How Brazil Became Dirtybird Records’ New Creative Engine

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**BadComppany’s No Rules EP marks the first release in Dirtybird’s Flight Week Brazil series, highlighting the label’s border-crossing collaborative spirit that drives its latest initiative.**

For years, Dirtybird built its reputation on community-first dancefloors, woobly grooves, and a keenness to not follow norms. Last year, that ethos expanded beyond its Bay Area roots with the launch of Flight Week Brazil, a multi-city tour and writing camp that signals a deeper investment in one of dance music’s most lively regions.

Running from late November through mid-December, Flight Week Brazil brought together more than 30 artists across club takeovers in Americana, Goiânia, São Paulo, and Recife, alongside a multi-day writing camp in Belo Horizonte. Brazilian artists and Dirtybird regulars Bruno Furlan, Buja, DJ Glen, Danny Kolk, HeyDoc!, Plastic Robots, and more were part of the journey.

Following its acquisition by EMPIRE in 2022, Dirtybird entered a new chapter. With the independent label and music publisher’s global infrastructure behind it, the brand has been able to expand its vision internationally, making initiatives like Flight Week not just possible, but intentional. That evolution also explains the presence of voices like EMPIRE Dance Music Manager Moody Jones, who is helping guide the label’s next phase of growth.

“Flight Week was born in San Francisco in June 2025, and Brazil became our first international nest,” says Moody Jones, EMPIRE Dance Music Manager. “We filled it with 30+ artists and over seven shows. The warmth, rhythm, and openness of Brazilian culture gave our whole flock room to fly higher.”

Photo Credit: Dirtybird

Dirtybird’s Flight Week served as a creative incubator.

Flight Week is part writing camp, part event series, and is designed to bring artists together in an environment built on experimentation, collaboration, and movement. In just one week, they managed to make over 15 collabs and over 50 new tracks possible.

From a writing camp at their SF studio to a Road to Campout party at 1015SF, a Dirtybird takeover at Embarcadero Plaza with Another Planet Entertainment, and a dedicated section at the SF Giants game. The goal was to keep people inspired, motivated, and connected. Additionally, they teamed up with San Fran Psycho on exclusive merch, hosted high-energy workouts, and collaborated with 10 restaurants across the city.

Taking that model to Brazil just felt natural to Dirtybird, given their decade-long connection to the country’s dance music scene, and marked a natural evolution.

The Brazil edition expanded on the original foundation with a week-long creative retreat in Belo Horizonte, where artists spent a few days developing new music, testing ideas, and building cross-cultural collaborations. Across each stop, B2B sets and spontaneous performances took place, reflecting the playful unpredictability that has defined Dirtybird since its earliest park parties. They even closed out with a final showcase at Sync Club.

This first international landing reminded us how far Dirtybird can fly when the culture lifts with us.

Moody Jones

Brazilian music and dance reflect a layered blend of global influences shaped over time.

African rhythms laid the foundation for styles such as samba and maracatu, while European traditions such as polka and waltz helped inform genres such as forró and choro. Across regions, this fusion tells a broader story of colonization, migration, and cultural resilience.

With that in mind, Brazil’s dance music scene didn’t need building, but with its expansion, it needed amplification. The melting pot that the country is known for and the passion its communities have for rhythm and dance made for a great premise for Dirtybird.

“Dirtybird parties are practically a laboratory where we can experiment with new music,” said Brazilian DJ and producer Bruno Furlan. “The crowd is always receptive.” That openness has made Brazil an ideal testing ground, not just for tracks, but for ideas. “This visit made the passion of Brazilian fans grow even stronger,” he continued. “It’s a movement that keeps rising.”

The label’s connection to Brazil isn’t something new. Artists like Furlan and DJ Glen have been instrumental in shaping Dirtybird’s modern sound coming out of the region for the last decade, helping translate its playful, groove-driven aesthetic to a wider audience. More recently, releases like their 2024 Taste of Brazil compilation and signings from rising acts have further solidified that relationship.

There’s no denying that collaboration is at the core of Flight Week Brazil, and often between artists meeting for the first time.

During the Belo Horizonte writing camp, ideas were translated directly into new music. Somewhere between studio sessions and late-night experimentation, BadComppany crafted the No Rules EP, capturing the spontaneity and creative freedom of the experience.

The artists lean into the unconventional, using distorted vocals, punchy bass, and gritty effects throughout the project’s two tracks, “WTF” and “Loco.” This encompasses the Dirtybird sound with a fresh feel. It’s a product of environment as much as intention.

Throughout its development, new instruments were introduced. Rhythms were exchanged. Ideas moved quickly from concept to club system. And for Danny Kolk, the moment felt long overdue. “Flight Week Brazil was a truly unique moment,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for Dirtybird to come to Brazil for years.” That anticipation translated directly to the dancefloor. “At the shows, I could see the crowd having fun with my craziest tracks,” he added.

The Flight Week Brazil tour also spotlighted the depth of the country’s talent pool. The lineup featured a mix of Dirtybird regulars and rising voices, including Malik Mustache, Plastic Robots, HeyDoc!, Illusionize, and Volkoder, alongside community-driven contests that highlighted emerging producers.

“Dirtybird draws attention from both the audience and the producers here in Brazil,” Furlan chimed in. “We already have countless producers who are part of the family… and this list grows every year.”

That steady influx of talent has turned Brazil into more than a tour stop for the label. It’s become a creative pipeline feeding into Dirtybird’s global ecosystem.

Dirtybird’s expansion into Brazil also reflects a broader shift across electronic music. As regional sounds continue to influence global trends, local scenes are no longer just sources of inspiration. They’re active collaborators, and the esteemed label is showing the industry what can happen when you nurture community.

Flight Week isn’t meant to be just an event series. It’s a signal of where Dirtybird is heading next. By extending its creative infrastructure into Brazil, the label has effectively plugged into a new engine. One powered by collaboration, cultural exchange, and a shared willingness to experiment. And if the results — from packed club nights to releases like BadComppany’s No Rules EP — are any indication, that engine is already in motion.

Be sure to listen to No Rules EP on your favorite streaming platform, and follow Dirtybird to stay updated on new music and future Flight Week events.