Interview with Matthew Dear: The Shapeshifter of Electronic Music
The Genesis of a Sonic Alchemist
The first time you hear Matthew Dear, it feels like stumbling upon a secret frequency. Born in Texas and forged in Michigan’s techno crucible, Dear’s journey began with a fateful University of Michigan party where he met Sam Valenti IV. Their shared obsession birthed Ghostly International in 1999—a label that would become synonymous with electronic innovation. Early anthems like "Hands Up For Detroit" and Audion’s "Mouth to Mouth" (a project inspired by a dream) cemented his reputation as a maestro of the dancefloor.
But Dear refuses to be pinned down. Under aliases like Audion, False, and Jabberjaw, he fractures expectations, weaving between minimal techno, pop hooks, and avant-garde soundscapes. "You don’t earn versatility by sticking to one name," he shrugs.
His 2003 debut Leave Luck to Heaven fused pop warmth with techno’s icy precision—"Dog Days" became an instant classic. Later, Asa Breed (2007) and its Black Edition reissue revealed a songwriter’s knack for dark, melodic storytelling.
On place shaping sound:
"In Detroit, I made aggressive tracks. In Brooklyn, the city’s chaos pushed me inward. Now? Maybe it’s just age."
On America’s techno scene:
"There’s no utopia. Every city has its vibe. Right now, people just want to escape—and I’m here to soundtrack that."
On his multiple aliases:
"It’s not calculated. I turn on the machines, start ‘doodling,’ and the loop tells me what it wants to be—Audion or Matthew Dear."
On cinematic inspiration (for his upcoming work):
"I see burning trees. Weeping willows dancing to invisible winds. The music comes first—then the film in my head."
Fresh off Body Language Vol. 7 for Get Physical—a mix that balances club propulsion with sensual depth—Dear hints at new Audion 12”s and a "cinematic" Matthew Dear phase. Meanwhile, his Save the Cannibals nights in NYC keep techno’s global vanguard on their toes.
Matthew Dear doesn’t make music—he conducts energy. Whether as Audion’s primal thump or his own shadowy pop, the goal remains: "Don’t overthink it. Let the unknown excite you."
