Duos, much like friendships, are born out of intersecting interests and shared stylistic preferences. It was an overlapping affinity for skateboard decks and DJ decks that push-started Mat.Joe, the bubbling Berlin project between Matze and Johannes. Since forming, the production pair have been showering the scene with high-grade shakers for imprints including OFF Recordings, Defected, and Snatch! They’ve got a new two-tracker in the cannon for Hottrax, the feistier offshoot of Hot Creations, arriving after the success of their strutting collab “Keep It Rough” alongside Kevin Knapp.
Nonstop Nonsense falls in line with the urban-dwelling attitude they’ve been carving out for themselves over the years, splicing together the sounds of house and hip-hop to great effect. The German gents have graciously given us the jump on “Dat Cream,” a head-splitting stomper postured with skipping drums, snarling analog lines, and enough bass to make the whole place vibrate. Ahead of its release date on July 22, we hit up Mat.Joe to talk about the Hottrax record and the glue that brought them together in the first place.
Things seem to be going really well for you at the moment. What’s the biggest blessing you have counted lately?
Yes, it’s incredible! One of the biggest blessings is being able to work with so many nice people/fantastic artists and big love and support from all sides.
You’ve got a new EP coming out on Hottrax called Nonstop Nonsense. Care to tell us why you felt that label made the most sense to house this release?
We’re big fans of Jamie Jones and the HC crew in general; we play a lot of the Hot Creations/Hottrax releases, and so we’re supa happy that Jamie’s feeling the tracks and signed them.
Say one thing you like most about each of the two tracks.
“Nonstop Nonsense”: vocal weirdness.
“Dat Cream”: synth madness.
Let’s dig a little deeper into “Dat Cream.” What was going on around you when the track was coming to fruition, and how did that steer the creative direction of the tune?
“Dat Cream” was this one loop we played a couple of hours in the studio and went wild with the automation of the woman screaming! Mat just finished the sub, and Joe came around with the synth part... ta-daaaa. We were jumping up and down in our Neukoelln backyard studio and screamed back at the lady: “‘Dat Cream’ is dope!” :)
Skating is one of the interests that originally brought you both together. How much crossover is there between the house/techno scene and the skate community in your city?
We both have a skateboarding/hip-hop/punk culture background. Mat came in touch with the electronic music scene in end of the ‘90s, when he went to drum & bass parties with the skate homies. Back then, all the D&B guys were skaters or hip-hop dudes.
Who would you say is the more skilled rider of the two of you?
Hard to say—Mat is still trying to hurt his body; Joe already did so. :D
I noticed a couple of photos you took recently with your skateboards. Do you regularly sneak in seshes while out on the road? If so, what source do you rely on to find places to hit up while in other countries?
We mostly try to do something like that, but it always depends on our free time. And sure, when you’re in L.A. or Melbourne, you just have to skate! :)
What are some of your favorite skate spots in Berlin?
Warschauer Strasse street spot, Tempelhofer Feld and Hasenheide.
List five tracks of any genre that you feel were absolutely meant to jam out to while skating?
A$AP Rocky “ Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye 2 ”
Smashing Pumpkins “ 1979 ”
N.E.R.D. “ You Know What ”
Mick Jenkins “ The Water ”
Bobby Womack “ Across 110th Street”
What’s the best skate trick in your repertoire?
Mat: Halfcab 180 to backside nosegrind big spin off.
Joe: Kickflip bs 5-0 360 shuvit off.
Buy the Nonstop Nonsense EP here .
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