Matrix - 'Sometimes, it's nice to just lock yourself in a studio on your own'
Miljan Milekić
There aren't many people in drum and bass who can combine mainstream and underground the way Matrix does. Working on his own music, or together as a part of duo Matrix & Futurebound, he keeps the energy level, embracing both heaviness and melody. From the main stages all over the world to the underground parties, he'll be there to represent the genre at it's best. He recently dropped his brand new single 'Let's Go Back,' so we catch up with him to see what he's up to. Check it out below.
You're new single 'Let's Go Back' is finally out. What can you tell me about the song and the idea behind it?
Matrix: Like all music, the words in this track mean whatever you want them to mean, but for me, it is about going back to the process I had when I first started making music. Being in a duo and having done records on major labels with Matrix & Futurebound, there can be a lot of people involved, whether that's people we're collaborating with, people from the label team, or people involved in promoting the record. That can be a great way to make music, but sometimes it's also nice to just lock yourself in a studio on your own, and not play the track to a single person until it's 100% written, produced, mixed and mastered - that's what I used to do when I was a kid, and that's how 'Let's Go Back' came about.
The track is dancefloor-ready with huge melodies but also brings a heaviness and mosh-pit vibes. What was your aim with the track, and what's the reaction you want it to initiate?
Matrix: I've always liked the idea of trying to combine that natural heaviness of drum & bass with melodic elements. That has always been the idea with Matrix & Futurebound too. It can be a fine balancing act to get both sides working nicely. Really, my main goal was to create a track that works in a Matrix & Futurebound main stage festival set but that I can also drop in an underground neuro set at a Virus Recordings party. It's quite a narrow area of drum & bass that can work in both those environments, but that's the target I was aiming for with 'Let's Go Back.'
So far, did you have the chance to test the track at your shows? How did the crowd react to it?
Matrix: Absolutely! Playing your own music to some new people is one of the great buzzes you can have as a DJ, and it's been going down really well.
*click on the photo to stream / buy 'Let's Go Back'*
The track comes just months after 'Mystery Machine.' Is it safe to say that you're on the roll creatively at the moment? Can we expect more from you in the near future?
Matrix: Yes, for sure. Making an album can be an epic process, and it's fair to say it consumed the lives of myself and Futurebound for a good while, especially since we were also releasing it on our own labels. Just doing a single is a very relaxing process in comparison. I actually was thinking of taking a little break from the studio after we reached the finish line with 'Mystery Machine.' I was only really playing around without any plan, and the idea for the track just threw itself together. That's the funny thing about making music - sometimes things happen when you're least expecting it. We've got some great remixes of tracks from 'Mystery Machine' coming soon actually, so look out for that.
'Let's Go Back' brings a bit more underground vibe in comparison to the stuff you're doing with Futurebound. Do you feel like releasing your own material gives you an opportunity to explore and experiment a bit more?
Matrix: I guess in a way, this track is a combination of what we do as Matrix & Futurebound, and what I used to do in my earlier solo stuff. Naturally when you're creating something on your own, you are completely free to go to any place you want but I think my approach is always fundamentally the same, whether I'm collaborating or not - I just try and make something that makes me happy and not gets too caught up with thinking about what anyone else will make of it.
Back in February, you played a special classic set in Budapest, at the 20th Birthday of Bladerunnaz. I had a couple of friends there, and they were all thrilled by it. Is it something you're planning on doing more in the future?
Matrix: Oh yeah, I remember it very well! I've always had a lot of love for the Bladerunnaz crew as they were one of the very first promoters to book me outside of the UK, and I always have a great time playing at their events. I played a similar kind of set at the epic 20 Years Of Virus Recordings party in London. I won't be doing sets like that super often though as I'd like it to be a special thing, but it was definitely one of my most enjoyable nights lately. It's crazy to play some of those old drum and bass classics and think that they were made twenty years ago!
Follow Matrix:
Facebook: facebook.com/officialmatrix
Instagram: instagram.com/matrixlondon
Twitter: twitter.com/MatrixLondon
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