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Tuesday, 7 October 2014

Interview: French/Canadian DJ/Producer Matt Cerf

 French Canadian DJ/Producer Matt Cerf made his debut in trance with his former band Second Sun in 2001 with the trance classic Empire (Vandit Records).  After getting a taste of fame he and the group moved to Los Angeles to pursue their dreams further.  They split in 2002 and Matt started his solo career.  Eventually he would meet partners Shawn Mitiska & Jaren and after several solo releases the three would partner up to release trance classics like Light The Skies (2006) and eventually Man On The Run (2008), their most successful collaboration with Dash Berlin.  

In 2012 Matt and the trio, then called Cerf, Mitiska & Jaren, released a full length album on Armada Records called Give Me A Sound. The album featured 13 original tunes, including chart toppers like Beggin' You, Man On The Run, and Witness.  It also featured four official music videos.  Their success was short lived and the trio split later that year.
In 2013 Matt's musical direction changed course.  He was offered an acting role in an upcoming indie feature film, and then accepted the job of scoring the film.  Inspired by French scoring legend Eric Serra, the soundtrack features moody electronic themes and a few originals featuring Jaren.

Matt is currently working with Canadian radio artists like Lukay, Big Bass, and remixing artists like Andee (top 40 Canada).  He's also collaborating heavily with Petr Lesko, known as Spark 7.  The duo have teamed up to produce for major label artists and look forward to a busy 2015 touring.

His brand new track Like We Love with Ost & Meyers featuring Fenja aka Jaren is out this week on Always Alive / Enhanced Music and we catch up with him for a very intresting interview that you enjoy right here and right now!

Interview was conducted by Dimitri Kechagias, Music Journalist / Radio dj at 1mix radio


Dimitri: You produced a wonderful album with Shawn Mitiska and Jaren – Give Me A Sound on Armada Music. We actually did an interview about it. Now that this album is far behind, would you like to reflect on this and let us know if you are happy about the reactions and the success that the album has? 

Matt Cerf: Thanks for doing an interview on the CMJ album, and thanks for the kind words! It was a really long and crazy process, and it was a great learning experience! I’ve heard a lot of great feedback about it, and I still do nowadays actually!

Dimitri: Is there a track from that album that became an absolute classic for you and you listen it at home many times?

Matt Cerf: It’s hard not to consider each track of this album a classic, considering how many times I have heard each song, and weirdly enough, I am still not tired of hearing it. One song I like a lot is “Neighborhood” because it is so different from the rest.

Dimitri: For your latest single you collaborate with Ost & Meyer. I remember Shawn Mitiska talking about them and how talented they are in the interview we did. How this collaboration happened? Did you ask them to collaborate or the other way around?

Matt Cerf: Ost & Meyer did a remix of one of our tracks with Chris Jones called “Starting Right Now.” I was really blown away, so I decided to contact them about a collab.

Dimitri: Fenja aka Jaren is doing the vocals on this track. Is it possible to tell us from where Jaren took the influences to write those lyrics? 

Matt Cerf: I wrote the main chords of the melody a long time ago, during the time when we were still living in LA – West Coast life, sunshine, beaches, that is what influenced her to write! Now that we are in Montreal, watch out for those really cold and snowy lyrics!!! Brrrrr!

Dimitri: Did you actually meet in the studio or the collaboration was finished by swapping files over the Internet?

Matt Cerf: We actually haven’t met yet! Yes, we have just been sending files back and forth!

Dimitri: The single Like We Love is supported by two really strong remixes by Joshi and Avenue One. Can you give us a short comment about each remix and why you like them so much? Are those remixers your choice or Always Alive decision?

Matt Cerf: I’ve always liked House and Deep House, and I played one of Joshi’s tracks in one of my mixes awhile back and loved it so much that I decided to contact him for a remix. Similarly, I heard Avenue One’s remix of Aly & Fila – “For All Time” and was blown away – so I did the same. They both loved the original, so they accepted to remix it. I am really happy with the results!! It gives the track a wider audience, with other genres that I also love.







Dimitri: Does this track signal your comeback with big bang and many more releases? If yes can you pick up your forthcoming releases and in which label will be released?

Matt Cerf: Yes!! That’s what it means!! I have a ton of new material in the works and I think some will come out on Enhanced or Always Alive. Really excited! Can’t tell you more for now though!

Dimitri: In your facebook page you let us know that you have voted Unforgivable at the Armin van Buuren all time favorite tracks poll. Is it possible to tell us why you choose this track and if it signals something special for you? 

Matt Cerf: If I didn’t Jaren would’ve killed me!! JK! Basically I’ve always loved this track, and few people know that I have also remixed it. Furthermore, I am the one who recorded the vocals, and edited them, so I have a special relationship with this song.




Dimitri: You are couple with our favorite singer Jaren. Is it possible to tell us her main qualities as a singer and her main qualities as your wife? 

Matt Cerf: Jaren is to me, one of the best vocalists…..ever! HAHA! You are going to think that’s because we are married, but I honestly would probably think so even if I didn’t know her. She is also a really good writer, which is a quality not all good vocalists have. She has the whole package basically! Something else I like about her: She is very creative, not only with music, but with everything, so she is full of surprises. She is also a loving wife and mother!

Dimitri: In which places and clubs would you like to perform in the future and are there any bookings for the near future for your fans to check you out?

Matt Cerf: I’ve been to Ibiza but have never to played, would love to play there! And there are many other places I would love to play at in Europe. Right now I am building a whole new collection of songs, but I will be preparing a DJ comeback very soon!

Dimitri: Have you done any major upgrades in your studio after the album Give Me A Sound, hardware and software wise of course?

Matt Cerf: The main upgrade of my studio lately has actually been a downgrade! I stopped using hardware synths and am only using soft synths now. I love Nexus2 and am thinking about getting Omnisphere, and Spire. Also, I have a new pair of speakers that I love! The Dynaudio BM5 MKII.

Dimitri: Last question should be about the current state of electronic dance music. All over the world there is a current shift towards deep house/deep electronica. What is your thought about it? Did you like that sound and do you consider to produce that kind of music as well?

Matt Cerf: Funny enough, I have liked house and deep house for a very long time – probably 10 years, so I am not really surprised. I’ve actually already been working on stuff like this, so keep your ears open!

Dimitri: Thanks so much for your time. 

Matt Cerf: Thanks for having me again!! I love you guys!

Thanks so much Lauren Worthington, publicist at Theory-X for organising this interview

Matt Cerf and Ost & Meyer - Like We Love feat. Fenja is out now on beatport buy here

Additional info:

CONNECT WITH OST & MEYER: 

CONNECT WITH AVENUE ONE: 



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