Colombian tech-house artist DJ Fronter has died aged 32
The DJ and producer had been due to perform with Paco Onsuna in Mexico City this weekend
The Colombian tech-house DJ Jhonatan Andres AKA DJ Fronter has died at the age of 32 from a reported fentanyl overdose in the States.
The tragedy has deeply saddened the electronic music community, with tributes pouring out from the likes of Blond:ish, Bondar and James Organ on the DJ's Instagram.
Jhonatan Andres, born on June 20, 1991, in Santiago de Cali, Columbia, was a leading figure in the South American tech-house scene. Beginning his production work in 2008, Andres has released on over 50 international labels including Stereo Productions, Toolroom, 1605 Music Therapy and Mindshake Records.
Characterised by its tribal, Latin percussion, these releases were supported from electronic music luminaries such as Richie Hawtin, Paco Osuna, Chus & Ceballos, Technasia, Mattias Tanzmann, DJ Sneak and Umek.
DJ Fronter in fact was due to perform alongside Paco Osuna in Mexico City this weekend, following standout gigs at venues such as Amnesia Ibiza, Club Space Miami, E1 and Bali's Red Ruby earlier this year.
Beyond a DJ and producer, Andres ran Orunmila Records, a digital label promoting DJs and producers from his home country, as well as the Undercolors imprint with DJ Koleto.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opiod that can be up to 50 times stronger than heroin and a 100 times stronger than morphine, according to the Riverside County district attorney.
Used to treat chronic and acute pain, fentanyl is usually prescribed for patients recovering from cancer treatment or surgery.
The drug, which is considerably cheap to make, is often mixed with heroin, cocaine and methamphetine or used in counterfeit pills posing as xanax or oxycodone.
The Riverside county DA says that fentanyl "has caused a staggering surge in deaths since 2016."
Tibor Heskett is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow him on Twitter