News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

MATHEW JONSON


BIO:
Biography Mathew Jonson really is one of a kind. He's developed one of the most distinctive voices in electronic dance music: when you hear one of Jonson's tracks, you almost immediately know it's his. And yet there's no mistaking any given track for another. His music offers a rare fusion of populist intensities and nuanced musicality. With a keen understanding for the needs of the dancefloor and the universal laws of house and techno, he's thrown out the rule book time and time again, sneaking tricks learned from electro and even drum'n'bass into minimal clubs, and loading up his B-sides with tracks that do what they damned well please. (No kick drum? No problem.) His standards for sound and presentation are exacting. Both on stage and in the studio, Jonson's fealty to analog equipment and real-time play—as opposed to mere playback—serves as a standardbearer for a kind of electronic music that goes way beyond the drag 'n' drop world of digital composition. Jonson has always been eager to get his hands dirty, and the music reflects that in gnarled bass sequences and long, intuitive lines. His sounds have serious teeth. And despite his quick ascent through the ranks of the techno elite, Jonson hasn't just stayed personally grounded. He's devoted much of his energy to supporting his own close musical family, both in the groups Cobblestone Jazz and the Modern Deep Left Quartet, and with his Wagon Repair label, which he cofounded with Jesse Fisk, Graham and Adam Boothby, Frank Meyerhofer and Konrad Black. He studied classical piano as a kid, plus jazz drumming, and played drums in a marching band —thus laying both the melodic and the rhythmic cornerstones of his music today. (Plenty of musicians claim to be "classically trained," of course, rendering the phrase all but meaningless. But here's something you might not have known about Mathew: he's actually begun studying piano again, which suggests a musical seriousness that's rare in the world of auto-didact button-pushers. Thanks to his father's work with sound technology, he also got his hands on synthesizers at the age of 9. By the time he discovered hip-hop as a young teen, he was recreating its electro-based beats on his own rudimentary setup at home. It was in Victoria, when he was 19, that Jonson met up with the crew that would help guide his musical trajectory: Tyger Dhula, Danuel Tate and Colin de la Plante, who were playing and DJing parties around the area. The four started playing in clubs together, an early version of the group that exists today as Cobblestone Jazz and the Modern Deep Left Quartet. (The Modern Deep Left Quartet was the original name for the foursome; after de la Plante moved to Montreal, the remaining trio carried on as Cobblestone Jazz.) "It was all improvised," says Jonson of the group's early days. "We never really worked in the studio, we would just meet at the nightclub and jam. That's how it started. We did that for quite a while, and then it morphed into a residency at a club, once every two weeks." To keep it interesting, they would invite other musicians—on trumpet, violin, bass, sax, and rhythm sections—to join them. After de la Plante left town, Cobblestone Jazz began focusing its efforts more squarely on the dancefloor, moving away from purely improvised sets to include composed and rehearsed passages. And Jonson gradually began honing in on his own sound, both in his productions and his DJ sets, inspired by a deeper, weirder sound that had begun filtering into the city's techno parties. His first record, in 2001, was the first release on the B.C. label Itiswhatitis, appropritately titled "New Identity." Another followed in 2002, and in 2003. That year, he also made his first appearance on Perlon, "Alpine Rocket"—a track he recorded alongside Luciano during his first trip to Europe. And then, suddenly, Jonson was everywhere: Itiswhatitis, Sub Static, Arbutus, Kompakt, M_nus—and every track an anthem. "I had all that music kind of saved up," says Jonson, "and then, just by chance, released it all at the same time. People criticized me for it, said that it wasn't a good idea. But it worked out for me. All the tracks did well. I wasn't saturating the market with bad music." He's right there. In 2005, Jonson co-founded Wagon Repair, and it's been a blur since, a nonstop series of tours and recordings, solo and with his bandmates. Crucially, he moved to Berlin. Here, he and de la Plante—who moved over at the same time—have set up Cobblestone Jazz' European headquarters, providing not only the launch pad for European tours but, more importantly, the control center for the group's recorded activities. The studio is jawdropping, frankly: a semi-circle full of gear, from old workhorses like the 808 and 909 and SH-101 to unique beasts like their Cwejman and Roland System 100m modular system. Tate's Rhodes piano anchors one corner of the horseshoe, and everything feeds into a massive desk where tracks are mixed and recorded in real-time. Jonson makes his own music essentially the same way—only with two hands instead of eight. Those two hands have come up with some remarkable material. Having perfected his brand of earthshaking epic with tracks like "Marionette," "Return of the Zombie Bikers" and "Symphony for the Apocalypse," Jonson has increasingly turned his efforts towards more personal, introspective music. He hasn't left the clubs behind—his new album, Agents of Time, features a number of tracks that are as hip-windingy wily as anything he's produced yet, full-on tracks like "Girls Got Rhythm" and "Thieves in Digital Land." But he's also taken advantage of the longplayer format to stretch out and indulge darker moods and slower tempos. "I like to have phrases that sound like they're major, but then they go minor when they turn around," explains Jonson. "You think that you're in a happy place, but suddenly you're not. I like playing with that tension. When I look at the music I've made, the best music is always music that can stimulate any kind of emotion. It's more like a key, towards opening up whatever is inside of you -a gateway" You can expect him to be unlocking even more emotions soon—ones you may not have even known you had—when he ramps up with Midnight Operator, a collaboration with his brother Nathan Jonson, aka Hrdvsion. With Nathan also based in Berlin, the two are finding common musical ground, expanding upon the platform they established with their lone, 2007 EP for Wagon Repair as they begin work on an album. "Obviously, you can look at what I do with my label and the bands I have, to see what's important to me," says Jonson of keeping it in the family, so to speak. I'm lucky because I have so many friends who are strong musicians. We can all feed off of each other. You know, when you're doing music, it's such a personal thing. To have an outlet with the labels to be able to release our music, and be able to all stay together, I think there's a lot of strength in that. Everybody is stronger as a group."

