REWARDS starts with a simple idea from Rafa Barrios. After years of releasing tracks, touring, and growing as a producer, he wanted a place that felt personal. Not another label with a logo and a release schedule, but something tied to real relationships. The kind that come from long studio nights, early flights, and clubs where the crowd leans in instead of just filming.
This new imprint launches while his year is already moving fast. His single “Midnight” climbed to number 13 on Beatport, he returned to Club Space in Miami twice this year, and he spent the summer inside booths at Hï Ibiza and Amnesia. At the end of October, his new track will drop on Nicole Moudaber’s Mood. But none of that slowed him down from building something new. REWARDS is where he puts the ideas that feel raw, young, and in motion.
The label is already taking shape. Releases, a visual identity, fashion collaborations, showcases, and a roster of new artists he wants to support from the ground up. It feels less like a brand and more like a home he wished existed when he was starting. With his next Space Miami set locked in for November 28, this launch arrives at the right moment.
He ws king enough to sit down to talk about his vision for the label and the moves and mindsets that make now the perfect time to start this new project.
How do you plan to differentiate REWARDS from the many independent labels in the scene right now?
With REWARDS I want to build more than a label. I’m creating a brand with a strong visual identity, fashion projects, our own events, and a real community of emerging artists.
It’s about building an ecosystem where young artists can grow, feel supported, and know there’s someone behind it who’s been through the same process and wants to help them move forward.
You’ve built a strong foundation with REWARDS, but you’re also continuing to release on respected labels. How do you decide which ideas belong on your own imprint versus when to collaborate with labels like MOOD?
When a track has that fresh, youthful energy that matches the REWARDS spirit, I keep it for my own label. But there are productions with a different character or concept that fit perfectly with other labels like MOOD.
It’s all about balance — keeping my creative space while collaborating with other labels I respect and that continue to inspire me.
Your upcoming release on Nicole Moudaber’s label marks another milestone. How did that relationship start?
Nicole and I connected right away. She had been supporting my music for a while, and through mutual friends we started talking directly. I sent her some demos, and she immediately connected with one of them.
From there, everything happened very naturally — built on mutual respect and a similar vision of tech house.
What drew you to MOOD for this release?
I’ve always liked how MOOD combines power and elegance. It’s a label with a strong identity where every release has a message and a clear artistic direction. I felt this track perfectly fit their sound — dark, groovy, and emotional at the same time.
Looking back on your career so far, what moment felt like a real turning point for you?
When I started playing outside of Spain and saw people from different countries connecting with my music — that was a key moment. It made me realize my sound could travel and reach people from different cultures.
That experience changed my mindset completely. And now, with REWARDS, I feel like I’m starting a new chapter — more mature, but with the same excitement to help others build their own path.
The post Inside REWARDS: Rafa Barrios on Mentorship, Music, and New Beginnings appeared first on Magnetic Magazine.