Music brings us together.
People are the purpose.
Three years ago, Emilio started NEBULA in Tokyo — a night for the harder side of electronic music.
NEBULA was born in mid-2023 in Tokyo, three years after Emilio arrived from Costa Rica. He plays his own sets, and he books artists who didn't have many opportunities to show their sound.
Where does your story begin?
Ever since I was a kid, I've always been a curious person. I never liked doing the same thing over and over, and I was always looking for something new to learn or experience. If there's one thing that has stayed with me throughout my life, it's the need to create.
As a child, I loved drawing, painting, making small sculptures, or building things with my hands. It didn't really matter what it was — I simply enjoyed turning ideas into something real.
I also grew up surrounded by many different musical influences. My dad is a huge fan of 70s and 80s music, so I grew up listening to artists like Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson, and the Bee Gees. One of my cousins introduced me to heavier rock and metal bands like Iron Maiden and Guns N' Roses.
On the other hand, my mom and grandmother were always listening to salsa, merengue, and other Latin music.
Another thing I always knew was that I wanted to live abroad someday. I just felt that my future was somewhere else. Then, in 2019, I visited Japan for the first time, and everything changed. I completely fell in love with the country. After that trip, I went home with one goal: to move to Japan.
In 2020, despite all the challenges of COVID, I finally made it happen.
“I went home with one goal: to move to Japan.”
The plan, at first, was not even Tokyo.
Do you think our lives are shaped more by decisions or by accidents?
Personally, I don't think life is shaped by accidents. I believe it's shaped by the decisions we make every day. Every step we take, every opportunity we choose to accept or let pass, eventually shapes our future.
One decision that completely changed my life was moving to Tokyo. Originally, I had planned to live in Fukuoka, but my plans changed and I ended up in Tokyo instead. Looking back, that single decision led me to everything I'm doing today.
I also believe that everything happens for a reason. Sometimes things don't work out the way we hoped, and in the moment it can be frustrating. But along the way, new opportunities appear, and it's up to us whether we choose to take them.
Looking back, I feel that everything happened exactly when it was supposed to.
“That single decision led me to everything I'm doing today.”
When the music is gone and people walk home alone — what do you hope stays with them?
At the end of every NEBULA edition, I hope everyone leaves with memories they'll never forget. I hope they had an incredible night where they could dance, laugh, meet new people, share moments with friends, and simply enjoy themselves.
If someone goes home with a smile, discovers a new artist, makes a new friend, or feels like they're part of the NEBULA community, then I think we've achieved what we set out to do.
“Music is what brings us together, but people have always been the real purpose.”
Why hard techno?
Later that year, I went to an event where I heard hard techno for the first time. I still remember walking up to the DJ after her set and asking what kind of music she had just played.
She simply replied, “Hard Techno.”
That same night, I went home, opened YouTube, and searched for those two words. That was the moment everything changed. I became completely immersed in the genre, discovering new artists and learning more about the scene. It was hard techno that inspired me to become a DJ.
But it wasn't only the music that attracted me — it was also the community. I started going to events by myself, and looking back, I'm really glad I did.
It allowed me to meet a lot of amazing people, many of whom are still part of my life today.
Over the years, my sound has evolved and is very different from what I used to play. But hard techno will always hold a special place in my heart. It's where this journey began, and I'll always be grateful for everything it gave me.
There is a lot of nature on your feed. How does it mix with the clubs?
I believe life is about finding balance. I love the energy of a club full of people, but I also really enjoy spending time alone or being outdoors with my friends. Both places make me feel present, just in different ways.
Music fills me with energy, while nature reminds me of the importance of slowing down and finding calm.
Back in the city, the building continues.
You sound like someone who always needs to build something. What happens when you stop building?
I think that's true. If I'm not working on something or developing a creative project, I feel like I'm not making the best use of my time. And if, for whatever reason, I don't have the time to work on something, I'm usually thinking about new ideas or imagining my next project.
One promise came before all of it.
What's a story you've never told publicly?
When I was a kid, I wanted to start my own car company. I was obsessed with cars. I spent hours playing with LEGO and Hot Wheels, and I used to tell everyone that one day I was going to build my own car factory.
The car factory stayed a kid's promise.
The production line never stopped.