An EDM legend delivers a stunning debut album ‘Blossom & Decay’
Hey Matt welcome to DMC. Where in the world are you right now?
“Hey Dan! Right now I’m in Ibiza to celebrate my album release.”
Well you took your time kid! ‘Blossom & Decay’ signifies your debut album from one of the world’s favourite EDM artists. How long has this taken to piece together, when did the songwriting begin?
“Ha ha, yeah I did take my time before I decided to make an album. I guess most tracks were penned in the last 2 years plus a few ideas I had hanging around for sometime. For example, I used some of the tracks from my guitar band Urban Astronauts, like See The Sun, Black Flowers, translated for the dancefloor.”
Was creating this beautiful album as fulfilling as you thought it would be?
“Absolutely and in fact the most rewarding part of it all is that now I can play DJ sets of all my own music, I use a lot of remixes for the dancefloor ’cause some of the originals are quite laid back and chilled. I feels so much better playing my own music and the reception from music lovers is such a great buzz. I just cant stop making music now, I’m in the studio every opportunity now. Armada had to give me a deadline, I managed to get 17 track on the album.”
How has the road testing the tracks been, what are the gems that have received the best reception?
“That’s the best part of it for me, ’cause you get instant feedback. Tracks like ‘Hold On’ and ‘Too Far’ are massive with the more house crowds, ‘See The Sun’ and ‘I Still Remember’, are always big reactions.”
Did you discard many tracks in the process?
“Yeah, well maybe not discard, more like on the back burner for now ’till I crack em. There were about as many tracks again that didn’t make it but I know some of them will work out someday ’cause they are solid songs.”
This 17 tracker features a wide array of remixers, how did you decide who you wanted on board when there are so many incredible producers flying about at the moment?
“I met all the people I worked with on the album, remixers and singers, through my Nocturnal radio show. They’re all people whose music I love so I hit them up and worked very closely with them on each mix. A track like ‘See The Sun’ took 10 different versions ’till we cracked it, almost drove Aurosonic up the wall in the process but the final result was amazing.”
What is your favourite track on the album and why?
“I think ‘Chasing The Sun’ ’cause it’s very personal. I wrote the lyrics in India after my mother had a close call, big heart op. They were dark times and writing it was a good distraction for me. ‘See The Sun’ is a close second though, gives me goosebumps still!!”
You were surrounded by trained musicians in your family when you were growing up. Even though you learnt the violin and won competitions, all you ever wanted to do was make pop music – which you nearly did early on after signing a six album deal with Sire Records as The Big Dance Theory. Looking back, any regrets spending all that advance on living it up in London instead of making music?
“Well, myself and my school mate / co band member did have an awesome time for 18 months before the money ran out! If I could turn back the clock I guess I might have played that situation a little differently but I was young and out for a good time.”
We love the way of how you started DJing. Being asked to mix the Euphoria album and then a crash course in the art of DJing by Steve James…tell our readers the story…
“Ha ha, yeh, Steve Jones from Chakra/Space Brothers / Audiojelly etc. was determined to get me on those decks. I wasn’t that enthusiastic about DJing. I went clubbing 3/4 nights a week, bit of a party guy, but I wasn’t interested in spinning, just wanted to dance all night. That was inspiring enough for me to go make tracks in the studio for the rest of the week. Anyway, he said come spin at my birthday party, it’ll be low key, he gave me a couple of hours crash course on the afternoon of his birthday and I got my fav vinyl, went down to the venue to spin, thinking, nobody is gonna know so all good. We were listening to Pete Tong on Radio 1 on the way into London and he says…“Matt Darey’s DJ debut tonight @ blah blah…” – I was in shock. Still I did it and came through and it made me determined to learn how to DJ, so I spent the next few months practicing and made my Debut in KL on NYE that same year.”
As well as a love of dance music, you also listen to a lot of rock and indie stuff. What artists are you digging right now?
“I love the classics most of all, Sneaker Pimps, Rage Against The Machine, Sound Garden. Even blasts from the past like Bowie ‘Ashes to Ashes’. All timeless.”
You are known around the world as one of the pioneers of the trance sound. How does it feel to look at where the likes of Tiesto and Armin Van Buuren are today and just how high street the whole scene is?
“I think its a great thing for EDM to have the big superstars. I think they actually kept the ball rolling when EDM went underground. It gets people who wouldn’t even know about EDM into the sound, then some of them go on to dig deeper into the underground and become seasoned clubbers.”
Do you think the young producers of today have it too easy when making records. All you need today is a laptop and you are away…
“Not really, I do think it’s easier to produce a great sound now and also to get the music out there but on the flip side, everyone is at it, there’s a whole lot of noise out there and you have to be a good producer and songwriter to get noticed. The great thing about EDM is you can be making tracks in your bedroom, you make something groundbreaking and it will get heard eventually, if you’re consistent, you’ll get to where you wanna be.’
What are the current top 10 you are spinning?
“Ha ha, well I spin all my own tracks live now but as you know I have my Nocturnal Radio show, it’s kind of like my time out, where I play other peoples music that I love, pretty much for myself, it’s generally a lot deeper and progressive than the music I spin live, to chill out to:
1. Way Out West – Surrender (Sommerstad remix) [Armada Music]
2. Jane Maximova – Rain In My Heart (Biotones remix) [Deep Tune]
3. Digitaria – Paradise (Digitaria remix) [Hot Creations]
4. David Jach & Beatamines – How Never (Zoo Brazil remix) [Keno Records]
5. Amaksi – Insomnia (original mix) [Nine Sides Records]
6. Geo Angelo ft. Antisson – Call Your Name (Western Playing & DJ Kapa Latin mix) [Housevisions]
7. Hanne & Lore – Samba Oleg (Tube Berger remix) [MBF]
8. Beauty & The Breakdown – Incandescence (Tim Penner remix) [Blockhead Recordings]
9. Tom Demac & Silverclub – Throat Trip (Tiger Stripes remix) [My Favourite Robot]
10. Ozgur Ozkan- Beautiful Afterhours (Dark Soul project & Santiago Garcia remix) [Baires Records]
Your Nocturnal radio show has experienced exponential growth over the years. It is now broadcast to 135 countries in 35 countries. What is the selection process for tracks that are featured on the show?
“Myself and a team of long time Nocturnal fans sift through thousands of tracks every week. We narrow it down to about 150 tracks and I listen again and again, ’till I get it down to 10 tracks that really hit the spot. The show can shift genres from week to week but it’s generally prog house or deeper sounds, EDM for listening to, not so much for dancing to.”
Where have been some of the stand out shows of 2012?
“One of my fav places to play is Beta in Denver, always doubles up with a snowboard trip. To be honest, there’s too many shows to mention that were an amazing experience, big and small, it’s hard to single out just a handful.”
What was the 1 record that changed your life?
“‘The Message – Grandmaster Flash. The first 12” vinyl I bought as a kid lol.”
You have remixed some superstars over the years and brought us some dancefloor nuggets. What are the next studio projects you are working on?
“I’m really on a mission in the studio now, making music for my DJ sets, I must have about 10 on the go right now and a few real gems in there too. Remixing isn’t something I’ve done for a long time, just waiting for the right track to inspire me to get back into it.”
