Luis Cantalapiedra is one of the finest examples of coherence, creativity, consistency, and personality that electronic music in Spain has produced. Known artistically as DJ Muerto and Arcanoid, he is a veteran of the national scene whose career spans more than three decades, from his beginnings in the late 1980s to the present day.
From 1993 until the end of the decade, he was a resident DJ and promoter at the legendary Voltereta club (Madrid, Spain), writing one of the first chapters in the history of Spanish techno. His sets were defined by deep explorations of techno and drum’n’bass, as well as soulful and broken-beat variations, during one of the most fertile periods of the Madrid scene.
He was also part of the Dark Archives Collective, and alongside Óscar Mulero, Pitch and Focus, he co-founded the Altered State sessions — seminal drum’n’bass events that introduced an entirely new sonic language to Madrid and marked a whole generation.
All this experimentation and creative effervescence soon led him to perform at one of the earliest editions of Sónar Festival, placing his name on an international stage from very early in his career.
From the 2000s onward, he developed his production project as Arcanoid, exploring sound territories ranging from abstract techno to experimental electronics. He has released on international labels such as Detroit Underground, Semantica Records, Transhuman Records and Caustica Waveform, in addition to publishing on his own imprint Odio Records.
With Odio Records, founded in 2015, he consolidated a personal space for releasing music in his preferred format: vinyl, to which he remains fully committed. His discography reflects a dedication to the materiality of music and to a tradition that blends underground culture with experimentation.
Throughout his career, Luis has performed at countless clubs and festivals both in Spain and abroad. His current DJ sets and live shows are presented under the Arcanoid name: the DJ sets stand out on platforms such as Captcha TV, where his musical taste and finesse are fully on display; while the live shows find their home at cutting-edge festivals such as Sónar, Mugako, Celobert Festival and LEV Festival, where he presented his piece Arcanoid: Ecosistema.
In the 90s, his sessions moved fluidly between techno, drum’n’bass, soulful and broken beats. Today, as Arcanoid, he explores territories where glitch, braindance, IDM, acid and abstract electronics coexist. His sets are characterized by strong narrative intention and the ability to weave genres together into coherent soundscapes, oscillating between the physical and the cerebral.
A true lover of music-production machines, he is a tireless seeker of innovative techniques integrating hardware, software and mobile applications. Widely recognized as a genuine Apple computer genius, he has made technology an inseparable creative engine of his work. This passion extends to his role as a mentor: he has delivered talks and masterclasses at electronic music festivals and gatherings such as Dantz Festival, sharing his knowledge on production, creative processes and sonic experimentation.
In addition to his artistic work, Luis has also worked in the pro-audio industry, collaborating with companies specializing in distribution and technical consulting, contributing his expertise in both studio and live environments.
With more than three decades of career, Luis Cantalapiedra has become an essential figure for understanding the history and evolution of electronic music in Spain. His dual identity — DJ Muerto in his beginnings and Arcanoid today — his loyalty to vinyl, his commitment to technological innovation, and his trajectory across clubs, festivals and record labels make him a unique reference point: always in motion, yet never losing coherence, creativity, or personality.
Press KitFor any info, availability and requests regarding Arcanoid, please fill up this form with your contact details and plans by clicking the bottom above and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Contact