Remembering Matt Tolfrey
There's a particular kind of silence that falls when someone who spent their life filling rooms with sound suddenly leaves. Matt Tolfrey, the English DJ, producer, and founder of Leftroom Records, has passed over the weekend and the news is shattering.
From Mixtapes to Fabric
Tolfrey's origin story reads like a testament to pure, undiluted passion. Born in the UK but raised predominantly in Bahrain, his father a marine engineer, his early encounters with house music came through stolen Sasha mixtapes. When he returned to England at 16, Birmingham's legendary Godskitchen provided his baptism into club culture.
But it was Nottingham where everything changed.
After moving there to study at Nottingham Trent University, Tolfrey did what countless aspiring DJs have done: he made a mixtape and handed it to someone who mattered. In this case, that someone was at Stealth, one of the city's premier clubs. Considering the avalanche of tapes club promoters must have received from student wannabes weekly, what Tolfrey handed over must have been exceptional. He earned himself a regular slot during the quiet summer months when students were away, a golden opportunity to hone his craft on a world-class soundsystem.
"We would go to The Bomb religiously, every Saturday," he recalled. Then came the break that would define his trajectory.
One night when Sasha, Craig Richards, and Lee Burridge's Tyrant night came to town, Tolfrey got a call: Lee couldn't make it back to the UK. Would he want to play instead?
"I was over the moon. I was not only doing the warm-up, but the closing slot, too. Craig let me play well past my 12am slot. I didn't know if that was good or bad."
It was very, very good.
Shortly after, Craig Richards called him early one morning. At first, Tolfrey couldn't work out who it was. Richards offered him a slot at Fabric in London.
"And that's how it all began."
Music Made With a Voice, Not Fingers
What made Tolfrey special wasn't just his technical skill behind the decks—it was his innovative approach to creation itself. In an era when production prowess often meant expensive gear and conservatory training, Tolfrey found another way.
"I cannot play the piano and I am not professionally trained in any way musically," he once explained, "but through years of DJing I know exactly what I like, and I have great tracks in my head that need to get out."
His solution was radical in its simplicity: he discovered software that could translate singing or humming into MIDI notes. Walking through streets or traveling, if a bassline or melody struck him, he'd record it into his phone, then later sing it into his computer at home.
"In theory, the album is going to be written with my mouth, not my fingers," he said when discussing his 'Word Of Mouth' project.
It was an approach that perfectly captured Tolfrey's ethos: find your own path, use whatever tools work, let nothing stand between the music in your head and the music in the world.
Building a Room for Others
Beyond his own productions and acclaimed remixes, including a reworking of Silicone Soul's classic "Right On, Right On" for Soma. Tolfrey's greatest legacy may be Leftroom Records, the label he founded, and his tireless championing of new talent.
When Classic imprint enlisted Tolfrey for the first installment of their "Classic Through The Eyes Of…" mix series—giving him full access to their legendary back catalogue—it spoke volumes about his standing in the house and techno community. Each artist could choose tracks to remix exclusively for the compilation. Which two Tolfrey selected remains one of those beautiful mysteries we'll never know the answer to.
There's an ache in dance music culture right now—a growing awareness of how many vital voices we're losing. Matt Tolfrey joins a list that's become too long, too soon. But what he built remains: the tracks he hummed into existence, the artists he believed in before anyone else did, the nights when his sets made strangers into a community. His distinguished career included legendary performances at Panorama Bar, DC-10, Space, and Burning Man, alongside releases on esteemed labels such as Hot Creations, Elrow Music, Kaluki, and Snatch. Following the pandemic, he channeled his expertise into One 800 management, where he represented artists like Archie Hamilton, Guti, Fleur Shore, and Mason Collective, and served as A&R for Cuttin’ Headz.
While I only had the pleasure of meeting him a few times, I was struck by his profound kindness and the thoughtful detail he brought to every conversation about music. His passing is a poignant reminder of how fragile life can be. Hold your friends and family close. Rest in peace, Matt, and thank you for the incredible legacy you leave behind.
Cover photo by Photo: Nick Ensing
Written L.Antakly
