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A lot has changed in the dance music industry, and the world in general, since Norwegian producer\/DJ Matoma<\/strong> last released an album. Back then Matoma was riding a wave of pop-adjacent tropical house music. Now, Matoma returns to his club roots with Love for the Beat<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n We got the chance to have a friendly chat with Matoma about his new album, staying relevant in the ever changing dance music industry, and his upcoming new book! Check out our interview below.<\/p>\n \u201cGetting into music, I started very early. I started playing the piano when I was seven years old and around nine I really wanted to become a classical pianist, but then at the age of 16, I think I had practiced a bit too much. I felt a lot of pressure on myself, so I said to my family, I said to my dad and my mom, I really want to take a break from the piano and maybe do other things.<\/em><\/p>\n And my Dad, he really felt sincere, he was eager to let me know I shouldn\u2019t put music on the shelf, maybe I should do something else with music. So, he showed me a documentary about Stargate, two Norwegian dudes that moved to New York to pursue their producing dream.<\/em><\/p>\n And they have produced with Beyonce, Rhianna, all the big names. So, he showed me a documentary about these two guys, and I immediately wanted to start producing music, and that was when I was 16 years old. And since then I\u2019ve been making music. But the whole EDM, and more like electronic music scene, maybe when I was 23.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI think as an artist it\u2019s very important to have a sense of grounded-ness to yourself, to your soul, make music that pleases yourself, but also, evolve as an artist; over the years if I make one song, I made it, I need to make something new, fresh. And, for me, after \u2018One in a Million\u2019 I really felt eager to make more of the music that I grew up with. The more danceable, more trancey, more progressive sound.<\/em><\/p>\n And \u2018Sodium Sky\u2019 came from that, \u2018Bittersweet\u2019, \u2018Break My Own Heart\u2019, all of these records were molded from my cabin, looking at the Northern Lights. Being inspired by nature and being inspired by Norwegian folk music and melodies. I\u2019ve really tried to implement those elements into my dance songs and really show people my culture, the music I grew up with.<\/em><\/p>\n Blend it into today\u2019s sound pushed with a new type of mix and I really felt it was the right moment for me to express myself. But, this year, I\u2019m so pumped, I\u2019m so ready to take the dance floor and I actually played a couple of new records here tonight and they really popped off.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI think regarding the music for 2024, 2023 for me was a very experimental year, I went a bit darker, in myself, I had to get a lot of these feelings out. This year, it\u2019s all about reconnecting with the good vibes. Giving people the Ibiza-summer vibe. And, again a couple of the songs I teased here tonight, was kind of that vibe. So, I\u2019m really excited and pumped about this year. I\u2019m not saying I\u2019m going to make the best dance album of 2024, but I\u2019m sure going to try and do it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThe mini-tour has been amazing, we\u2019ve done New York, we did Chicago, we\u2019ve done San Francicso, it\u2019s actually been eight months since the last time I was here. And the vibe was the same, it was so good, I don\u2019t know what it is with LA crowds, but they are just so amazing, just something about the vibe here.<\/em><\/p>\n When I\u2019m here in LA I really like to eat Mexican, I love Japanese, Ramen and Sushi, I really do love Mediterranean, I think LA has some of the best Mediterranean food, like Shish kebab, shawarma, I love the shawarma.<\/em>\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cSo, I\u2019m actually going to release a book. In a month, March 1st, and it\u2019s called \u2018Never Good Enough\u2019, so being a touring artist, for 10 years now, I\u2019ve learned from a lot of different experiences on the road. I\u2019ve met so many different people, experienced stories, inspirational stories, but things that make you really, really appreciate life. And, I think the youth right now, they need guidance. They\u2019re so focused on what\u2019s ahead and what\u2019s behind, but they don\u2019t live in the now, and I think it\u2019s so important for them to get focused on being present, listening to their heart, listening to themselves, not listening to all of the noise.<\/em><\/p>\n So, I\u2019m actually writing a book which is 10 different stories about my life, in life-changing moments for me, crossroads where I\u2019ve had to make big decisions, based on my spirit, my soul. And, I want to share that, I hope that it can resonate with the younger generation today and give them some inspiration to believe in themselves, to trust their own inner-spirit and to look in the mirror and say, \u2018I\u2019m good enough.\u2019<\/em>\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cI would never say no to a Chris Martin collaboration, that would be sick. Or, Will Smith, take it back to Miami.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou missed out on a party filled with good vibes, all about spreading the love. What you can expect from me coming up it\u2019s all about the good vibes, bringing back those good sing along records where you can sing, have a good moment, just chill and relax. Matoma out.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nThanks for chatting with us Tom. Tell us how you first got into music and how\u2019d you originally break into the dance music industry?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Congratulations on Love for the Beat<\/em>. It\u2019s a great album, and also a great album title. Tell us how your music and production style has changed since your last album in 2018. How do you adapt to the constantly changing tastes in dance music while maintaining a signature sound?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Fresh off the heels of a full album, what new music can fans expect from you in 2024?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
How\u2019s the tour been so far in support of the album? When was the last time you were here in Los Angeles? Any favorite restaurants you have to visit when you\u2019re here?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
I always like to ask artists I interview if they have any book, streaming or podcast recommendations?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Who are some artists you\u2019d like to collab with in the future?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Tell the fans out there who didn\u2019t make it what they missed tonight?<\/strong><\/h4>\n