Haunting New EP, Ju-On, and Finding Groove: Matt Talks ALT RECORDS' 10th Release and More
Tune in for this convo with Matt Altman!!
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Diving into the depths of techno's hypnotic allure, Matt Altman stands as a beacon of innovation and sonic mastery. As an alumni of Berklee College of Music, Matt seamlessly blends the improvisational finesse of jazz with the raw, driving energy of techno. Launching his own imprint ALT RECORDS in 2020, Matt has carved out a distinct niche in the electronic music landscape, championing emerging talent and pushing the boundaries of sonic exploration. His releases on esteemed labels such as Trau-ma, Business Class Records, and Hidden Source Records have garnered critical acclaim, cementing his reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the global techno community.
From the storied streets of New York City to the vibrant nightlife of Bogota, Matt has graced renowned venues with their electrifying presence. From the legendary Output and Cielo to the eclectic Bogart House, their performances are a testament to their unparalleled skill behind the decks and their ability to command the dance floor with unwavering authority. In December 2023, Matt made their debut in Bogota. It was a landmark moment in their career, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in their journey as an artist and performer. As he continues to push the boundaries of sound and captivate audiences around the globe, Matt remains a visionary artist whose passion for music knows no bounds.
Join 6AM as we sit down with Matt Altman to get his hot take on finding inspiration, dark techno, and growing his label!
Hi Matt! Thanks so much for talking to 6AM how are you doing?
Thank you for the questions! I’m doing well, thanks!
Congrats on your label ALT RECORDS' 10th release! Looking back, what's been the most unexpected challenge you've faced since starting the label in 2020? What have been some milestone moments for you and this venture?
Thank you! Over the last 4 years one of if not the biggest challenge for the label would be consistency. I am trying to get the label to a place where it’s on either a monthly or bi-monthly release schedule, but you also don’t want to oversaturate the music. While I have started to sign other artists’ music to the label, it is still mainly just mine, and I want each release to be unique and not rushed when it comes out. Trying to balance the release schedule with wanting to do more to grow the label (i.e. throwing parties) has also been challenging. What has been incredible to see though is that other artists who I look up to are starting to not only support releases but play the tracks in clubs. Artists such as Lindsey Herbert and Adriana Lopez among others, playing some of the releases just puts the biggest smile on my face. I’ll never forget getting an email from Aslice saying that Luke Slater had played “The Curse That Ends In Flames” (ALT RECORDS 005) at Berghain. That was such an incredible moment for both myself and the label.
Speaking of your label, your new EP to release on ALT RECORDS is a haunting track inspired by Ju-On: The Grudge. What was it about this particular J Horror film that resonated with you and influenced the creation of these tracks?
Ju-On: The Grudge is one of my favorite J Horror movies of all time. Last year my grandmother was diagnosed with Lung Cancer, and when her health really started to decline I decided to give this movie a re-watch. The house in that movie breeds an all consuming curse mainly through the main character Kayako’s Onryo that is inescapable; in the same way that cancer is all consuming and inescapable. Due to the large impact that this re-watch had during the time that I watched it, I felt the best thing to do was write an EP about it. I tried to tie each track on the EP to either characters from the movie, and/or emotions that were felt throughout it. The themes from my perspective being suffering, loss, jealousy, and to some extent fate.
Creating dark, sinister music inspired by horror films sounds intense. Do you have any rituals or habits when you’re getting into the zone for producing these tracks?
I draw a lot of my inspiration from experiences and/or things that I watch. As weird as it may sound, my process is fairly simple in that regard. If I just finish an anime or I learn something new about Japanese mythology, my brain kind of just goes “write music”. It’s the best way I can put what I’ve learned and seen to paper. Sometimes in the case of an anime, movie, or tv show, that piece of media is playing in the background without sound, and I'll translate what I’m watching to techno. In the case of Ju-On that’s quite literally what I did. I wrote as the movie was playing in the background. The more intense the piece of content I’m absorbing, the more intense the music.
How did your background at Berklee College of Music shape your approach to producing techno music?
Being a drummer all of my life and then attending Berklee, just helped me further my musical learning. I took what I learned in my Harmony & Ear Training classes specifically to help me write melodic elements within the tracks I was working on. In terms of the drum & percussive aspects it would be through live acts that I would go see during my time in Boston and/or what I learned playing with other musicians, especially being in the West African drum Ensemble. Learning about all of those complex rhythms I would say without a doubt impacted the approach that I take to writing techno. Groove is everything, and it all started there.
Performing in Bogota for the first time last December must have been a pivotal event for you. How did the energy and vibe of the city influence your set, and what were some of the highlights of that experience? How has that moment affected you as an artist and your artist’s journey?
This was really a dream come true for me. All I’ve ever wanted since I started playing music was to play in other countries, and the fact that this was able to happen was such an exhilarating moment for me. Tav Shvi, who is also signed to ALT RECORDS, was kind enough to invite me down and facilitate everything with the help of Analog Vice Studios & Motif in Bogota. We had an absolute blast to say the least. There is a true thirst for techno in that country that I quite honestly haven’t really seen before. The vibe is so positive, and it makes you feel incredibly good behind the decks and more importantly on the dance floor. Techno is treated like such serious music (it definitely can be), but to have that level of positivity and lust for techno has inspired me to make music that is less hard and pounding, but more upbeat and groovy. I am a drummer afterall, but it really took this trip to Bogota for things to click in that regard. I am dying to go back!
Thank you so much for taking the time to speak to our audience. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Thank you for the questions! ALT RECORDS 10th release comes out on July 15th, and will be available for purchase on Bandcamp and for stream. We will also have merchandise ready for purchase on our Bandcamp page soon as well! Finally thank you to all of the Artists who have released throughout our 10 releases (Karpinski, Tav Shvi, Cassulle, & Scibor), Otavio Santiago for creating the incredible artwork for each release, Gio Conti at Artefacts Mastering Berlin for doing a phenomenal job mastering all of the releases, and to everyone who has supported and continues to support the label!
Connect with MATT ALTMAN: Instagram | Beatport