A classically-trained musician turned DJ/Producer – what a refreshing change. In this time when so many DJs hire engineers to become producers, its nice to see a guy who actually does his own work. With his DK Recordings label and massively successful Trousy mixed compilation, Matthew Dekay is one of those rare artists who can step outside the studio and find the best music to play and release. Watch for the launch of his renewed DK Recordings and his new collaborations with Sander Kleinenberg.
DJ Ron Slomowicz: So, I hear you're working with Sander Kleinenberg in the studio now.
Matthew Dekay: Yes. We're going to work on some Sander Kleinenberg material, so I'm pretty excited about it. Sander and I are building a new studio in Amsterdam. I'm also going to keep my own studio, of course, but we're actually building a new studio right now. I think in the next eight weeks we will set up a studio and we're ready to rock. We're going to work on Sander his new artist album. I hope that the first Sander Kleinenberg single is going to be finished by the end of summer. Fingers crossed J
RS: When you're in the studio working with Sander Kleinenberg, how do the two of you collaborate?
Matthew Dekay: Sander is really good with arrangements, like a structure of a song. Besides that he’s also a pioneer when it comes to mess around with analog gear/synths. I think that's his really strong point. I'm more like a composer and a musician, so I'm more the guy who's doing melodies, and I'm playing piano. That combination, I think that works really, really well. I've known Sander for quite a while now, for five years. We've been working together on some stuff, on developing the Matthew Dekay tracks, which were hard-thought and many months of recording. But now it's time for a change, especially for Sander, because I think we both have a clear vision of where to go, which direction Sander Kleinenberg.
RS: What's the difference between a Sander Kleinenberg track and a Matthew Dekay track?
Matthew Dekay: I think Sander Kleinenberg his sound is a lot dirtier than mine. I'm always a little bit more trippy melodic so far. I don’t want to go to much in detail here as I want to keep the new sound of Sander his album a bit secret! Haha..
RS:. In the studio, are you on Logic or ProTools? What software do you use?
Matthew Dekay: I use everything. I think my main program is going to be Logic, but everything around it. I use Ableton as a tool. I use Reactor also, as a very important tool in my setup. I'm also working with a sound designer who's the sound designer of Junkie XL. His name is André Ettema, and he's creating synthesizers and stuff. So he's one of my gurus, creating so many modules that are fantastic to use. So I'm a Logic guy, but I use Ableton, I use ProTools for mix down. I use everything that's out of there.
RS: I heard rumors that you’re relaunching DK Recordings.
Matthew Dekay: Yes, We just re-launched DK Recordings again, which is my own imprint. I'm going to release my own stuff on that label.
RS: Is that where Trousy 2 is going to come out?
Matthew Dekay: Trousy 2 has been shelved for now but there will be a Sonicbox compilation this year.