Canada’s Mathew Jonson has become one of the preeminent producers and dj’s in electronic music today. Recording on internationally renowned labels such as Sub Static, Minus, Perlon, Kompakt, Itiswhatitis, Arbutus, and now on his newly formed label Wagon Repair, Jonson has created some of the most influential tracks of the past few years. Tracks such as ‘Decompression’, ‘Alpine Rocket’ w/ Luciano, ‘Marionette’, ‘Folding Space, ‘Typerope’, and ‘Return of the Zombie Bikers’ have found themselves on the top ten lists of artists such as Gilles Peterson, Richie Hawtin, Tiga, Sven Vath and Laurent Garnier as well as magazines such as URB, FACT, DJ, GO, Raveline, Trax and Groove, where he also received accolades as ‘Best Producer of 2004’ and Best Producer 2006. A musical prodigy since a young age, Mathew’s childhood included forays into classical piano, drums, and percussion, in which he played in the under 18 concert band at age 11. Influenced by his father’s interest in early electronic music and instruments, Mathew began to experiment with keyboards, sequencers and sound modules. From age 10, he began using computer based sequencing and sound, creating the roots for what has become one of the most distinct sounds in electronic music today. Jonson’s sounds focus on a multitude of outboard equipment, old analogues that give him the distinct hands on usage that have become notorious of his live performances. Mathew’s music is a hybrid of styles; forging influences from techno, jazz, house, drum ‘n’ bass and fusion to create flowing bass lines and synth melodies that have influenced his trademark tech-fusion sound. What has often set Mathew apart from other performers is his ability to improvise and perform with other players in a live group setting. This has resulted in musical formations such as the Modern Deep Left Quartet and Cobblestone Jazz, who have developed an international reputation for their intensely soulful and masterful composition that translates both in recording sessions and in live performance. Mathew has also collaborated with artists such as Luciano, Hrdvsion and the Mole, continually looking at new approaches to electronic music. With appearances on mix albums from Carl Craig, Daniel Bell, Adam Beyer, DJ Kosi, Monika Kruse and Ricardo Villalobos, and remixes for everyone from the Chemical Brothers and Moby to Nelly Furtado, Jonson has developed a large and varied following internationally. But as such accolades continue to roll in, Mathew’s modesty continues to speak through the meditative sounds created in his studio, a testament both to his musicianship and his authentic nature.

LIVE ACT REVIEW

www.residentadvisor.net

You couldn't go many places in the world this year as a techno traveler and not run into Mathew Jonson. Whether he was performing as himself, as part of Cobblestone Jazz, as part of The Modern Deep Left Quartet or even doing a one-off with Dandy Jack, he was nigh on inescapable. That's a good thing: Jonson's laudable approach to performing live is close to that of a DJ, separating out his sounds so that he can mix them into new forms, and hopefully creating something that resembles one of his signature tunes, but in a way that you've never heard it before.