Home News What's On Annual Poll Photos Forums DJs Features Music Venues Reviews Links

Features Introducing NEM3SI$’s new label Infinite Resistance! Mindbenderz talk ‘Lord of the Rings’ and fishing, as well as the creation of their new album ‘Celestial Gateway’! Iono-Music artists One Function, Eliyahu, Invisible Reality and Dual Vision talk Robert Miles, kids, dogs and vinyl, while we chat about their current releases! Luke&Flex talk influences, the Irish rave scene, why Flex wears a mask and Play Hard, their new EP out now on Onhcet Repbulik Xtreme! Lyktum expands on his new album ‘Home’ – talking about his love of storytelling, creating new harmonies and the concept behind his musical works. Pan talks getting caught short crossing the Sahara, acid eyeballs and tells us Trance is the Answer, plus shares his thoughts on his latest release 'Beyond the Horizon' - all from a beach in Spain! Miss C chats about living with the KLF, DJing in a huge cat’s mouth, training her brain and the upcoming super-duper Superfreq Grande party at LDN East this Saturday, 16th September! NEM3SI$ - I Live for the Night – talks superficiality, psychopaths, and bittersweet success, ahead of a plethora of evocative, emotional, and passionate upcoming melodic techno releases! Psy-Sisters Spring Blast Off! We talk to DJ competition winner ROEN along with other super talents on the lineup! Blasting towards summer festivals with Bahar Canca ahead of Psy-Sisters Spring Blast! Shyisma talks parties, UFO's, and Shotokan Karate ahead of his upcoming album 'Particles' on Iono-Music! SOME1 talks family, acid, stage fright and wolves - ahead of his upcoming album release ‘Voyager’ on Iono-Music in February 2023! The Transmission Crew tell all and talk about their first London event on 24th February 2023! NIXIRO talks body, mind and music production ahead of his release 'Planet Impulse' on Static Movement's label - Sol Music! Turning the world into a fairy tale with Ivy Orth ahead of Tribal Village’s 10th Birthday Anniversary Presents: The World Lounge Project The Psy-Sisters chat about music, achievements, aspirations and the 10-Year Anniversary Party - 18/12/22! A decade of dance music with Daniel Lesden Earth Needs a Rebirth! Discussions with Psy-Trance Artist Numayma Taking a Journey Through Time with Domino New Techno Rising Star DKLUB talks about his debut release White Rock on Onhcet Republik! PAN expands on many things including his new album 'Hyperbolic Oxymoron' due for release on the 14th April 2022 on PsyWorld Records! Psibindi talks all things music including her new collaborative EP 'Sentient Rays' on Aphid Records, her band Sentience Machine and 10 years of Psy-Sisters! N-Kore talks Jean-Michel Jarre, unfinished tracks and fatherhood! Celebrating International Women’s Day and Ten Years of Psy-Sisters with Amaluna A Catch Up with John Phantasm ahead of his upcoming set at the Tribal Village 4 Day Outdoor Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022!

