We welcome one of Brazil’s most exciting new voices to the series with Select Cuts 367, mixed by nocapz., accompanied by an in-depth interview celebrating his recent standout releases on TSZ and Higher Ground.

Born in Salvador, Bahia and now based in São Paulo, Samuel Soares, better known as nocapz., represents a new generation of Brazilian artists bringing cultural depth and refined club sensibility into the global house conversation. Rooted in a lifelong relationship with rhythm and percussion, his sound lives between tech house, minimal, Afro house and ghetto influences, always guided by an unshakeable sense of groove and an instinct for subtle, dancefloor-ready tension.

Despite his young age, nocapz. already moves with the confidence and musical maturity of a seasoned selector. His carefully curated DJ sets, and increasingly distinctive productions, have earned him a place on some of today’s most influential labels, including Hot Creations, Solid Grooves, Gruuv, and most recently TSZ and Higher Ground, marking an important new chapter in his rapidly evolving career.

For this Select Cuts session, nocapz. delivers a mix that feels both deeply personal and unapologetically club-focused. Drawing heavily from Brazilian producers, exclusive cuts from close collaborators and several of his own unreleased tracks, the set captures the energy, versatility and rhythmic language that define his current musical world, a peak-time-leaning journey built on flow, swing and emotional movement rather than obvious drops.

Alongside the mix, we sit down with nocapz. to discuss how his upbringing in Salvador continues to shape his groove, what it means to release on labels like TSZ and Higher Ground without compromising artistic identity, and how he approaches balancing club functionality with musical character. It’s a conversation that reveals an artist driven less by hype and strategy, and more by curiosity, culture and the quiet discipline of daily studio practice.

Select Cuts 367 is a snapshot of an artist finding his own lane, where Brazilian rhythm, contemporary club language and personal expression meet at the center of the dancefloor.

WWD: Your sound has been gaining serious momentum lately. How would you describe the musical identity you’re shaping right now, and what elements feel most essential to you in the studio?

First of all, I want to thank you guys for the opportunity to share some insights and news about my music. I’m genuinely very happy and grateful for the way my music has been resonating lately. Seeing that connection with fans grow has been really special for me. When it comes to my musical identity, I like to see it as a journey. I don’t like putting my sound into a strict box or working towards a fixed direction. For me, it’s essential to keep studying, experimenting, and staying curious. As a consequence of this, my discography naturally moves through different moods and results, and you can hear that variety across the releases. What connects all of them is that every track has a soul. Not necessarily in a melodic or sentimental way, but in having a clear purpose and understanding that intention is essential to me. As long as the music feels honest and purposeful, I know I’m moving in the right direction.

WWD: Brazil has a rich club culture with a strong rhythmic identity. How has growing up there shaped your groove, and how do you channel that influence into records that also resonate globally?

I’m very proud to be Brazilian, and especially proud to have been born in Salvador, which I truly see as one of the richest cultural cradles in the world. The city has a strong cultural and rhythmic identity that shaped the way I feel and understand music from a very early age. Many artists from my home state were important references for me growing up. Figures like Gilberto Gil, Carlinhos Brown and Ivete Sangalo helped shape my musical sensitivity and my relationship with rhythm, even beyond a club context. Salvador was the first capital of Brazil and remains the city with the largest population of African descent outside of Africa and that heritage resonates deeply in the way groove and percussion show up in my sound.

I didn’t experience Salvador’s golden years of club culture firsthand, simply because I was too young at the time. A big part of my club education came later after I moved to São Paulo six years ago. That’s where I truly learned how electronic music works in a club environment, especially through nights at D-EDGE, which played a fundamental role in shaping my understanding of nightlife.

WWD: You’ve recently released on TSZ and Higher Ground, two labels with very distinct aesthetics. What do you look for in a label partnership, and how do you adapt your sound without losing your identity?

I was genuinely very happy to release on both TSZR and Higher Ground. They’re labels whose work I’ve admired for some time so being part of their catalogues felt very special to me. What really stands out in both cases is the plurality they represent. Both are respected imprints with strong identities, but also with a very diverse and well-curated musical vision and that’s something that truly excites me.

When it comes to label partnerships, I look for prestige, a thoughtful catalogue, and most importantly, care. Labels that treat my music with attention and respect and that understand how to give space and the context it deserves are the ones that make sense for me. That kind of alignment adds real value to the art.

I’m also grateful that these opportunities came from the labels reaching out to me. It shows that my work is being built in a solid and consistent manner and that it’s naturally drawing attention. Adapting my sound to fit a label has never been part of my plans. I see signing with labels like these as a consequence of my artistic expression not a strategy. As long as I stay honest with my process, the right homes tend to appear naturally.

