Father Guilherme gained viral attention on social media for his performance at the Medusa Festival in Valencia, Spain. His notable moment involved a remix of the iconic Super Mario Bros theme.
In a post shared on the 10th of this month, Father Guilherme expressed, “Music, irreverence, gratitude, and great respect for everyone who made @medusa_festival happen.”
The remix received acclaim from both internet users and international media.
“Some believe we are placed on this earth to do God’s work,” states the American music blog, Stereogum. “If you’re a Portuguese priest and DJ Guilherme Peixoto, that work translates to a ‘bass drop’.”
The blog further describes Guilherme Peixoto as someone who “uses his DJ powers and experience as a clergyman to spread faith and love.”
British music magazine New Musical Express (NME) also covered the story “Viral DJ Priest remixes Super Mario Bros theme,” highlighting the Portuguese native from Guimarães.
Father DJ performed for an audience of approximately 150,000 people in Valencia, displaying humor and energy while mixing tracks including the Super Mario Bros theme, ‘Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door’ by Guns N’ Roses, and a rendition of ‘Give Peace a Chance’ by John Lennon.
The Medusa Festival ran from August 7 to 11 and featured acclaimed DJs like Afrojack, Hardwell, Alok, and Armin Van Buuren.
Father DJ began his online performances to raise funds for his church, entering the priesthood in 1999 but taking to music more seriously about twenty years later during the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when the world was confined at home, he streamed electronic music performances on social media, quickly gaining popularity especially among the youth.
This gave rise to the ‘Ar de Rock’ project in Laúndos, Póvoa do Varzim, blending electronic music with Catholicism.
In an interview last year, Father Guilherme explained, “Being a priest means being among people and helping them understand that they won’t lose their values just by going out at night.”
In 2023, Father DJ became a phenomenon in Portugal after he was invited to wake pilgrims with a morning set at the World Youth Day in Lisbon.
Father Guilherme Peixoto serves in Laúndos and Amorim, Póvoa de Varzim, and is a chaplain in the Portuguese Army as well as a priest in the Archdiocese of Braga.
