Matuss: "All the Ups and Downs Just Become Music Later on..."

New York, NY, September 16, 2016 (Newswire.com) - ​Originally from Ukraine, Matuss became involved with music at just 6 years old where her childhood lessons developed into a love and obsession with music. After beginning her career as a dancer, Matuss turned to music and quickly became a rising star in her native country - then moved to New York to pursue the dream further. She launched the Absence Seizureimprint in 2015 alongside International Deejay Gigolo artist Abe Duque, and the label has already been a platform for a number of heavy releases. Her latest EP entitled ‘Seizure No.5’ is the fifth release on the imprint and sees Matuss lay the focus on organic electronic sounds and robust rhythms.

Thanks for speaking with us today! Can you tell us a bit more about the 4 tracks on the new EP? What was the production process like?

"All the ups & downs just become music later on & create a truly unique experience..."

Matuss, Label owner

On this EP tracks were made in Bitwig, using Maschine as a plug. I use and really enjoy Korg products as well, Micro and Electribe in particular. For the first time, all 4 tracks come from a "happy place". There's always been a couple of failure or heartbreak inspired ones previously  It's pretty amazing to me how those emotions transform into records. Mind blowing.

All the ups & downs just become music later on & create a truly unique experience...

Emotions have to do a lot with the name of the label as well, because that flash (absence seizure) is very much needed...

What’s it been like running Absence Seizure? What’s the ethos of the label & where did the name come from? 

Emotions have to do a lot with the name of the label as well, because that flash (absence seizure) is very much needed.

The process of creating a track to me is very much similar to what Dostoyevsky has described best "For several instants I experience a happiness that is impossible in an ordinary state, and of which other people have no conception. I feel full harmony in myself and in the whole world, and the feeling is so strong and sweet that for a few seconds of such bliss one could give up ten years of life, perhaps all of life."

The idea of tying specific Rorschach imagery for each release came naturally. There's a lot of commitment and passion behind it. Never there was a day when I regret starting this label. All the ups and downs just become music later on and create a truly unique experience. There’s nothing you can't handle and there is always a choice.

Has there been a highlight or turning point moment at Absence Seizure? Are there any artists you’d love to sign with the label?

I’ve never been sold on genre specifications. What I feel is what you get... Reassurance came with last release, Menuet No.13 where Abe Duque did a simply ridiculous remix. I was very shy about putting that track out, since it's something extremely different...but now couldn't be happier that I did. I admire people who expand it and experiment to the fullest in their sets and production - that would be Joey Anderson and Omar-S nowadays for me.

If I ever have a chance to walk in the city, I can't stop smiling & that doesn't happen anywhere else, it's like a magic trick. So much going on for inspiration...

What influenced the decision to move to New York? You also assist with teaching at a DJ school there, what’s that been like & do you think you’ve learnt anything whilst teaching?

The reason for choosing New York is quite simple. If I ever have a chance to walk in the city, I can't stop smiling and that doesn't happen anywhere else, it's like a magic trick. So much going on for inspiration, I can't even begin to tell you. 

Landing the job at Dubspot had a huge impact. That’s how I met Abe Duque, who became label partner and my mentor plus there’s an army of extremely talented and passionate people who live and breathe for music. They would share knowledge, experience and challenge you to that next step.

You always have to keep moving. There was also analog gear to put our hands on and sometimes I had to get kicked out, I would stay so late :) I took all possible and impossible courses and Sound Design was really a game changer. There is always something new to discover, but my major software for past couple years is Bitwig.

I guess, instruments that I play are responsible for my endless love for soulful house, disco & garage...

What was the music scene like when you were growing up in Ukraine? Was it your dance career that was your first experience with electronic music? How have your music tastes and preferences developed?

This would be my favorite question  I did start going out to clubs and got heavily into breakdancing at the age of 12. We are early bloomers back home; I suppose  the club was my home, 7 days a week religiously.

I was not a good kid, that's for sure  under the reign of Prodigy,Apollo 440 and KLF.  I guess, instruments that I play are responsible for my endless love for soulful house, disco and garage. Anything jazzy, funky and soul is a must.

It's all about quality, the good stuff. I don't care what you call it really....If I had to name singer’s, that would be Sade, Sting, Jamiroquai and Michael Jackson...I have so much love for so many different styles... I was slaying the dance floor at the first Kazantip in 1996 and recording radio shows in Switzerland couple years later... I am just completely obsessed with music; I listen and get inspired by many, many different things...

My musical taste is constantly changing and evolving, I love to blend and bring in the unexpected into a set. It's like painting a picture and putting a puzzle together. That is why we have it as "deep techno soulful minimal shallow house". It's all about quality, the good stuff. I don't care what you call it really.

You’ve received support from some big names like Roger Sanchez, Michel De Hey & Marco Carola – what’s it like to have your music receive acclaim from international artists? Do you have a track that you’re most proud of?

First, it's like "I can't believe it!" Than I turn into a kid. Smile, laugh and walk around all happy. It means a lot and motivates.  The track I am proud of...yes, there is a story for that :) I try never to borrow things, because I am a spaceman with crazy hectic schedule. I lose things, a lot.

I took a chance. Kept my eyes on the prize, took it straight home & made "Lona" with it & that was our very first release...So Abe Duque talked me into borrowing his Korg Electribe. I came back home without it, have no idea how. After long time freak out recovered it and brought it back to him with the words "never again". Was much more nerve racking, than it sounds.

But he basically forced it back on me, saying that now I really have to make track with it. I took a chance. Kept my eyes on the prize, took it straight home and made "Lona" with it, and that was our very first release and a big accomplishment for me on a musical and personal level.

Super glad I did it; it's one of my favorites and dedicated to a beautiful friend named Lona, accordingly 

f you had to pick, could you name three tracks that you always have in your record collection? What is it about them that make them so special to you?

Absolutely!

Number one is Piek & Efron - Vous Etes Fou. [Inmotion] Nic Fanciulli dropped it first in NY and 2:55 just crushed me! It works all the time :)

Second is a 187 Lockdown - Gunman [Kinetic] UK Garage classic. Makes me childlike happy and usually that gets translated onto the dance floor.

The Bucketheads - The Bomb! [Big Beat] is another classic, genius record. If I ever make anything like it, I might as well just die right after that  My job here would be done. I own 2 pieces and at some point I got into turntablism. This one is extra fun for beat juggling on acapella with pitch moving (which I totally stole from one of Craze's routine in the 90's)

 I try to always have something handy for ideas & simply kill time when travelling; it's Cubasis on iPad, iMaschine & recorder on a phone...

What’s your production and DJ setup like? Can you tell us a little bit more about how you make your tracks?

Dj set up is very simple, since I play vinyl it's really just 2 turntables, mixer, headphones and monitor.

Production is Bitwig software, laptop, Maschine and Korg micro. I use Komplete and Maschine inside Bitwig. I try to always have something handy for ideas and simply kill time when travelling; it's Cubasis on iPad, iMaschine and recorder on a phone. It's all made very convenient to export and develop later on.

Thanks! Finally, what can we look forward to from you following the new release? Any plans on the horizon for Absence Seizure?

The winter release is gonna be very experimental for me - dark, aggressive and heavy. Spring - back to melody. We’re also planning on doing a record just with remixes, some of my favorite artists and superheroes 

Source: Julia Matuss

Related Media