Matuss Q&A

Hello and welcome to Magazine Sixty, Julia. Let’s start with the label you have co-founded with Abe Duque: Absence Seizure. Can you tell us about the meaning behind the name and about the artwork for the labels latest release?

Meaning behind the name is a direct connection between absence seizure symptoms and all the music related process, such as writing for me and in some cases, listening. Point is that you blank out and there is this super excitement from intense brain cells work…
Latest artwork looks to me like an alien from my favorite cartoon Lilo and Stitch, so this one is for me 🙂

Seizure No 10 features two tracks from yourself, along with one by Abe Duque. Can you talk us through how you created Crashing Hard, including any particular pieces of software/ hardware you like to refer to?

Entire track was made from discoveries with Rytm Analog by Elektron, which was the latest addition in a family. I was on a floor pretty much the entire time, while rolling with my back on Lacrosse ball, ahahaha… because hardware piece gives you the ability not to sit in chair (which I get tired from) and not to look on a screen much. Then I threw it in Bitwig, had some cherries and sprinkles on top here and there and voila! Getting creative with names tho is a work in progress for me, so Crashing Hard was an obvious choice in my head, due to the nature of the track.

How many records would you say you owned, and why is vinyl so important to you?

I have my clothes and records pretty much in every part of the world, for various reasons. Even now being in Berlin, I really tried not to buy many records. I was telling myself everyday don’t do it, be reasonable, how you gonna take all this to the airport…didn’t work. Because I went to stores and fairs and the minute I see a good record I almost start shaking. So I have to buy it! It’s already too many and I am gonna have to possibly leave some here���� but the good news is next time I am back to the same place, it’s already there for me! Why vinyl? It’s simple, the feeling. Completely different from anything else and it works in my case. Yesterday I went to record sale and somehow (absolutely have no idea why) Phonique – For the time being (Ripperton remix) starts playing in my head.. and I think – oh, would be great to find it. I go thru couple shelves and here it is. I bought it for 1 euro. I can’t explain, what those moments do to you, it’s beyond me…You don’t need anything else on your life, really. Just 1 euro to buy it, ahahaha.

If you could choose three records to highlight your most significant influences what would they be? (any type of music, old or new)

If we are talking about actual vinyl that I own, 3 records that I will remember for the rest of my life, will always dance to it and will always play it – than it would be the following

Bucketheadz – the Bomb
187 lockdown – Gunman
John Julius Knight – Find a friend

Those are pure magic.

Tell us about your life in New York compared with living in Europe? Do you have a favourite place to buy or hear music?

New York is a very intense city, so I have a much higher pace, I suppose. 2 weeks feel like 2 months 🙂 It is the only place, where I get very emotional when I touch the grounds. Plane lands, I cry. Have no idea why. In Europe, I love that Berlin is very bike friendly…makes me so happy just to bike around.
I like Halcyon store. My friends work there, always great atmosphere and coffee. Especially in summer, you can go right up to the Output’s rooftop right after 🙂

What is your favourite instrument?

Saxophone. I love jazz. Piano would be second choice. I play both and it’s a very different feeling you have, while playing. Maybe breathing have to do something with it for me. I feel like sound comes from my insides and it does in a way… with piano it’s a mental connection. When I went to see “LaLaLand” movie, I came out red with swallen face, because I cried my eyes out and it had nothing to do with the story. Music did that to me. I was kinda mad at the same time, that I couldn’t stop crying 🙂

How would you describe the feeling you get from DJ’ing? And do you think there is a difference communicating though words and song, or just rhythm and instrumentation in Dance Music?

Feeling from dj’ing is the best high for me. You go though all this process of butterflies in your stomach and hands shaking, to connection though the music and all the feelings that come with it. I am very lucky to have that in my life.
Words presence in a track def makes difference. It’s a very complex topic in general. Shitty lyrics can absolutely ruin track for me. Good ones can make it much better. Thing is, what’s good for you, not necessary good for others.. I never was a fan of tits’n’ass lyrics, ahahaha.. Last time I listened to lyrics was Tarantulaz – They forgot it (Marques and Todd’s remix) beautiful vocal by Monique Bingham and very meaningful lyrics, about how people forgot what music is for…makes sense big time…I wish I could write something like that, but it’s def not my strong side – God knows I tried 🙂 I think it’s all another talent to do that. I guess it’s very case by case situation, when we talk about words presence. I do enjoy party with no words whatsoever and I def can get down with soulful house one as well, depends 🙂 Also, if I listen at home – I pay much more attention to words vs. when I am out in a club.

And finally. Tell us about your forthcoming plans?

Making video for Alien is my Boyfriend. Very talented person behind it, so I am super curious about the finished product 🙂

http://www.matuss.com

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http://absenceseizuremusic.com

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