Matt Tolfrey Interview

It's no small compliment getting called “the last great British DJ” by Seth Troxler, but then Matt Tolfrey has been doing his country proud on the international stage for well over a decade now. Head of Leftroom Records and its various off-shoots, his jacking brand of tech-house has arguably helped lay the ground for the sound's current ubiquity.

Ahead of joining Secondcity for his ENd party this Friday 9th of December, alongside Mark Fanciulli (more info and tickets here), we spoke to Tolfrey about a new music consultancy, his Don't Be Left Out parties and plans for 2017...

Last year saw the momentous ten year celebration of Leftroom. How has 2016 managed to compare to that?

2016 has been great so far. I managed to release three EPs on No 19, Of Unsound Mind and Leftroom, and did a small amount of  specifically chosen remixes. I have also been putting the finishing touches to a music consultancy company that my wife and I have started named TheOne800 which you will be hearing all about a the start of the year.

You're own DJ career started before that at Nottingham's the Bomb in 2002. How did your residency there shape what you still do today? 

I only got to play at the Bomb as a resident a handful of times before its unfortunate closure, but the club itself shaped my music tastes massively. The main residents Dave Congreve and Kelvin Andrews turned me onto so many different labels and artists, so I owe them a lot.  

Your sound still seems to echo what was briefly called boompty house. Is it fair to say that's the root of what you still play?

Again, that comes from the Bomb.  The residents there had a really jackin’ sound at the time compared to a lot of the more progressive sounds being played at the time. My favourite times at the club were when Derrick Carter played, so it must of been tattooed on my musical taste somewhere.

You've started your own Don't Be Leftout parties. Where are these held and how often? We saw you have a new Barcelona residency starting with Sasha. How far do you two go back?

We have residencies at R33 in Barcelona, Bar Americas in Guadalajara and Stealth in Nottingham. It’s a party project I am very excited about, which is basically a bringing together of friends that I have picked up on my travels around the globe. I used to travel around the country listening to Sasha when I was 19 years old, so to know consider him a friend is pretty bizarre. He invited me to play back to back with him at his Last Night On Earth NYE party in Brixton last year, and we’ve been waiting for another time to play together since…

What's next out of the studio following your 'On The Floor' EP? 

I’ve got a collaboration with Route 94 on his single for Crosstown Rebels out in March, and also an EP signed with Material. I’m also working on a follow up to my No.19 EP. December and January are big studio months for me, so I am hoping to have a lot more signed by the start of the year.

How about in terms of releases for the labels?  

Next up on Leftroom is a single by Detroit’s Ataxia, with a remix from myself, followed by EPs from Adam Curtain, Kate Simko and Jansons. Next up on Leftroom Limited is an EP from Ecuador’s Andre Salmon, with an amazing Alex Arnout remix, and a 12 Stories EP with a Citizenn remix.

Can you tell us three things about you that your fans won't know already?

1. I label manage for Cuttin’ Headz, Do Not Sleep, Kaluki and Asylum Confidential.

2. I have a huge announcement about Ibiza coming very soon.

3. My studio is called The Doghouse.

You're having friends over for dinner. What would the early and late soundtracks be?

Early: Rae and Christian - 'Blazing The Crop'

Late: Layo & Bushwaka - 'Ibiza Cheese Free Mix'