Matt Gouck [Interview]

Matt Gouck is the Northern Irish man who has progressive music on his mind 24/7. His passion for electronic music was awakened from listening to the clubby prog sounds of the late 90s and early 2000s. Before going digital Matt started out on Technics 1210’s, he learned how to mix at the school for promising electronic talent ‘Sonic Academy’ and his first gig came at aged 20. The gigs continued as his reputation grew as a stand out warm up DJ in NI who was playing different music than most of his peers. With the NI club scene being mostly trance orientated, Matt has stayed true to his progressive roots. As well as playing in numerous smaller club nights around the country, promoter Col Hamilton heard Matt and invited him to play in one of the longest running weekly super clubs in the UK, and the most famous club in Ireland, ‘the mighty’ LUSH in Portrush.

As a producer Matt has set his sights on the wider international prog fanbase and gained support from Djs like Cosmic Gate, Grum, Cristoph, Fatum, Third Party, and Chicane to name but a few. A Matt Gouck track can be a lighter and darker sound but always dancefloor driven. He is often taking inspiration from a love for the great outdoors, stunning wild scenery, the mystery of Autumn, the bleakness of Winter or hopeful Spring and uplifting Summer. Matt uses these nature and seasonal themes in his music.

This week finds Matt making his debut on Early Origin with the much anticipated '250 Days'. Known for his emotional take on progressive house, Matt channels a deeply personal experience into this piece. The track carries a profound meaning, inspired by a period where he went 250 days without seeing someone. 250 Days invites listeners to immerse themselves in the feelings of solitude and anticipation, evoking emotions that resonate universally.

Progressive Astronaut caught up with Matt to learn more about the release of '250 Days', his background, electronic music in the Ireland, DJing, and much more. Enjoy

Hi Matt, thanks for talking to us today. How has 2024 been so far? What are some of your musical highlights in 2024?

Thanks for having me, 2024 has been a very good year for me, I plan on releasing a lot of new music this year both on my target labels and via self releasing. In terms of a musical highlight, I would have to say it was when Harry Diamond played 2 of my new tracks in his Anjunamix. Big thank you to Harry, he has been a big supporter of my music and has give me some great advice over the last few years.

Let’s look back on the first part of the year. What is a track which has come out this year that has impressed you the most and why?

One track that has really stood out for me this year and its not released yet but its known as Nom Barcelona ID from Jeremy Olander, I really love the melodies and the arrangement its really well produced, I love the way the track takes you on a journey.

What was the music genre you discovered first before you turned to electronic music, and what made you continue with the latter?

Too be honest from the age of 10 I’ve always been into dance music but I grew up in a household that was always listening to music, my Mum and Dad were always listening to music mostly 80’s stuff and I think that’s maybe why I really love the 80’s sound and most of the VSTS I use are 80’s synthesizers, I would say my sound is very inspired with the whole synthwave type sound.

How did growing up in Ireland influence your music taste and direction? Or did it all?

When I first got into Dance Music I was really into Trance, I loved the big euphoric breakdowns and the emotional side of Trance music, Most of the Super clubs in Ireland were playing Trance music when I was growing up, tbh its actually the same now, so it was a natural path to go down back then. I still love the old classic trance tracks, but am very into the more melodic sound of progressive house now, it always about the melody for me.

Who else from Ireland inspired you when you first discovered electronic music? And what was it about their DJing or production which led you to pursue it yourself?

I started really wanting to become a DJ when I was 18 I attended Sonic Music Academy in Belfast and Learned how to mix and produce music. This was the start of the musical journey for me getting help and advice from some really established names in the music scene over in Ireland (Chris Agnelli Phil Johnston Graham Ginty and Chris Cargo to name but a few) I caught the “Djing” bug back then and its all I’ve wanted to do ever since.

You’ve been involved in electronic music for the better part of two decades at this point, take us back to your early days and first gigs when you were 20 years old, what memories stand out for you from that time?

My first time Djing in front other Djs was with Sonic Academy at small Venue called The Carrick alongside local inspiring Djs I remember being very nervous, I was still using vinyl while most people made the step up to cdjs, it actually took me a few years to make the jump myself.

You were regarded as a warmup DJ initially I believe, what sort of stuff were you playing back then?

When I started playing at the super clubs in Ireland my style had changed, I went down a more Progressive route, which in truth probably suited warming the night for the Trance Djs.

You eventually ended up holding a residency at the infamous ‘Lush’ in Portrush, tell us about that and what were some of your more memorable nights there?

