No Ego, Just Energy: GUDFELLA’s Raw Love for the Rave
At this year’s Shabang Music Festival in San Luis Obispo, the crowd pulsed with house-heavy energy, and few artists embodied that beat better than GUDFELLA. With roots in the Philippines, a past with future-bass, and a rising name in the house music scene, GUDFELLA gave us an inside look into his production journey and creative spirit.
The Road to Shabang
Leading up to Shabang, GUDFELLA was booked for an event in November of 2024. “That room of people was sick – I couldn’t wait to do an entire festival with the same group of people,” he said when asked his reaction to booking Shabang.
His set was anything but ordinary – layered with deep grooves and his signature vibe, it was punchy yet soulful. He states, “It was worth the hype, it was amazing!” and we couldn’t agree more. But GUDFELLA’s path to house music wasn’t direct.
A Future Bass Foundation
“I actually started in future bass,” he told us, “I was really into Louis the Child and Whethan. I wanted to make pop with an EDM [vibe].”
The pandemic years changed that. “Around 2020 or 2021, I shifted to house music and kind of just stayed on that since then.”
Now, his productions are increasingly collaborative, with his latest single “Pillowtalk,” a sleek, melodic cut with funk-disco DJ Yung Bae. The track blends shimmering synths with bouncy house rhythms, merging GUDFELLA’s underground touch with Yung Bae’s signature flair. “I’m super stoked about this one,” he smiled.
Cultural Currents and Budots Shoutout
Stemming from his origins in the Philippines, we wanted to touch base on Filipino sub-genres of EDM, and if he drew any inspiration from that. “There’s a rising genre called Budots back home,” he explained, “My ‘brother’ RamonPang is trying to push it in the American scene.”
GUDFELLA’s sound remains distinct from the Filipino EDM scene. His appreciation of the genre runs deep: “It sounds great, but it’s a wildly different genre from what I play.”
Renegades over the Mainstage
While GUDFELLA may be rising through the festival ranks, his heart still beats loudest in the underground. “Honestly, I think the renegades are where the true fans are,” he told us without hesitation. “Or any sort of afters – those are the spaces where the culture really lives.”
For him, house music isn’t about confetti drops or corporate sponsors – it’s about the connection. Raw, sweaty, no-frills connection. “Raves aren’t supposed to be ticketed events with guest lists and VIP lounges,” he said. “It’s really cool just going to a warehouse at 3 AM in Downtown LA. That’s where the real [scene] is.”
The lack of ego and rules, and the presence of purity in just the music, is what speaks to him. Renegade culture is unpredictable, and sometimes barely legal – but to GUDFELLA, and many others, it’s sacred.
From Frats to Big Collaborations: The Discolines Connection
A big part of his story is in relation to his long-standing friendship and frequent collaborations with Discolines. “We’ve known each other since junior year of high school,” he said. “We just chop it up until the music comes.” Their creative process is fluid, grounded in years of real-life connection.
Given their years of friendship, the two artists did not start producing together until well into their college years. “We were actually introduced [to producing] by a mutual friend when we were both in college, but we were doing the same thing, like DJing at our frats.”
They have since then taken their collaboration outside of the studio and onto the famous Sahara stage of Coachella. Discolines and GUDFELLA performed their hit song “Sunny” to a crowd of thousands at the Empire Polo Grounds – a venue that GUDFELLA dreams of seeing his name on the lineup.
The Heart of House Music
What keeps him rooted in the genre is something bigger than beats. “House music is all about being yourself, being free, being accepting, being a part of a bigger community,” he said. “The people you meet – they fan you, give you little trinkets. The whole welcoming message is why I’m into it so much. PLUR, baby!”
GUDFELLA is focused on growing his sound and connecting with people who really feel it. His love and passion for the genre, combined with his appreciation for the culture of the EDM scene is what is going to push him far.
With a deep-rooted love for the underground and a sound that keeps evolving, GUDFELLA isn’t just playing sets – he’s shaping moments, and the best is yet to come.