Massive new album on Toolroom Records
Matt Samuels has established himself as one of the most exciting young artists on the dance music scene. Widely considered to be amongst the most talented up and coming producers, continually delivering club hits that have gained support from Pete Tong, Mark Knight, Eddie Halliwell and Gareth Emery, Matt’s fast rise through the house music ranks looks set to continue with his electrifying debut album on Toolroom Records.
Dan Prince checks in.
Welcome to DMC Matt. You burst onto the house scene in 2008 with your take on Depeche Mode’s ‘Enjoy The Silence’. What sort of music and artists were you listening to as a kid that moved you towards dance music?
“My cousin was a big influence growing up; I remember being in the back seat of his car and him listening to Fantazia and Ministry of Sound albums. He came with me to buy my first Hi-Fi and recommended that I buy a Club Mix ‘96 CD, and from that moment I was hooked! On the radio, I used to listen to a lot of Pete Tong, Judge Jules and Danny Rampling. I then got into Paul Oakenfold after I recorded his Essential Mix world tour. It really helped me define the music that I’m into today, which at the time was progressive house or as Oakey would call it ‘Melodic House’.
When did you decide that the world of music was for you, how did the journey begin?
“My cousin definitely got me hooked on house music. I would listen to loads of mix CDs, curious as to how the music kept going with no pauses. After I realised how it was done, I asked my Dad to buy me some belt drive decks! After about 3 months, I got pretty good at mixing so begged my dad for some 1210’s, which I paid £10 a week for doing my paper round at the age of 12. Every other week, Dad would let me off paying him so I could buy records. I used to stay up mixing in my bedroom with the lights off pretending I was club DJ! I never set out to be a DJ, in fact I would cringe if someone said ‘do you want to be a DJ?’ I would always say ‘No!’ I just liked playing and mixing music. It wasn’t until I was about 15 or 16 that I thought I have to do this for the rest of my life.”
What did your parents think of your career choice?
“My parents have been incredibly supportive of my career choice and are both very interested in what I do. Growing up, I wasn’t one of those kids that went up the park and did drugs and got drunk at an early age; I would be at home in my bedroom listening to Pete Tong on Radio 1, tune spotting or mixing, so I guess they were pleased I was kept out of trouble!”
A massive album swinging our way this week, ‘Lost You’ on Toolroom Records. Talk us through this rather excellent long player…
“To be honest, the album came about without really trying to write one. I was just getting in the studio lots and writing a lot of material and Mark Knight said to me ‘let’s put them on an album’. I started it a year or more ago and it’s just a representation of the styles I like to DJ and produce – anything from tech house through to end of the night progressive anthems.”
What Toolroom tunes have you given props to over the last few years...
“Wow, so many Toolroom tracks have been so good there are too many to mention! The main ones I love are Mark Knight & Funkagenda – ‘Man With The Red Face’ and D. Ramirez & Mark Knight – ‘Columbian Soul’.
What are the big 10 tunes you are spinning right now?
Pete Griffiths & Paul Thomas – Pandora (Toolroom)
Matt Samuels – Lost You (Toolroom)
Funkagenda – Aphonia (Funk Farm)
Oliver Klein – What you got (Reset Robot Remix) Kling Klong
Michael Woods – Last Day On Earth (Diffused Music)
Coldplay – Every teardrop (Swedish House Mafia Remix) EMI
Matt Samuels – We Go (Toolroom)
Nathan C & Suzee X – No Sleep (Funk Farm)
Matt Samuels – Disko (Toolroom)
Paul Thomas – La Bombo (Nathan C & Layo Browne Remix) Funk Farm
What DJs / producers did you grow up admiring?
DJ wise I was into Pete Tong, Paul Oakenfold, Sasha & Digweed, Seb Fontaine and Carl Cox. And on the producer front, for me it was always Daft Punk, Chemical Brothers and Basement Jaxx.”
Best club of 2011?
“Ministry of Sound.”
You have brought the world some mighty fine tunes via Innovate & Sequential as well as Toolroom Records, CR2, Proton and Deeper Substance – what has been your best creation to date?
“I’d have to say my remix of ‘Enjoy The Silence’ – I haven’t had another record as successful as that. It blew up at the WMC and in Ibiza and got played from every DJ from Tiesto to Nic Fancuilli!”
What do you think has been the biggest tune of 2011?
“Avicci – ‘Levels’.”
What is the finest record you have played to a dancefloor?
“Florence And The Machine – ‘You Got The Love’ (Mark Knight Remix). It’s a massive club tune but people who aren’t necessarily into the club scene know it as well so you always get a good sing a long moment.”
Not many people know this, but Matt Samuels is really good at?
“Making lasagne – yum!”
Musician of 2011?
“Funkagenda.”
It may not be very good for my image, but I really like…
“Having a long hot bath! Hey, it relaxes me alright?!”
So we come back to yours after the club, what are the 10 Back To Mine tunes you spin us?
Danny Tenaglia – Music Is The Answer
Mory Kante – Yeke Yeke
Sasha & Emerson – Scorchio
Stardust – Music Sounds Better With You
Three Drives – Greece 2000
Energy 52 – Cafe Del Mar
Rui Da Silva – Touch Me
Nalin & Kane – Beachball
Faithless – Insomnia
BT – Flaming June
New Years Resolution?
“Eat healthier!”
Album promo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1-B9oXrMEU
