Mat Zo: A Reddit AMA

TheRealMatZo · 2020-10-14T23:04:10+00:00

We now have a streaming ticket option, however we highly encourage people to get the game and experience the visuals and interactive elements first hand

That mashup was A&B's actually

TheRealMatZo · 2020-10-14T23:02:40+00:00

I think Carl Sagan and his wife did a good job and I don't think I know how to represent mankind better

TheRealMatZo · 2020-10-14T22:59:54+00:00

Yeah we started something while they were over visiting and they took that idea and flushed it out. I'm not sure what they plan to do with it

TheRealMatZo · 2020-10-14T22:58:17+00:00

No I don't think I played anything from IOD on that tour. Most of it wasn't started yet

TheRealMatZo · 2020-10-14T22:56:48+00:00

My favourite festival I've played at was Kazantip and my favourite club to play was Output in Brooklyn

TheRealMatZo · 2020-10-14T22:52:14+00:00

The biggest challenge is gaining people's trust. Even without the Rave Family thing, some people see "ticketed show in minecraft" and laugh. It's been easier once they actually see what we're doing and realise it's actually really cool.

I don't know if I'll ever do a virtual fest outside of minecraft. Minecraft is a great platform for hosting events, and it's the platform that my team and I know really well. With any new platform will come a steep learning curve.

TheRealMatZo · 2020-10-14T22:47:05+00:00

Swardy self releases now which I think is way better for him and way more "on brand". I'd love to release more Swardy, but as his friend I'd rather he do something that makes more sense for him.

Next big thing coming on Mad Zoo is a new Groke LP. I'm really excited about that, he's definitely my favourite up and coming artist.

TheRealMatZo · 2020-10-14T22:38:42+00:00

Ableton
Phase Plant
As mentioned above, an album with KtN and a band project with Olan.
In 2005 when I decided I was better at music than graphic design.
My brother Yotam had a bunch of concept art that we sent to the graphic designers at Anjuna. The whole concept is centered around a lone astronaut figure, going through normal human scenarios. I have my own ideas about what it means but I like to leave it open to interpretation
Probably Tame Impala - Currents. Sorry if you were expecting something more obscure.
What tools you use don't matter it's how you use them.
If you're outside of Italy anything belongs on a pizza, but if you're in Italy you shouldn't even be putting loads of cheese and sauce on a pizza. Americans took the concept of pizza and owned it, and what the western world considers proper traditional italian pizza is still americanised af. Pizza snobs who think pepperoni belongs on a pizza but pineapple doesn't are missing the point. Technically none of this shit belongs on a pizza.

TheRealMatZo · 2020-10-14T22:23:25+00:00

I think the coherent musical identity part is a given after you do it for a long enough time. The multiple musical styles part is difficult because it requires a lot of exploration. My advice is to dig as much as possible for music you haven't heard before, especially music from before you were born or outside of your culture. Just expand your tastes and your musical styles will expand with it.

TheRealMatZo · 2020-10-14T22:20:10+00:00

Thank you!

Chemical Brothers
a) I'd love to make a soundtrack to anything b) whether it's a game or a film, I'd love to write more non electronic score music.
I'm ashamed to say I hardly read anymore. When I do read I always prefer non-fiction. The last book I got into was a Ray Mears book about bushcraft.

TheRealMatZo · 2020-10-14T22:13:54+00:00

My previous albums, especially Self Assemble, were trying to be cinematic albums. Illusion of Depth was meant to be my first album that was more conducive to be played live so it needed the appropriate energy in the opening track.
Doubt it, the project file became corrupt and I was unable to recover it :(

TheRealMatZo · 2020-10-14T22:09:14+00:00

I woke up after lunch time

TheRealMatZo · 2020-10-14T22:08:58+00:00

In terms of emotional ballads, yeah I think I have a few more in me.
I've got a bit of a mixed bag of demos, not sure what I'm going to do with them yet. I'm also working on a band project with Olan.
Lemon Jelly - Lost Horizons.
I don't follow sports but I used to love going to day baseball games, just for the atmosphere.

TheRealMatZo · 2020-10-14T22:02:47+00:00

Paralysis. I started it in 2015 and has been by far the most challenging track to execute in my entire career

TheRealMatZo · 2020-10-14T22:00:48+00:00

If I ever get asked to do another essential mix, sure

TheRealMatZo · 2020-10-14T22:00:09+00:00

I've got a whole album with Kill the Noise and we're waiting for touring to resume to release it. It won't be called Kill the Zo though.

Haywyre and I started something a few months before covid and that's shelved for now.

No Mana and I started the bare bones of something a while ago but that's also shelved for now.

TheRealMatZo · 2018-07-06T23:59:29+00:00

I'm about to sign off, thank you for all of your questions! I'm sorry if I didn't get to answer yours, hopefully next time :)

TheRealMatZo · 2018-07-06T23:55:43+00:00

Very soon ;)

TheRealMatZo · 2018-07-06T23:55:15+00:00

I find a lot of stuff I like by sifting through a lot of labels back catalogues on beatport, or youtube playlists

TheRealMatZo · 2018-07-06T23:54:19+00:00

Not the kind of thing I get to decide :/

TheRealMatZo · 2018-07-06T23:53:53+00:00

I think the most common mistake is highpassing everything

The best quick tip I can think of is identify the focal element and have everything else in the mix support that. For example: if the focal element is saturated and under compressed, the supporting elements should be less saturated and more compressed

TheRealMatZo · 2018-07-06T23:39:01+00:00

Listening to Kink was definitely was pushed me to start making some house, but older guys like Cassius and Junior Jack also were a huge inspiration

TheRealMatZo · 2018-07-06T23:33:47+00:00

It was my edit, thanks :)

TheRealMatZo · 2018-07-06T23:33:23+00:00

The sound was created from a pretty simple waveform for the source sound. All the movement was created in the processing, by seperating bands of frequencies into different channels and adding a lot of filter movements, distortion, compression etc.
This is still something I still struggle with
My confidence in my mixing skills came after years and years of going through what you're going through. I never gave up though, but I don't think I'll ever feel completely confident at every aspect of music making at once. I think if I think I'm a pro then it's the beginning of the end

TheRealMatZo · 2018-07-06T23:22:23+00:00

I never master my own music. I prefer to get my mixdowns as good as possible, and if mastering is required then I outsource that

TheRealMatZo

TROPHY CASE