WWD: With releases coming on DFTD in March and Solid Grooves later this year, it feels like a major breakthrough moment. Did these opportunities change anything in your mindset or workflow as an artist?

It’s a really special moment in my career to be able to deliver music that means so much to me on labels with this level of recognition. I’m very grateful to be building relationships with imprints of this calibre. I released on Solid Grooves last April with a more minimalist track, “AAAAaaaa,” and I’m genuinely happy to be returning to a label that inspired me a lot throughout my journey. At the same time, debuting on DFTD, a Defected sublabel, feels like a big and meaningful step for me. Beyond these releases, there’s still a lot of exciting music to come this year.

My team and I have been working closely to make the most out of these releases, especially because they’ll likely introduce my work to people who are just discovering my sound. But in terms of mindset, the shift toward focusing on quality over quantity actually happened before signing these records. Slowing down, being more selective, and allowing ideas to mature was already part of my process and it played a big role in helping me reach the level of music that ended up on these labels. I treat music like a daily practice and try to be in the studio consistently because I never know when inspiration will show up. Channeling that energy into sounds I’m completely satisfied with instead of forcing myself to finish tracks just to move on has helped me arrive at stronger and more honest results, and these releases are a reflection of that process.

WWD: This Select Cuts mix gives listeners a snapshot of your current musical world. What kind of journey were you aiming to create with this mix, and where does it sit within your wider DJ identity?

Recording a mix for the internet is always a fun challenge for me because I don’t have a dance floor in front of me to guide the construction of the set. Without that immediate feedback, the process becomes more intuitive. For this mix I leaned into lots of music from Brazilian producers who are some of my biggest inspirations, alongside personal favorites and exclusive tracks from close friends.

The result feels very close to what a peak-time set from me would sound like in terms of energy and versatility. It’s a mix I’ve found myself listening back to a few times since recording, which usually means it represents my current musical world quite honestly. Within my wider DJ identity, it sits as a snapshot of where my head is at right now.

WWD: When you’re building a track, what usually comes first: the groove, the bassline, or a feeling you’re trying to capture on the dancefloor?

I genuinely believe that groove is built from everything within a track, not just rhythmic elements. Because of that, anything that sparks a feeling can already be a great starting point for a new idea to me. Sometimes it’s an atmosphere, sometimes a tension, sometimes just a small detail that makes me want to move.

That said, since I produce every day, it’s not always that poetic. In about 90% of the cases, I start with the drums. They translate the direction of a track much more clearly for me and help me understand where the music wants to go. Drums are where I feel most comfortable creating and everything beyond that usually takes more time and attention until I reach something that makes me want to dance.

WWD: How do you balance club functionality with musical character, making tracks that work on big systems while still feeling personal and expressive?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that club functionality doesn’t come from technical perfection, but from creative decisions that feel honest. Instead of chasing flawless structures, I focus on experimenting and shaping ideas that naturally make me want to move. That approach helps the music translate well on big systems without losing its personality.

Many of the tracks that impacted me the most on the dancefloor were the ones that felt different and forward-thinking, yet still worked effortlessly in a club context. That’s the balance I aim for as a producer. From there, it becomes about context. I believe each DJ brings their own interpretation when playing a track, and that’s something I keep in mind when finishing my music.

WWD: Looking ahead to the rest of 2026, what excites you most right now, whether that’s new collaborations, touring, or evolving your sound further?

It feels like a moment that has the potential to be a real turning point in my career, in every sense. I always try to evolve alongside the people who like my art and with the opportunities coming this year, I feel like I’ll be able to contribute more meaningfully to the ecosystem around my music. There are several releases and important dates ahead that will serve as a platform for me to share my world and my truth with a wider audience. I’m excited about using those moments not just as milestones, but as ways to deepen the connection between my music and the people listening.

On a personal level, I feel like I’m in the best form of my life so far. I’ve never felt this happy and my biggest goal is to translate that energy into my work and into the experiences I create for people on and off the dancefloor.

Tracklist:

Cuba – Thursday Rumba
nocapz. – Braziliannn
Roddy Lima – Booth Baddy
nocapz. – Sonido Latino
Smoke City – Underwater Love (Mochakk Edit)
nocapz. – Paris
Marian (BR) & Sterium – The Surge
nocapz. – Crossroads
nocapz. – All I Know
Chez Damier & Ben Vedren – H2H (Tuccillo Remix)
nocapz. & Panna – My Heart Goes (feat. Sheldon)
nocapz. – Sunflowers