DJ W!LD
Named after Wild Style, inspired by Laurent Garnier, resident at Circoloco: the long career of French house DJ and Catwash co-founder DJ W!LD.
- French DJ and producer born Guillaume Duchastel de Montrouge, raised in Dijon.
- Co-founded Catwash Records with Chris Carrier in 2005; also runs the label W.
- Circoloco resident at DC10 in Ibiza and part of Sven Väth’s Cocoon family.
DJ W!LD has been playing house music for three decades, from the Paris clubs of the French touch years to DC10 in Ibiza. Ibiza Spotlight once summed up his sound as “deep, dark, acid, sexy house music”, and it has carried him through more than 300 released tracks.
From Dijon to Paris
Guillaume Duchastel de Montrouge grew up in Dijon, where he first went clubbing in the late 1980s. Hip-hop, graffiti and street culture came first; he took his name from the hip-hop film Wild Style. Then came Chicago and Detroit records, and Laurent Garnier, his early idol.
He moved to Paris in 1996 and played the Rex, the Palace and the Queen at the height of the French touch era. Gigs further afield followed: Twilo in New York, tours of Brazil and a residency at Fuse in Brussels. At one point he left Paris, disillusioned with the scene, spending time in New York and Brazil before coming home.
Catwash and W
His production work began around 2000 with an early collaboration with the Paris DJ Chris Carrier. The two set up Catwash Records in 2005, and Catwash as a duo brought him international recognition. He later launched W, which carries much of his recent material.
His records have also come out on Robsoul, 20/20 Vision, Rebellion, OFF Recordings, One Records, VIVa Music and Adult Only, among others. In the 1990s and 2000s he supplied music for Vivienne Westwood and Thierry Mugler catwalk shows. His debut album is called Palace.
Circoloco and Cocoon
In Ibiza, W!LD became a resident at Circoloco at DC10 and joined Sven Väth’s Cocoon family soon after. He has also played Sónar, Fabric and Panorama Bar. In 2012 he made his first trip to Australia, for a Circoloco Halloween party alongside Jamie Jones and Margaret Dygas. Talking to Beat magazine that year, he summed up his approach to bookings: “I never push to play somewhere, I like to wait for the right time.”
In the mix
W!LD’s tracks are made for long sets: rolling basslines, acid touches and grooves that sit between deep house and tech house. For more French house on the Ibiza circuit, read about Dan Ghenacia, and for the bigger picture, the history of French electronic music.
FAQ
Who is DJ W!LD?
A French house DJ and producer, born Guillaume Duchastel de Montrouge, who grew up in Dijon and moved to Paris in 1996.
Where does the name DJ W!LD come from?
From Wild Style, the hip-hop film. He grew up on hip-hop and graffiti before turning to house music.
What is Catwash?
His partnership with Paris DJ Chris Carrier. The two set up Catwash Records in 2005.
