Fast flying eagle

Who haven't heard of XTNTA before, has slept under a rock. This Colombian powerlady is popping up on many impressive line-ups, and now it's also time for Deadtown to be added to this list. Great moment to interview her about how this special journey has ever been possible.

Can you tell a bit more about yourself?

Hello, I'm XTNTA. I am an artist from Colombia with a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts. I have been active in the hardcore since 2022. I am a free and positive spirit, devoted to hardcore music. I'm also a very hardworking person and I love to travel and experience different cultures. I love animals and I have been a vegan since I was a teenager.

Where does your artist name come from?

During my time at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, I used to paint on the streets and create murals related to animals an plants at risk of extinction. Animals always moved me deeply and touched my heart, so this was my way of expressing that. I was part of an artist crew called 'Tinta Rosa'. We created some really cool projects together, mostly paintings, even after graduating. I used to sign the murals with the tag 'Extinta'. Later, I shortened it to focus on the 'TNT', symbolizing power. In the end, it evolved into XTNTA, because it simply sounded right to me.

I also bring the same purpose of caring about animals and raising awareness into my musical project. For me, my art and my music are both connected by the same values and energy.

How did you get introduced to hardcore music?

A couple years ago, there was a great party in Colombia called 'Radical Styles' that I attended to. I fell in love with hardcore music when I saw the performance of Micropoint/Radium, Al Core, and Luki Lonestar. The whole show, with live elements and intense energy, completely impressed me. After that, I started discovering the underground hardcore scene in Bogotá, and I was amazed.

Later on, I fell deeply in love with gabber music, especially when I began listening to Neophyte classics. I think the moment I heard 'Execute' for the first time, something inside me ignited and pushed me to explore gabber music more deeply.

How would you describe your style?

This is always the hardest question 😊. Gabber is my heart. From the moment I started learning how to DJ, I knew I wanted to focus on early hardcore. That decision opened the door to a deep and powerful universe of sounds. Through that journey, I discovered early hardcore, psycore, artcore, hardtek, early frenchcore, early terror, frenchcore, terror, speedcore, and grindcore. Every gig I played, opened the door to explore new sounds. My DJ sets are never limited to just one genre. I enjoy blending at least two or three styles, creating tension, contrast, and emotional shifts.

If I had to describe my sound, I would say it's heavy, dark, raw, furious, and explosive. But at the same time, I deeply love melancholic atmospheres and dark melodies. Sometimes, my sets are extremely intense and aggressive. Other times, they become spacey, hypnotic, or emotional. I like to take people on a journey. I'm always exploring and evolving.

How is the scene in Colombia?

I am incredibly proud of the hardcore community in Colombia. The scene has been alive for many years, supported by passionate crews who have worked consistently to build something real and strong. Of course, like any music scene, there can be challenges. But what truly defines us, is the passion and resilience behind the music.

Colombia has become an important epicenter of electronic music in Latin America, and hardcore has earned its space with strength and respect. International hardcore artists perform in Colombia every year, and the audience is educated, energetic, and deeply connected to the culture. People dance hard, scream, and fully live the experience.

There is a strong network of promoters, DJs, producers, and collectives, so there is almost always a hardcore event happening. And if not every weekend, then at least every month. What makes me especially happy, is seeing how Colombian artists are developing their own authentic vision of hardcore.

Recently, I played as a headliner in Pure Violencia, an event in early terror, terror, and speedcore in Bogotá. It was amazing. The place was fully packed and the energy was incredible. The line-up featured outstanding Colombian artists. Years ago, events focused on such fast BPMs were rare. Seeing a full venue embracing extreme hardcore shows how much the scene has evolved. The future looks powerful.

You have already played at many events in Europe. How did this started?

It all started with my debut in 2022 at Bogotrax, a free-spirited event centered around freedom, community, and artistic expression. From that moment, the doors began to open. I participated in several DJ contest where sometimes I won, and sometimes I didn’t. But each experience gave me the opportunity to network, learn, and grow.

A major turning point in my career was becoming the first Colombian resident at Toxic Sickness Radio. Allan, the owner, believed in me and gave me the opportunity to host a monthly show. That responsibility pushed me to constantly search, study, and dig deeper into hardcore music. Today, I have more than 30 shows on my Soundcloud. Each one different, each one representing a step in my musical evolution. And honestly, I believe that being authentic, maintaining positive energy, staying humble, working hard, loving the music, and respecting other artists has been essential in getting me to where I am today.

What was your first introduction to Speedcore Italia?

I first discovered Speedcore Italia through Bandcamp, and I immediately connected with their compilations. The rawness and dedication to extreme sounds and the loyal community really inspired me. A friend of mine once tattooed the Speedcore Italia logo on someone, and I remembered thinking that was incredibly powerful.

Last year, I saw Nekrosystem playing for the very first time. First at Dominator and then at Ground Zero. I also met Muisz that summer, during a performance I played at hardcore store BAMM Lifestyle, with the Mokum team; DJ Chosen Few, Tellurian, DJ Remsy, and Wicked XXX. Muisz may not remember this, but she sold me one of my favorite earrings that says ‘Early Terror’. I love it! So chic!

I also went to Nekrosystem's Forbidden Zone 2, together with my friend Ritchie to support his set as Hellcreator. He introduced me to Valerio. I didn't knew that Valerio was already aware of my work and had been considering booking me for some time. I felt truly honored and deeply happy.

What makes Deadtown so special, according to you?

Deadtown is extreme in the purest sense. Terror, speedcore, extratone, no compromises. That's powerful. The crowd here understands fast BPMs. They respect them. That creates a special connection between artist and audience. And celebrating it close to Women's Day makes it even more meaningful for me as a woman in extreme hardcore.

What can people expect from your set?

Expectations can sometimes create limits. What I can promise is that I will bring my darkest, most melancholic, and most intense energy to the stage. I will be fully immersed in the atmosphere and deeply connected to the crowd. For me, it's not just about playing fast, it's about transmitting emotion, tension, and power. It will be raw, emotional, and explosive.

We're preparing a special surprise including my voice, which makes this event even more personal.

Any last words to conclude this interview?

I want to thank the Speedcore Italia team for the invitation and for trusting me to be part of this powerful event. It truly means a lot to me. I will be the first Colombian ever to play at this amazing party. We are going to create something intense and unforgettable. I'm coming like a fully recharged beast, carrying all the strength, passion, and experiences I've gathering from Colombia. See you on the dancefloor!

Thank you XTNTA for this full interview and we can't wait for the set. Do you want to see her SCI debut in the flesh? Come to Deadtown 15 and be part of this experience.