I’ve been fortunate enough to have some really memorable gigs over the years, a couple of gigs that really stand out for me, I played a 2 hour set at a Radio 1 themed night before Danny Howard at Lush Portrush which was a great experience and another is Djing at a Pryda Friends night alongside Jeremy Olander and Fehrplay, I actually ended up missing my lift home that night because I was talking to Jeremy about music production for 2 hrs after the club had closed, luckily I had friends staying nearby that night.

You have a new single ‘250 Days’ which is available now via Early Origin. Tell us a bit about the track, the title choice and what sort of vibe you were going for on it.

Yes I’am very happy to be apart of Early Origin, Ev had messaged me and said he would like to have something of mine on the label, I really like the vibe of the label and thought 250 days would be a good fit, the meaning behind the track is inspired by a period were I went 250 days without seeing someone, this track is really about how I was feeling at the time, I remember hearing a saying years ago “music is what feelings sound like” and I tried to transpire that with this track.

How much play has it gotten in your sets and to what reaction?

I actually have only played it once on my Evolve 4 edition but It did get a good reaction and I’am looking forward to being able to share it with everyone

Let our readers inside your studio for a moment, what is your current setup and what studio tools are featured heavily in your recent productions and more specifically on ‘250 Days’?

Too be honest my studio is very basic, midi keyboard, computer and Ableton, I tend to stick to trying to do the simple things as best as I can without over complicating my production style, I kind of stick to the same 5/6 Vsts and fx plug ins, I have my own presets and samples that I use, if I was to give anyone advice I would say its easy to get fixated with the newest plug ins etc but if you find a formula that works for you stick with it, you don’t need 100 plug ins, learn the ins and outs of 5 or 6 vsts that’s all you need although I learn something new every week and am always constantly looking to improve and pick up new tips and tricks.

This was released as a stand alone track with no remixes, was there ever any consideration to get a remix or two for it? and why ultimately did yourself or the label decide to put it out as a single?

Who knows am open to remixes in the future with the track, I would love to hear another producers take on the track. I guess I will leave that up the label.

This is your first release for Early Origin, why was the label a good home for ‘250 Days’?

I really like the direction the label is going in, their isn’t many progressive labels signing music like this at the minute which in a way is unique, that the label can stand out from the rest.

Now let’s talk about DJing for a moment. You’ve had some high profile gigs/residencies over the years as we mentioned earlier, so how would you describe your approach to DJing? And perhaps how has it changed as you’ve gotten older?

I like to try and take the audience in a musical journey by slowly building up my sets from lighter to my more darker side of my music. I’ve definitely seen a massive change in Djing from when I first started especially with mixing, it is for sure more Dj friendly compared to 1210’s when I first started. The likes of tik tok and social media has became a very big thing,you might catch me on instagram and soundcloud but that’s about it, maybe am just showing my age with that statement.

Can you tell me a bit about how your work as a DJ and performing for larger crowds has influenced your view of music, your way of listening to tracks and perhaps also, your work as a producer?

Its always good to get a great reaction from the crowd, but I try and stay true to my sound and what I like than rather be influenced too much with what other people want or like. I always start of with the main idea of the track which for me is the melody, then I build round the main idea, I kind of work a year in advice so the stuff people are hearing now was made last year I try and stay ahead of the curve so to speak, you never know when you can get a bad spell in the studio with the likes of writers block or just not feeling inspired, so its good to have a back catalogue.

How much prep do you put into the sets you play, or are they spontaneous for the most part?

I actually do prep my sets, lately most of my sets have been my own productions.

Current Top five tracks in your sets?

Cristoph & Harry Diamond - Hold Me Close
Layer J - Switch
Jeremy Olander - Nextune
Matt Gouck - Brytag
Tinlicker - Blowfish

If you are not DJing, producing or socializing at clubs, where do we find you? And doing what?

Working on my golf game trying get my handicap down.

If you could set up an event with a line-up of five artists of your choice, who would you book and what set times would you ascribe to the artists?

Michael Cassette
Harry Diamond
Cristoph
Jeremy Olander
Eric Prydz

In that order from the start of the night, what a line-up that is

If you were not a DJ/Producer what do you think you’d be doing with your life?

A Joiner, I like fixing things and being creative.

What’s something people do not know about you?

I’am a big Waylon Jennings fan and I love country music

What TV series have you been enjoying recently and what are some of your all time favourites?

Tulsa king I really enjoy that, all time favourite is SOA, I have been told I need to watch the Sopranos, its on my list.

What can we look forward to from you for the rest of 2024? Any releases or gigs you are looking forward to?

I plan on releasing loads of music this year with target labels along with self releasing so please keep an eye out and follow me on my socials to keep up-to-date with everything.

'250 Days' is available now via Early Origin: https://tinyurl.com/4cyzdy4w