Exclusive Interview with Matt Caseli
MATT CASELI is a House DJ and Ibiza legend that held 15 years in residency at the worlds most famous and beautiful club Pacha. Currently he is signed on Axwell’s highly respected Axtone Records record label. For a special night he will take over the decks at Khaosan Road's hotspot The Club Khaosan for a night of quality House and Progressive House.
Siam2nite had the opportunity to have an exclusive interview with Matt Caseli, shortly before his performance at The Club Khaosan on 18th September.
You can look back on 15 years in residency at one of the world’s most famous clubs Pacha Ibiza. How did you get in touch with electronic dance music in the first place, how did you get into DJing and music production and what brought you to Ibiza?
Originally I was a drum & bass producer back in the early 90’s and that came about from a love of old school hip hop, sampling the breaks & beats and speeding them up!! But soon after the London garage scene exploded and I jumped ship to a more smoother groove! That took me to Ibiza where I was lucky enough to get a guest slot one night in Pacha! The boss loved my music and direct offered me a full residency which then lasted an incredible 15 years!!
You play and produce a mix of House, Tech House, Progressive Big Room, Techno & Electro. How would you describe your own music in just a few words?
Sexy, rocking, uplifting, eclectic and unique! Boom!!!
Your tracks “Sign Your Name” (released in 2010) and “Raise Your Hands” (released in 2011) found their way up to the top on the playlists of artists such as Swedish House Mafia. What other tracks would you recommend as an introduction for someone that is not yet familiar with your sound?
I produced a lot of hits for other great labels including Spinnin Records, my single Long Legs Running smashed the Number 1 spot on Beatport and became the track of the year. So I would recommend people to check the more house side of my style. Chase The Sun was another hit of mine earlier this year on top house imprint Zulu Records from My Digital Enemy. Great label and our next release is a full re-make version of the Underworld classic Born Slippy! You can hear a world exclusive premier of the track on Thursday at The Club!
What are you currently and focusing and working on?
Currently working on new house trax with my partner Terry Lex for Milk & Sugar Recordings, Zulu Records and Vamos Music. Some trax going a touch more deeper as that style is working great right now! But also many new big room progressive house releases on the way! Have some new trax with Marrs TV and with my old partner from Axtone Danny Freakazoid! Yes we are back after a few years break! So watch this space….
Also I’m based now in Hanoi Vietnam and focusing on building up the house and club scene here at our 2 venues The Bank Club and Funky Buddha! So if you’re coming to Vietnam make sure you check us out! Also not forgetting my monthly event Raise Your Hands at The Pier Club Pattaya…always rocking!
What was the best and the worst gig you ever played and what was the funniest thing ever occurred during any of your performances?
Ohh my god so many, hard question! I had some amazing gigs in Brazil over the years, one very memorable Pacha White party in the Amazon rain forest was incredible! 5000 people dressed in white dancing in the jungle! As for my worst gig, well I wouldn’t say this was my worst gig but a very worrying one! I played at a club in Indonesia and after 2 songs I cleared a dance floor of around 800 people!!! Totally shit my pants….but realized quickly they were not into house music at all! So some quick moves and change to some massive big room bangers and yes they all came back to the floor!!! As for funny experiences, my first every NYE gig when I was 18, I had one guy stage dive over the dj booth onto the turntables while I was playing vinyl!! Was totally crazy but hey it was New Years Eve!! Just put the needle back on the record and off you go!!!
On 18th September you will live perform here in Bangkok at The Club Khaosan, where you have played several times already. Have you kept your previous performances in good memory? What can Bangkok expect of your upcoming performance?
I love playing at The Club…and this will be my 4th time back now! My first show there was by far the most memorable! So I hope to recreate that experience and give the people some amazing rocking quality music…all in the spirit of Ibiza! I will be show casing many new productions of mine and upcoming releases! So get your asses down for some great sounds and some big rock’n’roll antix!