spontaneous (now legendary) late-night art car set from Mija and Skrillex blurred into the sunrise, she had a full-on rave revelation. This was what she’d been missing from her life. 

“Sunrise is about to happen. And we're all partying still. And this is everything I didn't know I needed and now I'm hooked. And then immediately I came back from Bonnaroo and I was going to as many raves and club nights as I could.”

A friend she’d met at a work function joined her on the quest for the perfect night out. Jenny had also been there for the transcendent experience at Bonaroo. After several months they agreed it was difficult to find their people. So, they decided to create the perfect party themselves.

Wavcave was their creation. A party in what was ordinarily a punk rock venue, with no expectations or boundaries. Rodriguez and friends provided the sonics. Jenny was the badass promoter. “Our whole mission was to let people get weird. We want people smiling on the dance floor. We want people to be goofy and enjoy themselves.”

The brand organically transformed from a monthly event to a shared studio space to full-on artist collective and record label. All of which are rooted in creating the inclusive and tolerant space they desired. 

As the world begins to awaken, she’s excited to see more of that. “I'm seeing parties that [are] not a bunch of white guys. And it's amazing. It's queer people, black people, brown people. It's people that are fucking talented and weren't getting shine that absolutely deserved to be getting shine.”

It excites her that more people will experience the creativity, love, and inclusivity that she shares in everything that she touches.  

“I don't think I've ever seen such diverse and enthusiastic crowds,” she says with a touch of sincere sentiment in her voice. “It is so exciting what's happening right now. And I don't know that it would be like this if it weren't for everything that happened in 2020. I think in a weird way that was one of the only positives. That maybe we're inching toward something that makes more sense and is more equitable.”

QRTR

Past events

Other artists