Chatting with: MatthewDavid

Spacey, dreamy, hypnotic. LA resident Matthew David, manages to combine all of these things and a whole lot more into his beautifully bleepy showcase of music. Staying on the experimental side of things, Matthew manages to craft his own sound that is like nothing we've heard before, which probably has something to do with him being signed to a label that pushes boundaries like no other, being no other than Flylo's Brainfeeder.

Matthew plays his debut Melbourne show this Friday 18th November @ Buffalo Club and Saturday 26th November @ Strawberry Fields, hosted by This Thing.

Butter: So you're coming down to Australia at the end of this month, have you ever been here before?

MD: Never. I'm ultra excited.

Butter: Could you run us through some of the gear used in your sets?

MD: I'd say I have a variety of sets for different venues and audiences. If you know my music, you know my experimental nature. I'm very much into exploring sonic environments, making the performance more of a happening, environment, an eco-system for sound. In these instances I use voice, magnetic-tape, loop-pedals, analog delay, synthesizers.....shit. Whatever/ however I can achieve the environment I speak of. I come from a hip-hop DJs background, and enjoy playing funky-ass rhythms, still, and forever will. For this tour it will be very stripped down, playing in MAX MSP with the monome...performative DJing eh? ;)

Butter: We see that you are now reside in L.A., What sparked the move?

MD: The Arts + Music in LA, California nature (mountains,desert,beach, canyons, valleys, you know)

 Butter: Your style is one of uniqueness. How did your productions develop into what they are now? What was your first crack at electronic music like?

MD: I first started working in fruity loops with southern-US rappers, in high-school. 

I was rapping too...it was funny, but really worthwhile. I really learned a lot about my creative fuel, and progressiveness. College radio, DIY culture, noise, punk, and free-format DJing in college (Tallahassee FL) helped the development of style. Also, the particular psychedelic lens that I have acquired through growing w/life experiences, maturing through meditation,  reading.

  

Butter: When you write a new track from scratch what comes first? Beats, Sequences, Samples?

MD: The process changes every time. The natural inclination is to experiment. Analog equipment is usually involved.

Butter: In a few sentences, what's your view on the Analogue vs. Digital Debate?

MD: Producers using only soft-synths, virtual instruments. Sometimes it can be cool...

I'd say utilize both A&D. If youre going to be plugged-in, unplug frequently and explore nature. Observe the natural surroundings. 

Butter: You're signed to Flylo's Brainfeeder, was that a milestone in your career? How did you get picked up by the prolific label?

MD: Milestone for sure.

I'll continue to work w/Steve & Brainfeeder, I feel always.

I've known Steve since 2006, when I moved to LA,  heavily working with magnetic tape & ambient music. The beats I had been making, but coming back to the beats after what was a sort of spiritual sonic retreat at the time led me to make Outmind.

Butter: Could you tell us a little about the concept behind your label Leaving Records?

MD: The label is an art project started by myself, and visual director & parnter Jesselisa Moretti.

It started out as a project using design, and the many realms of experimental music culture particularly cassette culture, in and around Los Angeles. Its still that, we're exploring other territories to translate our projects to. different environments like galleries, venues. mediums like vinyl, VHS.

Butter: Lastly, is there anyone really pushing the experimental/ electronic stuff that we should know about?

MD: Two kind of extremes here, super influential to me right now..
*M. Geddes Gengras
*Rene Hell

Matthew David plays at the Buffalo Club this Friday 18th November.
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=169834196434937