simon wayland
Montréal
From underground dance floors to global festival stages, GUAPO has built a solid reputation as a DJ, atmospheric guitarist and producer who thrives on the unexpected. With festival appearances spanning three continents, including Glastonbury (UK) and Telerama Dub Festival (Paris), his electrifying sets have earned him international recognition.
His DJ mixes regularly chart in the global TOP 5 on Mixcloud, cementing a place in the world of Bass Music DJ's. GUAPO’s résumé boasts collaborations with Grammy Award winners like Youth (Killing Joke, The Orb) and Juno Award winners like Alpha Yaya Diallo. As a Composer he was nominated for a Jutra Award for Best Film Score.
As DJ & Music Coordinator for fashion icon Jean Paul Gaultier’s PINKARNAVAL and Cirque Du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté's TERRAKARNAVAL, he played to crowds of over 15,000 spectators, fusing music and fashion into an unforgettable spectacle.
As a producer & guitarist, he contributed to multiple albums by UK world-beat pioneers SUNS OF ARQA, blending global dub grooves, classical Indian Raga and cutting-edge electronic production.
As a co-founder of the Flamingo Funk crew, he’s shared the stage with Bass Music legends, closing after breakbeat heavyweight Krafty Kuts and Swing N Bass founder Mista Trick. Combined with his explosive festival-closing sets at Tribunion Boreal, Khumeia Festival, and the Buissonnière Stage at Good Vibes Festival, he is building a solid reputation as a closer.
In his hometown of Montreal, GUAPO has performed at some of the city's biggest events, including Montreal Jazz Fest, Bal en Blanc, Just For Laughs, Lumifest, Eclipse, Timeless, Groove & Bass, and marquee venues like Olympic Stadium, Rialto, Metropolis, Place Des Festivals and the Satosphere Dome.
Guapo brings his genre-blending sound to the airwaves with two monthly radio shows. He’s a resident on CKUT 90.3 FM’s The Magic Roundabout, founded by influential Montreal DJ Andy Williams. The first Sunday of every month Guapo drops the latest in underground Bass Music sounds.
Whereas on LaFaceB, he co-hosts Y Fait Chaud, offering monthly mixes that explore Afro Latin Brazilian House rhythms. Previously, he hosted the world music show Global Grooves and co-hosted Pépites, showcasing bass-driven sounds.
Musically, GUAPO is a sonic shapeshifter—his Bass Music sets are a wild tribute to sample culture, weaving together anthems from Funk, Soul, Blues, Reggae, Rock, Latin, Brazilian, Disco, Metal, Swing, and Hip-Hop. These classic sounds are chopped, glitched, and remixed into futuristic forms like Glitch Hop, Ghetto Funk, Bass House, UK Garage, DnB, Jungle, and Swing & Bass.
But what sets GUAPO apart is his electric stage presence. A natural showman, he thrives on crowd interaction, fueling a high-energy atmosphere that turns dance floors into full-blown frenzies of absurd, anarchic fun. His performances are a wild experience, driven by badass bass from the bowels of Hell !
While his main focus these days is Bass Music, Guapo is versatile in other genres.
His HOUSE MUSIC sets are a seamless fusion of tribal percussion, AfroBeat Funk, Latin sophistication and Brazilian sensuality, expertly layered with soulful House and funky Electro.
In his WORLD MUSIC sets, he weaves a tapestry of sounds from India, the Middle East, the Maghreb and Anatolia, melding them with the resonant vibrations of Dub, Downtempo, Breakbeat, and Deep House. Taking listeners on a journey across continents and cultures.
His DOWNTEMPO performances are an eclectic blend of Jazz, Soul, Reggae, Brazilian-Latin Lounge, and Hip Hop, infused with the melancholy atmospheric textures of Chillstep, Trip Hop and Synth Pop. Offering a laid-back experience that hits you right in the feels.
Guapo’s tracks
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