Bio:
Name: Matt Pop
Age: 41
Hometown: Amsterdam
Occupation: producer / composer / remixer
Age: 41
Hometown: Amsterdam
Occupation: producer / composer / remixer
H: Matt: How/when started doing your remixing?
M: When I was 16 - which is more than 20 years ago now - I was already playing along my Yazoo albums on a tiny Casio PT30 keyboard and recording the results on cassettes.
I also recorded my own compositions, using a simple multi-track recorder.
Not only was this a way of adding more and more parts, it also resulted in some very impressive tape noise build-up.
H: What artist is top of your list to remix for and why?
M: ABBA! I have been a huge fan ever since I can remember, and there never have been officially approved club remixes.
I have done a few bootleg ABBA mixes that are very popular among fans, but it would be such a thrill to get access to the original acapella's
H: Apart from remixing, do you DJ as well and if so: what kind of places/where?
M: I do, but it has been a while. I have DJ'd at fetish dance party Wasteland a few times, in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Also, every year I do the soundtrack and queuing for a drag show here in Amsterdam, where I usually DJ afterwards and get to play camp and obscure stuff
H: How do you keep up with what's happening within the music industry these days?
M: A bit hit-and-miss, really. As so-called music stations like MTV and, here in the Netherlands TMF, are playing less and less music videos, I hardly ever watch those anymore. Sometimes I'll hear a good new tune on the radio and often I'll do an afternoon of i-Tunes shopping where I start looking for a specific remixer, band or a song, and end up buying 10 totally unrelated tracks.
H: There is a lot of controversy surrounding blogs that provide downloads/download links. What is your opinion on this?
M: It depends. If it is a track that is unavailable to buy, or a remix somebody has done themselves, I can't see how it harms the music industry.
H: You produce your own instrumental tracks; have you considered doing a track with vocals and if so: who would you like to work with then?
M: Funny you should ask! I have just mixed a song called Intoxicated, that started life 10 years ago as an instrumental I wrote, called Allegro. Songwriter/producer/singer Peter Wilson in Australia, who co-produced the new Haywoode album with me, loved it so much that he wrote lyrics for it and recorded it! It will now get a second life as a vocal track. It has a really sunny, Italo flavour to it.
H: There are many well known DJ's/Remixers out there, what makes you different from them?
M: There are remixers that seem to know a lot about production technique but not much about chords and melodies. I play the piano so that definitely helps make my remixes more musical, I think.
Also, some remixers seem out to destroy the track they are supposed to remix. I will usually try and keep the track intact, just dress it up differently.
H: Talking about DJ's & Remixers: Who are your favourites?
M: For gorgeous vintage sounds: Rex The Dog; to dance to: Seamus Haji; for well-produced mainstream: Freemasons. Also: Bimbo Jones, Soul Seekerz, Dave Aude, Wideboys.
H: I understand that you are currently working on remixes for: Klone Records, Pumpin' UK and Almighty Records - how did this come about?
M: It really started with my mix of Master & Servant for British band Massive Ego. The track was released on Klone Records, then people at Pumpin' UK heard it and included it on the Pumpin' Anthems 2 compilation. That started a ball rolling that has led me to the Almighty label.
H: The Pop/Dance/NRG scene is a lot bigger in the UK then it is in The Netherlands, would you ever consider moving to London (For example)?
M: I do have a great fondness for the UK and the way people seem to understand campness and fun in music. So I am very happy that most of my work is now released by British labels. I have no plans of moving there , but I will definitely visit the UK again in the future.
H: High NRG appeals very much to the Gay community, why do U think this is?
M: It seems that this is one of those Gay-cliche's that simply are true: many a gay man loves to dance to a happy tune! I can't explain it either.
H: Pride season is in full swing world-wide; do you go to any Gay Prides and if so: Which one(s)?
M: I am not one of those Gay migrating birds that fly around the world to wherever the party is that day. But my hometown Amsterdam has a great Gay Pride with the famous canal boat parade and many street parties, so I usually go and have a drink with friends.
H: Matt, you did 4 remixes for the world's best known Drag Queen: RuPaul - Dragrace.
How did you get involved with this project?
M: It was a Youtube fairytale: I did a bootleg remix of Rupaul's track "Let's Turn The Night" last year, put it on Youtube and it got great response from fans.
I remember wondering whether Ru had heard it himself.
Turns out he had! He liked it so much, that he wanted to release it and straight away asked me to remix two more tracks from his album.
I was a happy man. Ru is pretty cool.
H: What is your favourite hang-out?
M: I don't have one! I used to go clubbing in Amsterdam at the Exit (closed down), Roxy (burned down) and the, ahem, Cockring (haven't been in ages). I wish there was a club that would play uplifting vocal pop. Maybe move to London after all?
H: You are to have/host the perfect party; who would be your dream guest list and why?
M: I would love to have my recently deceased best friend Jaap there, the biggest music lover I ever knew. I would also love to talk about music production with Benny and Bjorn from Abba, Trevor Horn, Max Martin and Daniel Miller. In the cool corner would be John Waters, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, Amy Sedaris, Jane Turner and Gina Riley and Kathy Burke. And I wouldn't mind pouring Baby Daddy from Scissor Sisters a drink :-)
With a huge thanks to my fabulous friend
Matt Pop
H.Xx
Oh awesome interview ! Loved the "Youtube Fairy tale" part.... sounds like a song ....
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