Years before zpectrum was even an idea, before knowing what clubs or edits were, Benja’s fascination with electronic music began as a curious kid in the 2000s, illuminated by the glow of a screen: immersed in the electric soundtracks of his favorite video games and stumbling upon trance music on obscure satellite TV channels. With a metalhead dad and no connection to club culture at all, his relationship with the futuristic music he was discovering was incredibly persona. When finally armed with a dial-up internet connection and a long-awaited iPod, he began downloading tracks, chasing sounds across forums and blogs, and piecing together a sonic identity from the virtual worlds he spent his days in. Eventually, Benja found his way to FL Studio and, realizing he could actually make music himself, started his journey as a producer. In 2012, he composed his first work as zpectrum: a complextro album—an ambitious and technically intricate debut for someone still deep in their formative years. Over the next seven years, zpectrum taught himself through experimentation, drifting between ideas and genres. He drew inspiration from the harder American EDM wave that was peaking at the time before gradually circling back to the trance, techno, and club-focused sounds that had shaped his earliest fascinations. By 2019, after mostly sharing his music with an online community of like-minded producers on SoundCloud, zpectrum decided to fully dedicate his life to music: He dropped out of college and launched Bestiario, a label aimed at injecting variety into Lima’s predominantly house-focused scene. His debut pandemic-themed techno album found its way onto HATE’s YouTube channel, introducing his music to a wider, international audience. But it was the BOOTLEGZ series, launched in 2021, that truly put him on the underground club map. A series blending Y2K pop and rap nostalgia (Vol. 1 & 2), reimaginings of iconic electronic tracks (Vol. 3), queer icon homages (Vol. 4), and old-school merengue, bachata, and reggaeton (Vol. 5) resonated with listeners worldwide. These reworked versions of tracks that had been a constant presence in his upbringing found their way to heavyweight DJs like VTSS, I Hate Models, and Salome, as well as scene tastemakers like Kris Baha and David Löhlein, on worlwide platforms such as HÖR and Boiler Room—showcasing the adaptability and infectious energy of zpectrum’s productions. zpectrum also began making a name for himself as a DJ in Lima’s underground scene, becoming known for his versatile and boundary-pushing sets. Whether delivering fusions of hard dance music in underground warehouse raves or on the Resistance stage at Ultra, his performances consistently innovate. By refusing to be confined to a single sound and digging deep for underground internet gems, zpectrum has built a reputation for unpredictability, his sets as much a journey through genre as they are a showcase of raw energy. This adaptability has earned him a place in Lima’s nightlife and the chance to share stages with world-known DJs including Amelie Lens, I Hate Models, 999999999, Fatima Hajji, and Patrick Mason. As zpectrum’s music gained recognition, it became clear that his vision extended far beyond the dancefloor. His alias draws from the concept of sound and music as a ghost—present yet invisible, emerging from within the machine as if it had a life of its own. His aesthetic, his name, and his sound all pay homage to the sights and sounds that first sparked his imagination: acid trance blasting through post-apocalyptic landscapes in Hot Wheels Racing or hoverboarding through ancient Babylonian ruins at 160 BPM in Sonic Riders. That fusion of movement, emotion, and timeless nostalgia still defines his music today, both physical and cerebral: designed to make you dance as much as it makes you dream. With this same vision and a drive to share it with others, zpectrum launched CLUB SP33D, his internet label for building community through music, connecting international artists and elevating emerging sounds, incorporating his own visual language and design as an integral part of the label.