Latest Articles


Family Piknik Announces Stacked Lineup For 2024 Edition Photo Family Piknik Announces Stacked Lineup For 2024 Edition
by Michael Major - March 12, 2024

Get ready for the 2024 edition of Family Piknik with a lineup that promises an unforgettable experience. Stay tuned for more updates from Resonate PR. The Main Stage will feature mind-blowing sets all weekend long, from artists including Albano B2B Mood Gorning, Amber Broos, Anfisa Letyago, Camelpha...

Time Warp Announces Headliners for 2020's Mannheim Edition Photo Time Warp Announces Headliners for 2020's Mannheim Edition
by Kaitlin Milligan - February 13, 2020

After a completely sold-out series of 25th Anniversary events around North and South America in 2019, Germany's iconic Time Warp festival returns to its spiritual home, Mannheim for its 26th year, with 19 hours of music spread across seven floors kicking off on 4th April and featuring both red hot y...

Full Lineup Revealed for 2nd Annual CITYFOX LIVE Photo Full Lineup Revealed for 2nd Annual CITYFOX LIVE
by Kaitlin Milligan - January 30, 2020

Announcing the full lineup for its one-of-a-kind all live electronic dance music festival, The Cityfox Experience has revealed over ten new acts for its second edition of Cityfox LIVE. Featuring only live performances from renowned underground dance music acts, Cityfox LIVE will return to its Brookl...

2nd Annual Cityfox LIVE at Avant Gardner on February 29 Photo 2nd Annual Cityfox LIVE at Avant Gardner on February 29
by Sarah Jae Leiber - January 09, 2020

After a roaring entry into 2020 with a ravaging 27 hour dance marathon on New Year's Eve through New Year's Day, NYC event purveyors The Cityfox Experience are pleased to present the second edition of Cityfox LIVE on Saturday, February 29 from 10pm to 6am at East Williamsburg's multi-room event comp...

Epizode Festival Announces Independent Showcases & Final Lineup Photo Epizode Festival Announces Independent Showcases & Final Lineup
by Kaitlin Milligan - November 04, 2019

The world's longest festival for music & art is back on Vietnam's island of Phu Quoc, from December 27 – January 7, 2020 and now EPIZODE announces its complete line-ups and showcases. This latest announcement shows that the programming of the festival goes far beyond night time bangers: sunsets and ...

Epizode Music and Art Festival Returns for Fourth Edition, Dec. 27 to Jan. 7 Photo Epizode Music and Art Festival Returns for Fourth Edition, Dec. 27 to Jan. 7
by Abigail Charpentier - September 12, 2019

Epizode Music and Art Festival returns for a much-anticipated fourth edition from December 27, 2019 – January 7, 2020. Situated on Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island, this idyllic setting boasts green-blue tropical seas, epis sunsets and white sand beaches, where every December the world's best house, minima...

Brand New UK Festival Hide&Seek Is Announced, Revealing Names Including Jeremy Underg Photo Brand New UK Festival Hide&Seek Is Announced, Revealing Names Including Jeremy Underground and Mathew Johnson,
by Tori Hartshorn - April 04, 2019

The North's newest and most exciting boutique electronic music and arts festival Hide&Seek is coming to the lush grounds of Capesthorne Hall, a stately home set in 100 acres of picturesque Cheshire countryside. It all goes down on August 31st from 11am to 11pm and features a cultured line-up across ...

