INTRODUCTION

Joel Monteiro, widely recognized as Hozho, is an electronic music producer and DJ from Portugal. With millions of streams across multiple platforms, Hozho achieved what few artists can: capture the world’s attention and build a loyal fanbase with his own unique signature sound – Melodark – that takes anyone who listens to him on an unforgettable journey.

Known for his iconic plague doctor mask and captivating performances, Hozho’s mastery is to turn every creation into a story, making him one of the most innovative figures in the electronic music scene.

EARLY LIFE

Joel Monteiro was born in 1993 in Viseu, a small city in Portugal, and spent much of his childhood in a nearby village called Rebordinho. Inspired by his older brother’s taste, Joel grew up listening to bands like Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit and System Of A Down, which continue to influence him to this day.

In 2009, at age 16, Joel took bass guitar lessons and joined a band with friends, playing covers of popular rock and metal songs. After a few live performances, he realized his passion lay in creating original music.

In 2011, Joel went to the University of Aveiro to study Psychology, a topic he deeply admired. Around this time, a friend introduced him to FL Studio, igniting his passion for music production. This newfound tool allowed Joel to create his own compositions, starting with hip-hop beats before exploring electronic music, particularly drum and bass, a popular genre in Portugal at the time. Under the name Sicko(LOG), Joel started sharing his music on SoundCloud.

By 2014, Joel had discovered minimal techno and its melodic subgenres. This pivotal moment marked the birth of Hozho, as he began crafting his first minimal techno tracks and developing his signature style.

CAREER

2015-2017: The Early Years (First Releases and Beyond The Horizon)

Hozho debuted his first official track – The Clock – in October 2015, followed by EPs like Silent (2016), Twists and Turns (2016) and 898 (2017). During this time, his DJ Mix 01 and 02 gained significant visibility on YouTube, building a solid fanbase.

In 2017, he released Beyond The Horizon, an album created in collaboration with Brazilian producer Black Hertz, which laid the foundation for his Melodark genre. This year also marked his first live performances in Portugal and internationally, including Spain and Argentina.

2018-2019: The Rise of Melodark (Be The Best & Fuck The Rest, DJ Mix 03 and Yin Yang)

In 2018, Hozho refined his musical identity, diversifying the rising producer from the pack, coining the term Melodark to describe his genre. His EP Be The Best & Fuck The Rest (2018) and his first solo album Yin Yang (2019) catapulted him to international fame.

The release of DJ Mix 03 on YouTube further amplified his popularity, accumulating over 10 million views. During this period, Hozho started touring internationally more often, performing in countries like Czech Republic, Mauritius, India, Turkey and Russia. His sets stood out not only for the music but also for the emotional connection he created with the audience.

2020-2021: The Pandemic (Singles and Quarantine Mixes)

While the COVID-19 pandemic halted live shows, it gave Hozho the opportunity to innovate, releasing the single Time To Move On (2020) and starting a new stage in his career, with a change of concept, mask and outfit. This was followed by the singles Full Measures (2020) and Something Else (2021), which became some of his most-streamed tracks, helping to keep Hozho’s notoriety during the pandemic.

During lockdowns, he recorded his popular Quarantine Mixes, with the third mix, recorded in an old sanatorium in Portugal, gaining the most visibility and featuring Hozho’s biggest hit, Honey Trap.

2022-Present: A Worldwide Phenomenon (Honey Trap, Troubles in Paradise EP and upcoming second solo album)

By 2022, Hozho was performing at major festivals and venues worldwide, and after the big hit Honey Trap (2022), his popularity was now undeniable. This was followed by several successful releases like Troubles in Paradise EP (2022), the collaboration single Sitting In This Cage with Droplex (2022), the single Endure and Survive (2023) and Psyche EP in collaboration with Black Hertz and featuring Mandragora (2023).

In 2024, after a brief hiatus to work on his upcoming album Psychological Issues, Hozho resumed touring and released singles like Cherophobia, Adderall and Menace.

His live sets, characterized by cinematic storytelling (see DJ Mix 04) and powerful visuals (see Volkswagen Arena, Istanbul – Full Set), solidified his reputation as a groundbreaking artist.

“Hozho’s journey is a testament to the power of authenticity and innovation in the music industry. With his ever-evolving artistry, he continues to captivate audiences worldwide, solidifying his legacy as the pioneer of Melodark.” – Mixmag

THE CREATOR OF MELODARK

Melodark is more than just a genre. Since its creation, it has become an artistic movement with an emotional, motivational and overcoming message. Hozho describes it as a lifestyle and a philosophy.

Musically speaking, Melodark is characterized by the symbiotic contrast between the beautiful melodies (melo) and the darkness surrounding the synths and basslines (dark), combining hypnotic sounds with a melancholic and cinematic atmosphere, often based on a minimal techno beat. Melodark takes listeners on a journey through emotional and introspective soundscapes, while still maintaining the rhythmic and danceable elements of electronic music.

Melodark’s main goal is to tell a story, whether it’s over the course of a song or a set. Where many electronic producers get lost in the loopiness of lengthier beats, Hozho feels at home there. Each tune is a journey in its own right, courting the listener through the enchanted Melodark forest of the Portuguese producer’s sonic envoy, where most of his songs are longer than 7 minutes.

Hozho’s commitment to storytelling extends to his visual identity. From cover arts to music videos and DJ sets, every detail reflects the Melodark philosophy, connecting deeply with fans and transcending the boundaries of conventional electronic music.

THE PLAGUE DOCTOR MASK

Joel recalls a time when he was playing Assassin’s Creed II. In that game, when the main character is running out of life, he has to visit the doctors who wore a plague doctor mask. Knowing that the game was inspired by real events, Joel decided to do more research. As he says:

“Back in the days, the plague was caused by evil spirits, said a theory. To scare the spirits away, the mask was intentionally designed to be creepy. When I play, I use the mask to scare away all the bad energies and problems that people have, whether on the dance floor or in their lives.”

Hozho updates his mask occasionally to reflect his artistic evolution. It contributes to the concept of contrast, which is often found within Hozho’s work like his first solo album Yin Yang. This mask creates a visual contrast between an emotionless exterior and deeply emotional feelings expressed through his music. As he states:

“When I step up on stage with my mask and start my musical journey, the crowd can’t see my emotions, but they can feel them, and that’s what matters most to me.”

The mask also serves to separate the artist from the individual, allowing listeners to focus on the music and its message rather than his personal identity.

CURIOSITIES

• Hozho has been featured on the cover of some electronic music magazines like Mixmag and FAZEmag
• Hozho’s DJ sets often include unreleased tracks, giving fans an exclusive experience
• Joel currently lives in Aveiro (Portugal)
• In the Navajo language, the word Hozho represents a state of balance, beauty, and order within the world – a philosophy that Joel takes very seriously when it comes to his personal life and his career as an artist
• Joel is multilingual, fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish
• Joel has a degree in Psychology
• Joel said in an interview that if he weren’t a music artist, he probably would be a stand-up comedian
• Joel occasionally plays tennis and enjoys swimming
• One of his future goals is to get into the cinema and TV industry to compose soundtracks, following the footsteps of his biggest influences, names like Hans Zimmer, Gustavo Santaolalla and Ludovico Einaudi
• Joel has a tattoo on his left arm with the theme of his favourite TV series Breaking Bad, which inspired him to create one of Hozho’s best-known tracks – Für Heisenberg. His favorite movie is Fight Club
• Although he produces electronic music, Joel doesn’t listen to that genre, seeking inspiration in other music genres like movie soundtracks and nü metal

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“If you’re going to try, go all the way.”