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

Rather a lot has modified within the dance music business, and the world on the whole, since Norwegian producer/DJ Matoma final launched an album. Back 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 acquired 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! Check out our interview under.

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

“Getting into music, I began very early. I began taking part in the piano after I was seven years outdated and round 9 I actually wished to develop into a classical pianist, however then on the age of 16, I believe I had practiced a bit an excessive amount of. I felt 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.

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about these two guys, and I instantly wished to start out producing music, and that was after I was 16 years outdated.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

Congratulations on Love for the Beat. It’s a nice album, and additionally a nice album title. Tell us how your music and manufacturing type has modified since your final album in 2018. How do you adapt to the continually altering tastes in dance music whereas sustaining a signature sound?

“I believe as an artist it’s crucial to have a sense of grounded-ness to your self, to your soul, make music that pleases your self, but additionally, evolve as an artist; over time if I make one music, I made it, I have to 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 Own Heart’, all of those data have 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 components into my dance songs and actually present folks my tradition, the music I grew up with.

Blend it into at the moment’s sound pushed with a new kind of combine and I actually felt it was the suitable second for me to precise myself. But, this yr, I’m so pumped, I’m so able to take the dance flooring and I truly performed a couple of recent data right here tonight and they actually popped off.”

Fresh off the heels of a full album, what new music can followers count on from you in 2024?

“I think regarding the music for 2024, 2023 for me was a very experimental year, I went a bit darker, in myself, I had to get a lot of these feelings out. This year, it’s all about reconnecting with the good vibes. Giving people the Ibiza-summer vibe. And, again a couple of the songs I teased here tonight, was kind of that vibe. So, I’m really excited and pumped about this year. I’m not saying I’m going to make the best dance album of 2024, but I’m sure going to try and do it.”

How’s the tour been thus far in assist of the album? When was the final time you have been right here in Los Angeles? Any favourite eating places it’s important to go to if you’re right here?

“The mini-tour has been wonderful, we’ve executed New York, we did Chicago, we’ve executed San Francicso, it’s truly been eight months for the reason that 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 in regards to the vibe right here.

When I’m right here in LA I actually wish to eat Mexican, I like Japanese, Ramen and Sushi, I actually do love Mediterranean, I believe LA has among the greatest Mediterranean meals, like Shish kebab, shawarma, I like the shawarma.“

I all the time 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 referred to as ‘Never Good Enough’, so being a touring artist, for 10 years now, I’ve realized from a lot of various experiences on the highway. I’ve met so many alternative folks, skilled tales, inspirational tales, however issues that make you actually, actually recognize life. And, I believe the youth proper now, they want steerage. They’re so targeted on what’s forward and what’s behind, however they don’t reside within the now, and I believe it’s so necessary for them to get targeted 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 totally different tales about my life, in life-changing moments for me, crossroads the place I’ve needed to make huge choices, based mostly on my spirit, my soul. And, I need to share that, I hope that it could resonate with the youthful technology at the moment and give them some inspiration to imagine in themselves, to belief their very own inner-spirit and to look within the mirror and say, ‘I’m ok.’“

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

“I would never say no to a Chris Martin collaboration, that would be sick. Or, Will Smith, take it back to Miami.”

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

“You missed out on a party filled with good vibes, all about spreading the love. What you can expect from me coming up it’s all about the good vibes, bringing back those good sing along records where you can sing, have a good moment, just chill and relax. Matoma out.”

Check out Matoma’s newest studio album Love for the Beat, out now on Matoma’s label of the identical title. Matoma nonetheless has a few extra North American dates on the Love for the Beat tour as nicely.

Feb 21 – F Cancer FSU – Tallahassee, FL
Feb 23 – TAO Chicago – Chicago, IL
Feb 24 – Harrah’s – Atlantic City, NJ