Bebbo on 'Conga,' Guatemala's Underground, and Industry Pressure

From Deadmau5 Inspiration to Armada Music

Bebbo has just released Conga on Armada Music, a modern dancefloor rework of the classic track made in collaboration with D. Lacrux. The Guatemalan producer is working to elevate his country's underground scene while navigating the pressures of an industry he feels has drifted away from the music itself.

The producer traces his path back to a deadmau5 performance in New York, a night he describes as very special. That show revealed how powerfully a DJ could move a crowd and set him on his current trajectory. If he could speak to his younger self in that moment, he would tell him to follow his dreams, work hard, and believe in himself.

Reimagining a Classic and Reading the Crowd

With Conga, Bebbo and D. Lacrux set out to bring back a classic with a modern groove and energy, giving it new life at parties. The producer emphasizes the importance of knowing when a track should be remade. Some tracks are too good to touch, but others need to be brought back, especially with a dancefloor version.

His approach to DJing is equally intuitive. He can often sense what a crowd wants before starting his set, watching the DJ before him play. Once he feels he is in control of the crowd, he takes them on a journey with his music selection. For Bebbo, the connection between DJ and audience through music is what makes people lose control on the dancefloor.

Guatemala's Scene and Industry Critique

Guatemala has a small but dedicated underground dance scene. People really enjoy going out, listening to good music, dancing and having fun, and the country has some cool venues. Bebbo has played sets in extraordinary outdoor locations in Guatemala, including dramatic volcanic landscapes, and says the location influences the music he plays for each set. He likes his sets to tell stories, and every venue or location has its own energy.

While Bebbo's sound has evolved through many different stages and he maintains an open taste in music, his passport would currently be stamped with house music all over. But he is critical of where the industry has headed. He feels it has become less about the music and ability to play good sets and more about the numbers and social media, and he wishes it would go back to being all about the music.

Bebbo has a new release titled Say Less and a Miami residency on the way. His project name comes from his childhood nickname, and he has deliberately kept his personality aligned with his music and the energy of his sets.