DJ Waldo Squash

Origin

Muaná, PA

Also known as

Josivaldo de Souza Pinto

Genres

tecnobrega, eletromelody, música eletrônica, carimbó, techno, house, cumbia, samba, pagode, drum and bass, eletrodance, tecnodance, brega, guitarrada

Instruments

sintetizador, sampler, drum machine, sequenciador

Biography

Josivaldo de Souza Pinto, artistically known as DJ Waldo Squash, is a Brazilian DJ, producer, and composer who emerged from the vibrant tecnobrega scene of Belém, Pará. Born in Muaná, Pará, in 1979, he was raised in Ananindeua and later moved to Barcarena. His musical journey began early, influenced by his father's passion for music and sound systems, a common presence in the culture of Pará. Waldo initially worked as an industrial mechanic before dedicating himself fully to music.

His musical career led him to collaborate with Maderito, forming the duo DJ Waldo Squash and Maderito Alucinado. Waldo Squash is credited with innovating the eletromelody style, an evolution of tecnobrega that incorporates elements of dance electronic music. This sound, however, generated controversy, with authorities in Belém even banning his music at parties due to alleged incidents of violence. For a period, he stepped away from music and even worked as a mechanic in Rondônia. During this time, he also had a brief association with the group Tecnoshow, which included Gaby Amarantos.

Later, Waldo Squash became a central figure in Gang do Eletro, a group that fuses electronic music with carimbó and tecnobrega, and resumed his collaboration with Gaby Amarantos. With Gang do Eletro, he performed at renowned festivals such as Terruá Pará, Rec Beat, and Sónar. His production work includes a significant contribution to Gaby Amarantos's 2012 album "Treme," which earned him critical recognition as one of the most creative electronic music producers in Brazil. He has also remixed international artists such as Pet Shop Boys, demonstrating the global reach of his innovative sound.