Exclusive: Matoma Reflects On His Career At Electric Zoo

The Knockturnal had the delight of sitting down and talking to rising DJ and Producer Matoma on Saturday the 3rd, when he performed his set at this year’s incredible Electric Zoo.

It is always such a pleasure to talk to an artist who is skyrocketing in the music business but is so happy to share his love for music and life with everyone! Norwegian Tom Stræte Lagergren has been transcending music with his incredibly unique and good vibe sounds. Matoma has worked with amazing artists and has created songs that EDM lovers crave. His career is very admirable and is moving at a non-stopping rate. All well deserved. Matoma was the closing set this past Saturday at the Hilltop Stage and he absolutely killed it. Not only were his transitions on point and knew how to read his audience perfectly but he radiated joy every second of his set to his hundreds of viewers, which made the experience even more enjoyable.

Through his words, you can see this is a guy with a true calling for music and love for what he does.

Have you ever considered moving to the states?

I thought about it in the beginning … Last year I spent a little more than a month in LA. I really like the vibe but it’s not the right vibe for me in the long term … or place I would like to stay. I am really used to the fresh air in Norway, the mountains, going hiking, that really has inspired me and my music since the beginning. I live in Trondheim, which is the 3rd biggest city in Norway and I have the most amazing view, with the lake, ocean, a couple of mountains and then the city. It’s different. I also have my family there, my friends; it’s just not the same here. I really like it but for shorter amounts of time, I usually do AirBnB or something like that when I come for songwriting or shows and gigs.

Which song have you had the most fun producing?

All! You always get passionate about every single song you make because you get so attached to it while you are making it, so every song feels special. Of course you have some songs where you interact better with other people but for me, I love producing. Every song I produce, it’s a journey. Seeing it from scratch to its finish is a process and such a different and fun experience to witness.

How long does it normally take you to work on a song?

It depends on my inspiration and also depends on what type of song it is. Sometimes it can take a day, sometimes a week, but the finishing product to polish it and get it to sound ready for radio takes probably a week, a week and a half. After you finish a song it takes about a week to polish it, take away unnecessary noise, compress it right, and make it the sample that you want when you release it because I do everything myself. I mix, I master, I produce.

Do you go to anyone for help/ input on a song you’re working on?

I use my label a lot, my A&Rs, my manager and my brother, he’s my biggest critic. If he thinks a song is bad he says it like “Tom, this sounds like sh*t. You either need to work on it or need to scratch it because this isn’t working.” He has been like that since day 1, and that’s the reason I think I’m here today, because I have had friends and family that have encouraged me to do it but has also been very honest about what they think about my music. They used to say, especially my brother, “This quality isn’t as good as like the radio, you need to work on the production.” I remember when I started putting out songs on Soundcloud, that was one of the thing that people noticed and commented upon, “How do you get your songs to sound so clean and crunchy and have so much bass without having any label putting it out?” It’s probably because I have a bachelor in music production but also as a producer you need to use your ears and compare your music sound wise, so that it has the same quality as the top radio songs.

You studied classical music when you were a child, what was the transition like? How was your family involved?

My family has always been very encouraging, as long as I’m happy with what I’m doing. When I wanted to do classical music they supported that. They didn’t push me but they really really encouraged me to pursue my dreams. When I said to them “I am tired of the classical and I want to buy myself a computer to start producing my own music” they said “You need to buy the laptop yourself.” I had to work, I did a month of lawn for older people. I did about 10 lawns during a week and during one summer I had enough to buy myself a computer, a sound card, a microphone, and speakers. I started producing when I was 16, and have been doing it since. I love it. It’s the best thing in the world.

Do you remember the moment thinking that this could actually be a viable career?

I think when people started hitting me up from the music industry, like when I signed with APA (the agency) and was able to do my first Canadian turn. Even then I didn’t know if this was a permanent thing or just for the moment. I had nothing to less, in Norway we are really lucky because we have such a secure system with social care, free health care, etc. I also had my bachelor so I knew that if I take a year off and try my best to pursue my dream, maybe it worked or maybe it didn’t but at least I knew I tried it. Then I could look back when I am 40 and be happy instead of regretting not doing it. I just jumped into it and since then it has been just working more and more and harder and harder. It’s nice to see that that I am developing a steady growth. I used to play at the festivals very early and my agent really fought to get me better slots. Coachella was a big moment in my career, it proved that hard work really pays off. My agent in APA was probably on like 500 phone calls to get me that slot of time on Saturday when I played and the reaction was incredible. My management kept pushing me and getting me in the studio with the right songwriters, the right artists for example with the Becky Hill song, which is really starting to get attention.

Can you tell me about the process of “False Alarm” ft. Becky Hill?

The idea of the song happened in Copenhagen with Becky and a few Danish producers. I think she had been in Denmark doing some promo and then had a late party and the next day had a 30 minute studio session before she went back to London. She had an idea, she wrote it, she’s good friends with KStewart who sings in the “Paradise” song with Sean Paul, so she had heard that song and had talked to KStewart about me. My manager got hold of her manager and we got hold on the demo and I loved it, I told them I really wanted to produce it and make my touch on it. I made my production demo on top of the a capella and everybody loved it and was so stoked about it. We got into the studio together and finished it, then we released it during a festival (almost like the Billboards in Norway), it’s a big event and it’s free, about 80,000 people came and they broadcasted it on national TV. We performed it and we released it the same day. In a few days it hit top 3 in Norway, on Spotify, so that was a lot of fun.

