TRRRMOTO: An Unapologetic Human Rhythm

In Milan—a city where nightlife often feels like a moodboard of restraint—TRRRMOTO arrives as a rupture. It doesn’t ask for permission; it sweats and takes up space. Born from what its founders Valerio and Sofia describe as an “organic desire,” the collective reclaims reggaeton through a queer and Latin lens. Here, the dancefloor refuses to flatten difference, becoming a field of expression and freedom. TRRRMOTO isn’t about being liked—it’s about being alive, and letting that aliveness become contagious.
“Not Here To Be Liked,” the motto that now frames their partnership with Nike through the Shox Z, isn’t defiance for its own sake. It’s a form of creative authorship—an attitude that replaces approval with self-expression, and performance with truth. For Sofia, it means “stopping auditioning for rooms you’ve already outgrown”; for Valerio, it’s about doing what didn’t exist before. Around them, a community of artists, DJs, and lovers gathers, building a world that redefines the whole meaning of connection. Together with Nike, they brought this energy to Bocciofila Martesana, transforming a symbol of tradition into a site of collision, where the past met a new, unapologetic, human rhythm.

Valerio Farris and Sofia Quintero
Founders of TRRRMOTO
Why did TRRRMOTO need to exist? What gap did you see in Milan’s nightlife and culture?
VF SQ

We created TRRRMOTO out of an organic desire. It was born from a real drive to go somewhere and dance to music we liked with people we wanted to be around. Having both lived in different cities across Europe, in places like Berlin, Barcelona, London, and Stockholm, we had a high standard for what a night out could look like: diverse options with a wide music selection, fun, unexpected venues and a queer community that felt nuanced and multifaceted. We’re both huge fans of reggaeton and other styles of Latin electronic music. We just felt like the kind of freedom, abandon, movement, and silliness that music provokes was missing from Milan’s dominant nightlife scene, which tends to lean towards a kind of sterilised techno or intellectual graphic design bro aesthetics (oops!). We wanted to really celebrate people who played music from across all of Central and South America and experimented with it in ways that didn’t feel too serious but could guarantee a sweaty, sexy night out.
⁠What defines you as a collective? What makes you stand out?
VF SQ

First and foremost, it’s about our talent. It’s a must for us to work with artists, performers, DJs and creatives who have connections to Latin American music and culture, who are all expanding the boundaries and experimenting with what’s considered “Latin music” on a global scale—performers like Six Sex, Toccororo, and Manuka Honey. The sound that people can expect from our events is a core element of the experience, especially as it’s been developed by our two Milanese residents, Gs.elle and Amazon, who play at almost every event we organise. Aside from just the music, though, we’ve worked really hard to make the events feel like more like cultural programming rather than straight up dance parties, whether that’s staging a live dance performance, installing a fashion presentation with Gerrit Jacob’s clothes suspended from the ceiling, building a mock soccer field on the roof of a club or inviting a food truck to serve pupusas in the smoking area, people never quite know what they’re going to get at TRRRMOTO, and we like to keep it that way. Our community is another defining feature of our events. We have a really vibrant and loving community that sees TRRRMOTO as one of the few spaces in the city to gather, look hot and be together. It’s a place for exploration but also extreme connection. Some nights feel like huge family reunions, and we’re so proud of the crowd that gathers around our events. It’s a real mix of artists, immigrants, creatives, the queer crowd and people with Latin American heritage. At the end of the day, we really like to keep it silly. If you look at our communications, we try to inject everything we do with a playful sensibility that we’ve always thought nightlife in Milan could really benefit from.
What does it mean to create culture (not just events)? What does cultural risk mean to you?
VF SQ

We’ve always understood TRRRMOTO as a platform. As two people with a background in the creative industry, we’ve wanted to use our expertise to create spaces where other artists can be heard better, louder and by a bigger audience. For us, it’s about creating spaces where culture can come to life and then letting the artists do their thing. We like to shape the experience or help communicate it to a wider audience, inserting our cheeky tone when we can, but it’s ultimately really about letting our collaborators speak.

Lina Giselle
DJ and Creative
TRRRMOTO Community
How do you express yourself?
LG

I express myself through my aura—it’s in how I move, how I react, how I create, how I connect with people. I always keep it real. My energy says a lot before I even have to.
What moves you?
LG

Community, love, music, food, art, and just being able to experience new things. Anything that makes me feel alive and connected.
Do you feel seen? What do you think people see?
LG

I mean, my face is full of freckles, of course I feel seen (lol). But seriously, most of the time, yes, I do feel seen. Being a DJ, content creator, and model puts me out there, and I think people often see me as this super strong person—which I am—but I’m also very emotional and sensitive. There’s a soft side behind that girl boss profile!
What does it mean to be here “not to be liked”?
LG

It means being yourself unapologetically. Embracing every side of you and showing up in the world with confidence, even when it makes you or others a bit uncomfortable. Basically… embrace the cringe!!!
Do you dance to belong or to stand out?
LG

Definitely to belong. But also, dancing for me is a way to cope, to release, to heal, to connect with myself and with others. It’s how I free my mind and body from everything life throws at me.
⁠What shocks you in others? What shocks you in yourself?
LG

What shocks me in others is how some people can always see the glass half full. I really admire that kind of mindset, being able to stay positive, in a healthy way, no matter what. What shocks me in myself is how I can go from doubting everything I’m doing to completely owning the moment. That switch-up always surprises me, in the best way possible, and it’s what keeps me going.

