Introducing.... Sofia Kourtesis

When Sofia Kourtesis tries to describe Dr Peter Vajkoczy, the man who partly inspired her debut album, Madres, her mind darts across vintage sci-fi films. “He’s like a character in Cocoon, that 80s film, but he also has that force of Obi-Wan, and even a bit like ET,” she laughs. “He is so humble but has so much humanity. He is like an alien, from another world.”

Kourtesis’ unexpected pastiche of references gives a fair idea of the eclectic sonic journey that Madres encompasses. She weaves field recordings from her native Peru with an airy house production direct from Funkhaus, a venue she considers a ‘second home’ in Berlin, where she lives. She even enlisted Funkhaus peers to add their own production elements to the album, layering Kourtesis’ spectacularly imaginative effort with Berlin polish. “I always say ‘my heart is Latin, but my motor is German,’” she explains. “The romanticism is all Peru, but the bassline is Berlin. It’s techno, house, and the drums are all very German. It’s a combination of my two homes that I love with all my heart.”

Madres is a particularly personal effort. The song ‘Vajkoczy’ builds transcendental techno synths onto a danceable house beat, conveying positivity inspired by a challenging saga in Kourtesis’ life. Her mother had been given a bleak cancer prognosis in Latin America and Kourtesis was desperate for help. She soon found out that Dr Vajkoczy was one of the world’s most renowned brain surgeons and launched a social media campaign to get his attention, dedicating a track to the doctor if he could help. She’d just lost her father in 2021 and refused to give up hope on her mother. Amazingly, Vajkoczy not only replied but operated on her mother, undoubtedly extending her life. “No one wanted to operate on her brain in Latin America,” says Kourtesis. “I said, ‘No, I just lost my father, I’m not going to let destiny take her.’” Following the operation, Kourtesis was able to bring her mother to Germany. “I try to enjoy all the time I have with her, I have hope,” she beams. “We are trying to have a beautiful time together.”

Motherhood is the overarching theme of the album – but Kourtesis is quick to point out her own definition of the term: “The love of a mother does not have a gender, it’s a feeling that surpasses gender and it’s universal, it is something divine.” The title-track opens Madres with searing synth underscored by a funky bass note. The echoing, soft vocals loop and fade in, repeating one line: ‘niño que estas ahí, vuelve a la casa’ (child over there, come back home). “It’s a song dedicated to the force of a mother’s love, to welcome you home,” she says.

Madres was written in both Peru and Germany. As with previous work, Kourtesis interweaves musical elements from Peru with an emphasis on socio-political aspects, highlighting the plight of marginalised communities. ‘El Carmen’ uses field recordings she took during visits to Afro-Peruvian communities who showed her their traditional cajón percussion style. The Manu Chao-sampled ‘Estación Esperanza’ opens with a chant of a protest for LGBTQ+ rights in a notoriously conservative and homophobic society. Kourtesis, who identifies as queer, says she “has a responsibility” to support her community. “They are on the streets fighting for something, the minimum I can do is try to tell what is happening through my music,” she says. “It’s beautiful to support people with a big heart.”

Kourtesis blends musical elements from Peru and Germany as deftly as she mixes emotions of melancholy and happiness. Overall, it’s a touchingly poignant ride that conveys optimism above all: “In moments when everything is bad and hard, it’s important to have hope, to go forward, with your family, with everything.”

This article originally appeared in the December 2023 issue of Songlines. Never miss an issue – subscribe today