A chat with the multi talented Matt FX...

DJ/producer, music supervisor, tv host and food personality—Matt FX is a man with taste to share. Referred to as a 'musical polymath’ by Forbes and a 'NYC nightlife institution' by Noisey, he is known for his on-camera appearances on VICE News Tonight, and Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay, as well as for his work as music supervisor on the seminal 2010’s stoner sitcom hit Broad City. 

Since the start of 2024 Matt has completed a 23 night, 10 country tour spanning across Asia as well as gigs across the US, Canada, Brazil, & Mexico. As a DJ, Matt approaches each and every set with an irreverence that the New York Times calls 'interesting social commentary on multiple levels' and has shared lineups with everyone from Disclosure and Marc Rebillet to Azealia Banks and Charli XCX.

With a unique knack for riveting rhythms and magnetic melodies, Matt weaves together a tapestry of electronic sounds influenced by a musical diet of everything from italo disco and classic soulful house to UK and global club, dishing out a signature flavor easily identifiable within his sonic tasting menu.

He is currently readying his debut full length — following releases with Boyanza, Zissou, Electrique, Sorry Records, Wolf + Lamb, Kitsuné Musique, Toucan Sounds, Disco Halal, and Warner/Big Beat.

No lightweight on the culinary front either, Matt is a co-founder of small batch pop-up kitchen DUBPLATE.NYC, home of the ‘best fried chicken sandwich of all time’ as told by Busboy Magazine.

Off the back of his latest release AGUACULTURA on Mexico City’s Boyanza records we catch up with the multi talented New Yorker and discuss the EP, notable gear, creative process, career highlights and more…

‍Hey Matt FX, Great to meet you! What's happening in your world at the minute?

Great to be in touch. Right now I’m getting ready for a big weekend here in New York - filming a set tonight for le petite box tonight as well as prepping for two open to close marathon sets this weekend at The Stranger, one of my favorite clubs to play in the city, as well as Le Dive, this spot down in Dimes Square.

Congratulations on releasing 'Aguacultura’ on Boyanza. Talk us through the release? 

This release kind of came together through staying at my good friend Dan Solo’s down to Mexico City. I actually wrote Atencion Nosotros at his home studio with JNGLEJ and also met Rashid from the label through him on that same trip. I played him Elephant, which had been kicking around for a little while, as well as the newly written Atencion, and he was super eager to share it with the rest of the lads.

Aguacultura actually came later - written whilst on tour earlier this year in Japan.

For those who are just discovering your music, what do you hope they feel or experience when they listen to your productions?

A full spectrum of emotions. I’m as much a fan of music that doesn’t take itself seriously as I am music that really has something to say, or get off its chest. I suppose I follow that same logic in my own work.

Where was the EP made? Can you expand on some of the notable gear/plugins you used on this?

Track 1 in CDMX, Track 2 in upstate New York, and Track 3 on a bullet train from Osaka to Tokyo in Japan.

1 was almost completely in the box - Arturia collection VSTs and some chopped up splice tops on top of my own samples. Karla (JNGLEJ) came thru and we wrote the whole thing together in a single day.

2 was done with my old friend and production buddy Giorgio Beatsaface at his studio in upstate New York. We both keep lots of analog gear up there which wound up on the track - SH-101, polysix, Juno-106, prophet, virus. The whole kit and caboodle between the two of us. Also my silly vocals..

3 was another in the box production that originally started out a liquid drum and bass track. It made a lot of sense to me to keep it drumless for this release but maybe the original intention might come out someday..

Can you share some insight into your creative process when producing music? Do you have any particular rituals or methods that help you stay inspired? 

I definitely have a lot of methods that i specifically apply when working with vocalists - moving on to the b section as fast as you have a bassline and a semblance of the A for instance, which I really think helps so u don’t get too bogged down after perfecting an A section loop and can’t figure out what’s next.

What has been the highlight of your career so far? Can you talk about a specific moment or accomplishment that stands out as particularly meaningful to you? 

I guess specifically in regards to my DJ and production career the highlight would be the Asia tour I completed earlier this year. 23 gigs in 10 countries over 2 and a half months.. absolutely mental. Can’t believe it all worked out

Give us some other producers we should be listening to right now?

As far as Mexico goes - The rest of the crew at Boyanza - Papa Jazz and his project Playa Baghdad as well as Rafatel and the rest of them. Dan Solo and his various projects - Los eclipses, Supercontinent - The calypso dudes, Inigo Vontier and Thomass Jackson. Mijo and his new label with Andre VII. Michael Fortvne and his new label discos ambas. Milkababy, Valeriana, Kalexis, and of course Paurro. I’m honestly so evangelical about the Mexican dance music scene..

When you are not busy with music, what might we find you doing? 

Cooking quite a bit, as well as developing a new food related web series. Also a lot of traveling - as much as I can really.

What's next for you after ‘Aguacultura’? Can you tell us about any upcoming projects or collaborations you have in the works? Are there any new directions or sounds you're exploring in your music right now?

I honestly have so much music ready to go that it’s kind of absurd. Everything from silly minimal-leaning house stuff to emotional UKG. 

Hopefully that will all start coming out next year - A full length album, at least 4 more eps, an edits record getting pressed as well as a few remixes coming in the short term for Psymon Spine, Thaïs Sala, and Rosehardt.

Finally, Which are the three records that you’ve been putting in your bag recently without hesitating?

None of these have actually been pressed but:

Monrovia by Theus Mago and Juan Soto

Yoshimitsu Dub by Playa Baghdad

The life of a touring DJ by Bambounou

Buy/Listen to Aguacultura here

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