Miriam Fahim
Brand & Creative Strategist
TRRRMOTO Community
How do you express yourself?
MF

Through movement, storytelling, and connection. I express myself by creating spaces, whether physical or emotional, where people feel seen and represented.
What moves you?
MF

Energy, honesty, and people who create with purpose. I’m moved by small acts of courage when someone chooses to show up fully as themselves.
Do you feel seen? What do you think people see?
MF

Sometimes yes, sometimes not at all. I think people often see the composed version of me, the one who knows what she’s doing. But underneath, there’s a lot of doubt, reflection, and constant search for meaning.
What does it mean to be here “not to be liked”?
MF

It means showing up without asking for permission. Doing things that feel true, even when they don’t fit expectations. It’s about being grounded in your own rhythm, not someone else’s approval.
Do you dance to belong or to stand out?
MF

To belong: to the music, to myself, to the moment. When it’s real, standing out just happens naturally.
What shocks you in others? What shocks you in yourself?
MF

In others: apathy. In myself: how much I still care, even when I try not to.

Sebastián Ascencio
Stylist and Designer
TRRRMOTO Community
How do you express yourself?
SA

Mainly through how I dress. Every day, I choose what to wear based on how I feel, what I want to communicate, or the character I want to embody. Music influences that a lot—what I’m listening to becomes part of how I show up. Sometimes it’s a film or an image, but music is usually the trigger. Fashion in general is my language: styling, designing clothes, putting looks together. It’s how I express my internal world, and sometimes statements about social or cultural things I care about.
What moves you?
SA

I’m moved by authentic expressions of the self—words, lyrics, images that communicate things we can’t easily explain. I’m very drawn to work about love and self-discovery, but also time, identity and family. Additionally, I’m interested in what I call “ugliness”—not literally, but something that provokes, pushes a boundary and refuses conventional beauty. I feel like we’ve already seen the classic idea of beauty: I want to understand what comes after that.
Do you feel seen? What do you think people see?
SA

I do feel seen—by my friends, my community, and through my work. I try to keep conversations relevant, and I think that’s part of how I’m perceived. Coming from another country, being seen hasn’t always been automatic. Sometimes trust takes time. But I think people see creativity in me, a different point of view, resilience, and a strong will to make things happen.
What does it mean to be here “not to be liked”?
SA

For me, it means not trying to fit into an existing mould, but creating a new one. Like I said with “ugliness,” not everyone needs to like what you do—but some people will connect deeply with it. It’s about staying authentic, doing what feels true, connecting with the people who resonate, and shaping the world you want to see.
Do you dance to belong or to stand out?
SA

I don’t dance to stand out. I don’t think of myself as a big dancer. I dance to express myself, release energy, unapologetically occupy space, and belong. It’s both individual and collective: I move because I need to, but also to connect with others, to feel part of something larger than myself.
What shocks you in others? What shocks you in yourself?
SA

I’m shocked—in a good way—by the way some people carry themselves: through politics, aesthetics, choices, and everything they’ve overcome to be who they are. And I’m shocked by myself for the same reason. Moving to a new country, adapting to a new culture and language: it’s been a process of self-discovery. What stays with me is the will to keep going. Not to “conquer” in an aggressive sense, but to affect the spaces I’m in, touch people, and create connections.

Xheni Balliu
Photographer and Writer
TRRRMOTO Community
How do you express yourself?
XB

I express myself through writing about my feelings, daily experiences, and the interpersonal dynamics in my life. I also spend a lot of time taking analogue photos of the people and scenes around me that make life feel real and special—the kind of moments that are best left raw, without editing. I curate what I wear and the way I move through space to reflect what I believe in and who I am, aligning myself with designers whose work challenges their context through unexpected silhouettes and patterns.
What moves you?
XB

I’m moved by the sweetness of others and the documentation of humanity and life through literature, cinema, photography, and human interaction. It moves me to see people dancing with music serving as a means to translate their essence into existence. I think taking moments to watch people reminds us of the world we share together and that we are here to witness life.
Do you feel seen? What do you think people see?
XB

I don’t think I’m someone who immediately catches people’s eye—I feel more like my presence grows on people. It takes time to be able to see me. But once it finally happens, I hope to be seen as a compassionate person, maybe a little silly, but always present. I do feel seen by the people who mean the most to me in a very honest way because I think it’s hard for me to hide how I feel (I have a very expressive and telling face).
What does it mean to be here “not to be liked”?
XB

To me, “Not Here To Be Liked” is about showing up as your genuine self whether or not people like it. It’s about walking through the world with honesty—showing yourself as you are.
Do you dance to belong or to stand out?
XB

It takes me a while to get comfortable in a space when I dance, but when I do manage to let go and release. I dance to feel the moment, the music and the energy of the people around me. I think the context affects a lot my ability to truly dance and be myself.
⁠What shocks you in others? What shocks you in yourself?
XB

I think what shocks me most in others is the parts of them that feel the most personal, true and special. I love hearing about the strange little things that inspire people and that make them unique. Regarding myself, I’d say it is my ability to challenge myself even when I shouldn’t, so I can grow and learn.