Matoma Talks New Music, Touring and Evolving as a Producer [Interview]

Lots has modified within the dance music business, and the world on the whole, since Norwegian producer/DJ Matoma final launched an album. Again then Matoma was driving a wave of pop-adjacent tropical home music. Now, Matoma returns to his membership roots with Love for the Beat.

We obtained the possibility to have a pleasant chat with Matoma about his new album, staying related within the ever altering dance music business, and his upcoming new guide! Take a look at our interview under.

Thanks for chatting with us Tom. Inform us the way you first obtained into music and the way’d you initially break into the dance music business?

“Moving into music, I began very early. I began taking part in the piano after I was seven years previous and round 9 I actually wished to turn into a classical pianist, however then on the age of 16, I feel I had practiced a bit an excessive amount of. I felt quite a lot of stress on myself, so I stated to my household, I stated to my dad and my mother, I actually need to take a break from the piano and possibly do different issues.

And my Dad, he actually felt honest, he was desirous to let me know I shouldn’t put music on the shelf, possibly I ought to do one thing else with music. So, he confirmed me a documentary about Stargate, two Norwegian dudes that moved to New York to pursue their producing dream.

They usually have produced with Beyonce, Rhianna, all the large names. So, he confirmed me a documentary about these two guys, and I instantly wished to begin producing music, and that was after I was 16 years previous. And since then I’ve been making music. However the entire EDM, and extra like digital music scene, possibly after I was 23.”

Congratulations on Love for the Beat. It’s an amazing album, and in addition an amazing album title. Inform us how your music and manufacturing model has modified since your final album in 2018. How do you adapt to the consistently altering tastes in dance music whereas sustaining a signature sound?

“I feel as an artist it’s essential to have a way of grounded-ness to your self, to your soul, make music that pleases your self, but in addition, evolve as an artist; through the years if I make one tune, I made it, I must make one thing new, recent. And, for me, after ‘One in a Million’ I actually felt desirous to make extra of the music that I grew up with. The extra danceable, extra trancey, extra progressive sound.

And ‘Sodium Sky’ got here from that, ‘Bittersweet’, ‘Break My Personal Coronary heart’, all of those data had been molded from my cabin, trying on the Northern Lights. Being impressed by nature and being impressed by Norwegian folks music and melodies. I’ve actually tried to implement these parts into my dance songs and actually present individuals my tradition, the music I grew up with.

Mix it into in the present day’s sound pushed with a brand new kind of combine and I actually felt it was the precise second for me to specific myself. However, this yr, I’m so pumped, I’m so able to take the dance flooring and I truly performed a few new data right here tonight they usually actually popped off.”

Recent off the heels of a full album, what new music can followers anticipate from you in 2024?

“I feel concerning the music for 2024, 2023 for me was a really experimental yr, I went a bit darker, in myself, I needed to get quite a lot of these emotions out. This yr, it’s all about reconnecting with the nice vibes. Giving individuals the Ibiza-summer vibe. And, once more a few the songs I teased right here tonight, was type of that vibe. So, I’m actually excited and pumped about this yr. I’m not saying I’m going to make one of the best dance album of 2024, however I’m positive going to try to do it.”

How’s the tour been up to now in help of the album? When was the final time you had been right here in Los Angeles? Any favourite eating places you need to go to once you’re right here?

“The mini-tour has been wonderful, we’ve accomplished New York, we did Chicago, we’ve accomplished San Francicso, it’s truly been eight months because the final time I used to be right here. And the vibe was the identical, it was so good, I don’t know what it’s with LA crowds, however they’re simply so wonderful, simply one thing concerning the vibe right here.

After I’m right here in LA I actually wish to eat Mexican, I like Japanese, Ramen and Sushi, I actually do love Mediterranean, I feel LA has a number of the finest Mediterranean meals, like Shish kebab, shawarma, I like the shawarma.“

I at all times wish to ask artists I interview if they’ve any guide, streaming or podcast suggestions?

“So, I’m truly going to launch a guide. In a month, March 1st, and it’s known as ‘By no means Good Sufficient’, so being a touring artist, for 10 years now, I’ve discovered from quite a lot of completely different experiences on the street. I’ve met so many various individuals, skilled tales, inspirational tales, however issues that make you actually, actually recognize life. And, I feel the youth proper now, they want steerage. They’re so centered on what’s forward and what’s behind, however they don’t stay within the now, and I feel it’s so vital for them to get centered on being current, listening to their coronary heart, listening to themselves, not listening to all the noise.

So, I’m truly writing a guide which is 10 completely different tales about my life, in life-changing moments for me, crossroads the place I’ve needed to make huge selections, primarily based on my spirit, my soul. And, I need to share that, I hope that it may resonate with the youthful technology in the present day and provides them some inspiration to consider in themselves, to belief their very own inner-spirit and to look within the mirror and say, ‘I’m adequate.’“

Who’re some artists you’d wish to collab with sooner or later?

“I might by no means say no to a Chris Martin collaboration, that might be sick. Or, Will Smith, take it again to Miami.”

Inform the followers on the market who didn’t make it what they missed tonight?

“You missed out on a celebration crammed with good vibes, all about spreading the love. What you may anticipate from me developing it’s all concerning the good vibes, bringing again these good sing alongside data the place you may sing, have a superb second, simply chill and calm down. Matoma out.”

Take a look at Matoma’s newest studio album Love for the Beat, out now on Matoma’s label of the identical title. Matoma nonetheless has a couple of extra North American dates on the Love for the Beat tour as properly.