Who Is Matt von Holtz? Reported by Jennifer Labbett / Submitted 09-09-08 10:27 What does the face of progressive house look like in London today? Well if you said it came in the form of a Jamaican born, Miami bred Londoner, then you might be spot on. If you’re waiting for the music to drop, expect to keep on waiting when it comes to DJ Matt von Holtz. Mixing a lucid blend of tunes that will keep you breathless for more, von Holtz combines a stoic stage presence with an innate ability to read his audience and know just when to get involved. With his hands in the air, bating the crowd below him and pushing them to give him more, he's a statue held up by the power of the music that blazes his trail. With an impressive career in the States as a foundation, von Holtz has been steadily and consistently keeping club-goers on edge from one heaving venue to the next while making the rounds at London’s most famous (and infamous) stages. Heaven, Koko and Ministry are the most recent to play herald to his sound, but he’s spun webs of dirty house around the decks of Turnmills, The Cross, The Key and Scala over the past year. Having just antagonized the crowd alongside Markus Schulz (Gallery) at Ministry of Sound and given the Ibiza crowds a run for their money with Ibizan Heat 2008, he’s set to have a career making year in the London club scene. This summer has been a marquee period for von Holtz, quickly cementing his name as one of the most prolific, up and coming DJs in London’s progressive house movement. Rounding off the season, he played an addictive set headlining the main stage with John Digweed and Paolo Mojo at the SW4 official after party at the Clapham Grand. In typical von Holtz style, he started the evening with some choice minimal and, like the pied piper he’s known to be, by his second hour, had the crowd on the floor and off their feet for the rest of his set. His third hour exemplified what von Holtz is most gifted at: fusing with his audience, being part of the excitement, exuding absolute coolness and making them scream out loud for more. On August 23rd, as always, Matt von Holtz was - and will continue to be - a very tough act to follow. I had a chance to catch up with London’s rising star to find out his story. You’ve been a part of the scene in Miami, Europe and, more specifically, London. What has your experience been with the crowds in each environment been and where do you feel most comfortable? I feel comfortable in all environments, especially behind the decks. It is true that each country and crowd reacts differently to music; however what’s new to some is old to others. I have had good vibes in all locations, but I am a Londoner now and it seems the UK crowd really enjoys what I give them. Your music has grown over the last year, how have you tailored it for each of the venues you’ve played in and how have you used that experience to further develop your sound? I think music in general is a living, breathing part of our everyday life and like us it adapts to stay alive and at the forefront. Being involved with dance and club music for as long as I have been, the progression of what I play has been a natural one, so I would not say I have had to tailor what I play for each venue. It depends more on who I am playing with on the night and if I want to leave them any room to raise the bar a little higher. Usually I like to take the crowd on the journey from start to finish. After that they don't have much energy left. I am well adapted to open a show or DJ the whole night, so whatever the situation calls for I do it. Who do you consider the biggest influences in progressive house today and how do you feel your sound adds to the scene? I can’t take credit for a particular sound, just the blend of tunes I play. In this way I guess it creates more of an operatic effect; telling a story or rousing emotions. The biggest influence in progressive house today would have to be Digweed and Sasha. They are pioneers for the industry and have kept it going. If we were to take a time machine into the future five years from now, where do you see yourself and who will be your peers? Wow, good question! There are a lot of DJs I see being big on the scene in five years time, but people change and their goals changes. I am personally in the here and now. Good things are happening for me and if they continue in this direction, perhaps then we can revisit the five year question. I do not want to be pretentious and say I will be on top of the DJ list or the world for that matter. This is a fickle industry and clubs, people and music change. Those who know me well know I will not just play a cheese record to stay on the scene. So let's hope things stay as they are and do not end up to commercial and mainstream. You have a grasp of your audience that seems to transcend the music, when did you start honing your rapport with the crowd and what signals do you use to build momentum? I have been DJing since I was about 16 years old. I was doing house parties and Prom nights - granted the music was dance or the Miami base sound, but a party is a party and I think even from then I could just sense what the crowd wanted to hear. I could see if the girls were picking up their bags and coats to leave, if that were the case the music was not doing it, so I could change it rather quickly in the mix and pull them right back in. I look for eye contact from those who are close to the booth and hands in the air all the way in the back of the room. If I have a crowd jumping, I will keep them up as long as I think is medically safe and then bring them back down slowly - sort of like a cardio work out - ups and downs with different intensity. I have been in the game a long time now, so reading the crowd is just one of those things that come more naturally to me. If you could pick one date in the last year that has had immeasurable impact on the direction of your career, which one would it be and why? I would have to say Bedrock at Heaven with Eric Prydz and John Digweed I was quite surprised that people were not leaving my room to go see them, hell quite a few people missed a good 30 minutes of their set just because they could not leave mine. I think from that night there was a real buzz about “Who is Matt von Holtz.” Honestly I was humbled seeing the reviews and what people were saying on the boards, it is just fuel for the fire that keeps me burning and heading towards my goal. Everybody’s a DJ in London – why did you decide to throw your hat into the ring given the odds and what about your music has enabled you to stand out from the masses? It is okay that everyone in London is a DJ, at least that way the scene will always stay fresh and have new and upcoming talent. I personally was a DJ a long time before coming to London so it was not a matter of throwing my hat in the ring. It was more about doing what I love with the best clubbers in the world. If people come and see me then it must mean they appreciate my sound and the music I play. I will keep it up as long as they support me and enjoy it. One thing that makes me stand out? Hmmm, I am not in this for the fame, just for the music; when you truly do something out of love I think it shows and this is what is projected when I spin. All I can do is hope it’s enough to make me stand out. Everyone has their 15 minutes of fame. I am just asking for a full hour. Where would you say the future of progressive house is stemming from today? This is hard to say, music is always evolving to keep up with the times but house in general has proved it can withstand the test. As technology races ahead and we can develop new sounds the sky is the limit. If you were to pick one event that you have to play at in the coming year what would it be? SW4 main stage or Bedrock tent And lastly (most important question!): Who is your most loyal fan and how do you reward the people who’ve believed in you from the beginning? Anyone who shows up on the day, whether they are familiar with me or not, will more than likely be a fan at the end of the set. I reward them with the best set and energy I can bring on the day. I have a loyal group of people that have believed in me from the beginning and have stuck with me through tough times. I have never wanted to give up on the music, it is my true love and with this I can share the love with everyone! Watch this space. Matt von Holtz has yet to show you what he’s capable of. This DJ simply will not drop. Photos courtesy of Matt von Holtz. Not to be reproduced without permission. Share this :: : : : Follow HarderFaster :: The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable. Comments: From: milenka on 9th Sep 2008 14:39.29 Very interesting and truthful interview. When I first listed to Matt’s set I was astound. It was so smoothly mixed, so sexy, so unique. I can listen to it over & over & over & always find something new I like about it. It always puts me up on my feet & just I want to move my body to the incredibly mixed & chosen music. From: Bachelor Burkle on 10th Sep 2008 11:02.32 Nice interview Matt! From: Toxic on 18th Sep 2008 18:55.05 'he's a statue held up by the power of the music that blazes his trail. ' LOL!!! From: maliksta on 29th Sep 2008 01:45.29 MVW you are the man. I am glad to see you in action at C.D and of course at the C.G. :-) Let me know when you are back stateside. I am in new yorkers.. talk soon maliksta From: Macey on 21st Oct 2008 00:48.18 Top stuff mate. Spot ya for some more party madness soon

All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective companies. All other content is (c) 2001-2024 HarderFaster.

Terms and Conditions | Privacy Statement | Text Mode