Movement Festival Announces Pop Up Performance, Curated Stages and Showcases Photo Movement Festival Announces Pop Up Performance, Curated Stages and Showcases
by Kaitlin Milligan - March 14, 2019

Movement Music Festival is pleased to announce the 2019 curated stages, showcases and a special 6-hour Circle Of Live performance taking placeMemorial Day Weekend, May 25-27 inside Hart Plaza, Detroit's legendary riverfront park....

German Techno Maestro Ruede Hagelstein Announces North America Tour Photo German Techno Maestro Ruede Hagelstein Announces North America Tour
by Tori Hartshorn - February 08, 2019

German techno maestro and Watergate resident, Ruede Hagelstein, will be making his return to North America for a five-date tour with shows in New York, Miami, Washington D.C., Mexico and Panama this February and March. Armed with a stack of new music including two new releases scheduled for the comi...

OFFSónar Announces Lineups for Detroit Love x Rush Hour, Bonobo Presents Outlier and Photo OFFSónar Announces Lineups for Detroit Love x Rush Hour, Bonobo Presents Outlier and Amelie Lens Presents Exhale
by Kaitlin Milligan - February 06, 2019

Bringing Europe's biggest party weekend of the summer into sharper focus, OFFSónar announce lineups for Detroit Love x Rush Hour, Bonobo Presents Outlier and Amelie Lens Presents Exhale adding to those  previously announced for Innervisions Barcelona and OFFSónar Closing Party....

Caprices Festival Announces New Stage and Second Wave of Artists Photo Caprices Festival Announces New Stage and Second Wave of Artists
by Kaitlin Milligan - January 30, 2019

The 16th edition of Caprices Festival gets even more special with the news of the next wave of artists: now also playing in the stunning ski resort of Crans-Montana in Switzerland from April 11th - 14th, 2019 will be Acid Pauli, Dana Ruh, Mathew Jonson (live), Nico Stojan, Nordstern's Olivan, Frieda...

Movement Festival Announces 2019 Lineup Photo Movement Festival Announces 2019 Lineup
by Kaitlin Milligan - January 24, 2019

Movement Music Festival, one of the longest running and most acclaimed electronic music festivals in the world, is pleased to reveal the full lineup for 2019, taking place Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-27 inside Hart Plaza, Detroit's legendary riverfront park....

The 2018 Red Bull Music Festival Berlin Confirms Lineup Including Janelle Monae, Push Photo The 2018 Red Bull Music Festival Berlin Confirms Lineup Including Janelle Monae, Pusha T, & More
by Macon Prickett - July 18, 2018

For five weeks in September and October, Red Bull Music Festival touches down in Berlin, bringing its acclaimed program of concerts, club nights and public talks to music and cultural venues across the city....

Red Bull Music Academy Announces Berlin's Famed Funkhaus as 20th Anniversary Venue Photo Red Bull Music Academy Announces Berlin's Famed Funkhaus as 20th Anniversary Venue
by Macon Prickett - June 07, 2018

This year, the world-traveling Red Bull Music Academy celebrates its 20th anniversary edition, bringing its peerless program of workshops, public talks, studio sessions and exhibitions back to the city where it all started: Berlin. Over five weeks, 61 up-and-coming music makers from around the world...

Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE Announce Line-Ups for January Photo Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE Announce Line-Ups for January
by Caryn Robbins - January 08, 2018

Following on from an explosive start to 2018, Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE continues to deliver the very best in global electronic names to their party oasis, with the likes of Darius Syrossian, Yaya, Mathew Jonson and Sabb to play at the beach club as part of the upcoming January line-up....

Epizode Festivals Line Up Grows Stronger with Ricardo Villalobos & More Photo Epizode Festivals Line Up Grows Stronger with Ricardo Villalobos & More
by Caryn Robbins - November 10, 2017

Epizode keeps filling the line-up for their already mouthwatering festival. Running from December 31st to January 10th in paradise surroundings in Vietnam, Ricardo Villalobos, Call Super, Jamie Jones, Ryan Crosson, Sammy Dee, Nicolas Lutz, BINH, Richie Ahmed and wAFF are now added to the bill...

Epizode Festival in Vietnam Presents HYTE Stage Photo Epizode Festival in Vietnam Presents HYTE Stage
by Caryn Robbins - October 24, 2017

The both visually as well conceptional stunning Epizode Festival 2017/18 in Vietnam is continuing to make itself the most essential musical festival experience out there by announcing that the highly acclaimed festival brand HYTE will be hosting their own stage at the festival....

Ame, Mahony and Leeroy Thornhill & More Added to Epizodes Line Up Photo Ame, Mahony and Leeroy Thornhill & More Added to Epizodes Line Up
by Caryn Robbins - September 28, 2017

Our equatorial music adventure becomes utterly various. You will hear music of all styles and genres on Epizode. Along with techno-dance floor music there are going to be equipped several stages with alternative sound; trance, breaks and PSY....












Videos

Recommended For You