DJ Sandrinho is a Brazilian baile funk DJ and producer from the favela do Borel in Rio de Janeiro. His real name is Sandro Dos Santos Lourenco. He begins his musical career at 12, following his older brother, DJ Sapo Pemba, in Rio’s sound systems.

Career in Rio de Janeiro

Sandrinho deejays regularly in the community radio stations of Rio’s favelas, including Borel and Prazeres. In 1999 he is selected as one of 50 winners of a contest to become resident DJ of Furacão 2000, the well-known sound system and Carioca funk label. From then on he plays three times a week in clubs and favelas across Rio. He also presents new productions on Impresa FM and works regularly with the A Gota and Estúdio Rd sound systems.

In 2000 he becomes the official DJ for Mister Catra, a baile funk singer, and tours with him for four years throughout Brazil. During this period he sometimes plays more than 30 parties in a week. In 2003 he performs with Public Enemy at the Premiação Hutus Cinema Festival.

European dates, releases and remixes

Sandrinho’s first European dates take place in 2004 after an invitation from Tchiky Al Dente, the Favela Chic resident DJ and half of the Voltair production duo. He plays in London with DJ Patife and in Paris at Favela Chic, and later tours in Brazil with MC Menor Do Chapa.

In 2005 he tours Europe again with dates including the Cannes Film Festival release party for the Brazilian film Cidade Baixa, RESFEST in Switzerland, the opening of Techno Parade in Paris, Club 103 in Berlin, a Nike private party in Berlin, Soho Social Club in London, Nouveau Casino in Paris and Batofar in Paris. He remixes “Popozuda Rock’n Roll” for Essay Records and has tracks compiled on Selecao do Brasil Vol. 2 on Wagram and Favela Booty Vol. 1 and 2 on Essay Records.

Later work

In 2006 he becomes a resident of Favela Chic and appears at the Les Arcs on the Rocks festival in France alongside DJ Mehdi and Pedro Winter. He also plays many dates in Brazil, including Rio and São Paulo Fashion Week. His remixes include work on tracks by Bonde de Rolle, Gotan Project, Diplo and Voltair.

In 2007 his first 12-inch record is released in Germany as Baile Funk Master, and some white-label records are also issued for Australia. He appears on Postonove 4 from Favela Chic and is bootlegged by Arcade Mode. He continues to produce original tracks that circulate on mixtapes, bootlegs and international DJ playlists. He also mixes Brazilian styles with electro, disco and rock, and can perform live with an MPC using only his own productions.