A rising meteor in the crackling EDM circuit is the young and vivacious DJ/composer Matan Zohar (baptized as Mat Zo in the music industry) who has been raving dance music fans with “fat-hits” like “Mozart”, “Superman”, “Rebound”, ”Back in Time”, and “It’s Yours” from his seminal album “The Bipolar” EP released on the Anjunabeats record label last year.
Just all of 22 years and the face and force of gleeful giddiness, Zo refuses to restrict the field of his symphonies in rigid fences, while producing a bandwidth of sounds that traverses neo-trance, progressive house, tech-house, funk, and electro.
His productions can be heard hammered-hot by some of the most prominent DJ’s in the likes of Tiësto, Above and Beyond, Afrojack, Steve Aoki, Roger Sanchez and Swedish House Mafia.
I caught up with him for a tȇte-à-tȇte at Above and Beyond’s Trance Around The World 450 party in Bangalore, India, as he excitedly announced his US Winter Tour that concludes on New Year’s Eve where he will be seen performing with his associated act Porter Robinson.
Mat, you’re currently working on a new album due for release on the Anjunabeats label. Now I know you’re famous for saying you don’t like to label your productions into genres,but what can we expect sonically from the new album?
There’s a lot of different stuff. I’m trying to incorporate some of my roots, you know…the old melodic trance, but umm…doing it in a new way hopefully.
The constant globe-trotting to play out at gigs can be physically and mentally draining. How are you finding the time to get back into the studio and focus on production? What’s the creative process like for you?
Yeah, it’s definitely draining but my management gives me time off in the studio and makes sure I have a few weeks off here and there to make music. Usually the routine is playing around the sounds and seeing what works and something grows out of that.
Do you consciously seek situations that inspire creativity…or is it something that just happens?
Hmm…you can’t really seek it, it has to come to you naturally. Sometimes it can be a week of heavy inspiration and then a month where you can’t think of any ideas. So it’s really sporadic.
What’s the best and worst part of touring?
The best part is obviously playing for loads of people, getting great responses, and you know…sharing music with everyone. The worst part is flights, jet-lag, hangovers, loneliness…you know… the usual.
You have ethnic roots in Israel, and I was just wondering if your original mix “Near the end/Land of the free” bore a certain suggestion to the Israel/Palestine war situation?
Maybe subconsciously, but not overtly (laughs). It’s a subject that’s close to my heart. Hmmm…it could have been I guess. But I didn’t do it knowingly, maybe a part of me did.
One of your original mixes--“The Lost” deeply reflects elements of oriental Indian sounds. What was the inspiration? Will you be experimenting with similar sounds in the future?
Yeah there’s definitely some Indian vibes on the new album, so yeah…I made that track after the first time I came to India, so I was heavily influenced by what I saw and heard.
Which tracks have been making constant appearances on your DJ set?
“Kick out the epic…” by Dada Life, because it’s just a sure way of getting the crowd going. There’s this remix of Madagascar by Art of Trance done by Richard Durand that I edited and updated a lil’ bit which I play a lot as well. And what else…I keep updating my library because I keep making new edits so…
One track that you’re looking forward to remix?
God…I haven’t thought about that because of the album and concentrating on making originals…remixing wasn’t really at the back of my mind I guess…
Your music is played by some of the biggest names in the trance scene. How does it feel to have accomplished this much at such a young age?
I don’t really feel like I’ve accomplished so much or that I’ve reached any particular point in my career. I’m really at the starting. I feel like I have a long way to go.
Any particular musicians you want to collaborate with?
Maybe one day I’ll collaborate with Madeon. Hmmm…I also want to do a collab with Arty and we’ve had talks about that, and Porter Robinson as well. Apart from that, maybe Radiohead one day (laughs).If I’m lucky.
What’s playing in your personal playlist this week?
Ahh…I just discovered this track by Bang La Decks it’s called “Kuedon”. I’m absolutely obsessed with that track.
Things your fans don’t know about you?
My sister’s actually a pop-singer in Israel and she’s very famous…
Well I know that…
Really? Okay then that’s something my fans do know about (laughs).I don’t actually go out that much. I’m not a huge party-animal. I mean people think that most DJ’s are, and it’s just not the case.
The artistic gene seems to run deep in your family. Your dad Israel Zohar is a prominent painter, sister Alma Zohar a famous pop singer in Israel, and your mum’s a professional violinist, yeah? Did you always know you’d end up being an artist, or did it just fall into your lap by the works of some unseen cosmic event?
I guess in a way it was kind of imposed upon me…you know… having two parents who were very artistic. It’s kind of hard to escape that artistic ethos.
You’ve been associated with Above and Beyond’s Anjunabeats label since 2007.How has the journey been with them so far and how was the experience playing as supporting act at their final Trance Around The World 450 radio show?
Really good, I mean it has been a real bonding experience, and I hope it carries on. It has been a long journey with them from the start and playing with them is always amazing. It’s just great to be here.
Will we be seeing you play in the Middle-East anytime soon?
Hopefully, yeah! I played in Israel a few weeks back and that was good, so hopefully I’ll explore the other regions as well.
(Interview courtesy of Submerge-www.submerge.in)
You can track the artist on: www.soundcloud.com/mat_zo, www.facebook.com/matzomusic
