Club review: D Edge, Sao Paulo

'Brazil is calling you' was the signature sign off at Heathrow Airport, and it resonated through me whilst on a 'whistle-stop' tour of Brazil that saw us jet from Sao Paulo to Warung Beach Club, to Rio De Janiero and finally back to Sao Paulo; clubbing every step of the way…

D Edge was our abode for the 1st part of the trip; the stripped back exterior in an industrial setting hiding the hysteria of its internal walls. Set over four floors, the recently renovated club has more than doubled in size since its birth 10 years ago. One of the most sophisticated lighting rigs (think graphic equalizers, strobe grid roof lighting etc) and a lighting engineer that works effortlessly for 14 hours with no break (dedication embodied) ensure that the vibrant nature of the music is transmitted throughout the venue long past its opening hours.

What started out life as a single room club has naturally evolved into a four floor electronic music hotbed; the decor, musical programming and clubbers alike all carefully follow the owner's clear ethos, a policy that has remained parallel to the club's growth throughout its existence. Solomun, Shonky, Diego and last but by no means least Renato Ratier completed the bill on the night... A bill which it would be hard to beat anywhere in the world.

A DAS Soundsytem adorns the main room, which also has lighting designed by Muti Randolph whilst Funktion One have the reigns in the second room and lounge. The thousands of LEDs that line the walls are extra special, too, and add an extra mind-melting dimension to the sleek interior. Said interior is made up of sleek lines, futuristic designs and a tasteful mélange of classic and avant-guard aesthetics, and makes a sensual and sensory superlative setting for the DJs and performers who pass through each week.

It was Frenchman and new Apollina label boss Shonky who opened things with a deep house set that warmed us up perfectly. Then came Diynamic boss Solomun who played his vocal take on house music – smashing it out of the speakers and into every waiting corner of the club. Seriously groovy stuff from the Croatian that all the girls loved so, naturally, the guys were dancing too.

Renato Ratier finished off proceedings and his varied set carried on until 1pm as he went back to back with with Solomun. Together the pair played an eclectic mixture of genres from tech to disco, techno to deeper house and managed to blend it all together seamlessly as the lights and lasers intersected the ever sweatier clubbers dancing in its wake.

Renato Ratier, owner and resident DJ of D Edge tells us, “D Edge began in my home town. I used to play at the venue (now called D Edge Sao Paulo) as a resident DJ and it became a 2nd home, so the owners asked if I wanted to buy the venue and naturally it felt right… D Edge Sao Paulo was born”.

Renato was keen to immediately instil the same ethos in Sao Paulo as he did in his home town club. Back when D Edge began in Sao Paolo, the club scene had no underground electronic music representation whatsoever, but that didn't deter Renato. He set about reshaping the cityscape, discovering new Brazilian talent
along the way. It is true to say that the current underground revolution has a lot to thank Renato for, as he's spent the last 10 years of his life pioneering the music he loves and 'flying the flag' for Brazilian music.

Fast forward to present day and the owners have plans to continue the growth of the D Edge brand. They are expanding their reach in the southern regions at Warung Beach Club where they will host the outside terrace on a weekly basis. On a grander scale they are in the planning stages of a huge festival in Sao Paulo as well as opening a club in Rio De Janiero, the location already confirmed for the second phase of D Edge’s expansion.

Words: Fiora Lopez

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