Squale’s Guestbook
DJ Squale, aka Matthew DePasquale, was born in St. Petersburg, FL in December of 1981. A fun-loving kid and class clown, he was always okay being the center of attention. In high school, his unique style earned him the nickname "Squale" — a shortened version of his last name. Doodling in class one day after hearing Prince turned his name into a symbol, Squale did the same — now Squale was a symbol!
Always a fan of EDM, his early club nights were spent crate-digging for the DJ. In 2016, while without a driver’s license, he ordered a Pioneer DDJ-SX2 and started DJing. But when no venue wanted to book an unknown with no experience, Squale did what any self-respecting DJ/raver would do… he threw his own party — an all-night art and music event called Lights Out!!!
Lights Out: A Music & Art Exhibition was a celebration of creativity without commercialism. Artists and vendors didn’t pay to be there — instead, they created UV-reactive works from crystals and jewelry to repurposed vinyl art and even live glassblowing. Each piece was auctioned off, with the money used to pay DJs and the venue. Entry was $10 general or $20 VIP, good for all night. Over 100 local ravers, DJs, and even DanceSafe attended — including promoters who usually threw their own events...
This show got Squale booked for his second gig, when the owner of Butt Hurt Records invited him to play their weekend campout, Wonderland — a now-legendary local party that started a partnership with the label. From Merr Bass to Club 704 in Harrisburg — where Squale soon earned a residency — he quickly became a fixture of the central PA and DMV EDM scene.
He co-hosted fundraisers, weekend campouts, underground house parties, and pop-up shows in Baltimore, D.C., and beyond. That momentum continued until COVID forced the scene indoors.
After the pandemic, Squale and the amazing Mrs. Squale headed west, eventually calling the Phoenix metro area home. Starting again at the Papago Park drum circles, he moved on to venues like Palo Verde Lounge (his fall favorite), High Score, Cobra Arcade Bar, The Afters 12, and The Fillmore. In 2024, he DJ’d for SluttPutt at Burning Man with the Walter Family and found his tribe in the local burner community.
Today, DJ Squale thrives on building and uplifting community through music. His aim? To bring people together, share the vibes, and keep the crowd moving. His shows aren’t just events — they’re experiences.
Catch you at an event near you very soon!
One Life. One Love. One World. 2gether!!!
DJ Squale Music