You also did your own take on “Bailando” by Enrique Iglesias. How did that come to be?

Enrique’s team hit me up and asked me to do the remix for it. It was about 2 years ago, I was so stoked. We had a skype call where he gave me his notes, what he thought about the remix and at that time I just knew that this was a step further in the right direction to be able to live with my music. That had always been my dream, and to be working with such great artists. Enrique is an amazing guy with a really good heart and good energy. I love people in the music industry that have been around for a long time but they still stay as humble and they have the same personality now as the first day they started, that inspires me.

If you could play anywhere (literally) for example, a city, a location (like a boat, the pyramids of Egypt), where would you like to play?

The moon! (Giggles) Just kidding. I think maybe Hawaii, but the only artist who has played in Hawaii who’s not from there is Elvis Presley. They don’t book people from around the world because they want to keep the culture. I am not on the Elvis level yet.

Do you have any hidden talents?

I love cross country skiing and swimming. Actually, in Norway when I was about 16/17, I wanted to be on the national team for swimming so I worked really hard on that, swam like 10 times a week. I was close but it didn’t happen, but I am happy with the choices I have made. Music is such a passion for me and such a big part of my life, I couldn’t do anything different.

Has there been a point where you felt lost, or wanted to quit on your path?

After the army I got really sick. At the time going was mandatory, now you can choose yourself. When I was laying in the hospital I thought about my life and what I wanted to pursue, music was the thing. At that point I just knew that either way I wanted to work in music, even as a music teacher or piano instructor, I just wanted to work with music since it’s such a big thing in my life.

Do you see your music going into a new direction?

I am always getting inspired and always working on new stuff. It’s all about impressions I have, and inspirations I get from other artists, and traveling. I am going to Asia after my bus tour in the states “Party At Your Place!” starting in two weeks, just to get inspiration. I think developing is always a big part of an artist, to keep growing and keep developing. Look at Tiesto for example, back in the day he didn’t produce the music he did today but he always developed and evolve, at the same time he has that Tiesto sound. I want to be the same.

Do you have any releases come up soon/ concerts?

Yes! Always new stuff coming out. It’s about the momentum you have and releasing at the right time. I also have the bus tour that I mentioned in the states, where I am bringing Cheat Codes and a guy called Steve Void and Bank. We are doing 42 shows in 46 days all over the US. I am coming back to NY in January so I am excited for that!

If you could work with any artist who would it be?

Will Smith. I say that in every interview hoping that one day he will listen to an interview and say “Oh who’s this Matoma guy?” and check out my music. He did a movie with Margot Robbie, and a Chicago based magazine asked her what her favorite Will Smith song is and she said “Wild Wild West” the Matoma remix. His manager contacted my manager and we were able to get the stems for “Miami”, they had to bounce it from a physical CD because it wasn’t on any digital device. They had to convert it from a tape to digital. They sent it to me and I did a remix on “Miami”. I am the only guy that has the stems for that song!

Do you look for new artists to collab with?

I always look out for new stuff and I always play new stuff in my set but I am not in the position where I can start collaborations yet. I want to keep building myself, have a well-known name in the industry before I start collaborating with people. I always am in contact with the new artists and in the loop for new songs. Recently I talked to a really nice guys about producing, I gave him some tips. They won the competition for “False Alarm”, so it’s always nice to be an inspiration and talk to people, get to know them. I mean you always collaborate in the studio with songwriters, and musicians. It is always nice to be inspired by the people in the studio.

If you get the chance to see unbelievable Matoma perform please do so! His sets leave nothing to be desired and will have you dancing with a smile on your face from beginning to end!

MATOMA on Tour
15-Sep – Philadelphia, PA @ Coda**
16-Sep – Del Mar, CA @ Kaaboo***
17-Sep – Washington, DC @ A.I**
18-Sep – Richmond, VA @ Kabana**
21-Sep – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection**
22-Sep – Detroit, MI @ Necto*
23-Sep – Toronto, ON @ Uniun Nightclub*
24-Sep – London, ON @ London Music Hall*
25-Sep – Rochester, NY @ Anthology*
27-Sep – Morgantown, WV @ Mainstage Morgantown*
28-Sep – Columbus, OH @ Park Street Salon*
29-Sep – Pittsburgh, PA @ Diesel Nightclub*
30-Sep – Urbana, IL @ Canopy Club*
2-Oct – Scottsdale, AZ @ W Hotel***
3-Oct – Columbia, MO @ Blue Note*
4-Oct – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre*
5-Oct – Minneapolis, MN @ Mill City Nights*
6-Oct – St Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall*
8-Oct – Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theatre*
9-Oct – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex*
12-Oct – Sacramento, CA @ District 30*
13-Oct – Santa Cruz, CA @ Catalyst*
14-Oct – San Francisco, CA @ The Regency*
15-Oct – Los Angeles, CA @ Exchange LA*
16-Oct – Santa Barbara, CA @ EOS Lounge*
20-Oct – Portland, OR @ Euphoria*
21-Oct – Seattle, WA @ Crocodile*
22-Oct – Vancouver, BC @ Celebrities*
SUPPORT: CHEAT CODES* / STEVE JAMES** / NO SUPPORTS***