Born and raised in Budapest, Mat developed a strong affinity to music from the early age of 5, receiving classical training across a multitude of instruments. The rising talent continues to play guitar and piano which regularly take the lead in his tracks. Having previously been a member of the rock band Walrus In The Sunshine, Mat made an appearance at Sziget Festival in 2016, giving him a taste of a career in music. Looking to take his passion to the next level, Mat followed his musical dreams to Los Angeles where he has since flourished into the producer he is today. 2018 saw Mat release his first album ‘Dominoes’ followed by a remix pack of the album, featuring artists who have garnered support from the likes of David Guetta and Martin Garrix. As he continues to develop his sound further, Mat has decisively made his mark on the industry, proving once again that he is the one to watch.
THE INTERVIEW
CR: Hello Mat, glad to have you on Canadianravers. How are you doing?
MC: Hi, I’m grateful to be able to talk with you, thank you for the opportunity!
CR: You have been making music for a little while now where did it begin for Mat Cipher?
MC: There were key moments in my younger years, such as learning how to play instruments and attending concerts with my family, which all led to me writing songs for my former bands. This then eventually became more and more electronic-based. One day, my piano teacher introduced me to music production and instrumentation and I would say that was the dawn of this passion evolving into something that would end up determining my life.
CR: Were there any songs/artists that influenced the production of your recent track ‘Sand Toy’?
MC: I’m so happy you asked! It’s more of an insider but I grew up on a few Chris Rea songs and during quarantine I was listening to “On The Beach”. That is the song that somewhat influenced the creation of ‘Sand Toy’; the idea of being fully lost in the moment and enjoying a nice, warm summer afternoon/night.
CR: What is the best advice you have received while pursuing your career as a DJ/producer?
MC: Being a music producer is really quite complex because technically you are a composer, songwriter, engineer and entrepreneur, there are many fields where can you fail, but then also learn a lot. The best advice I could give, would be to build a strong team that is full of positive, ambitious, critical-thinking and hardworking people who have integrity. You can always replace a piece of gear, but the people that form your team will determine how your music will sound like.
CR: We know that you have been learning musical instruments from an incredibly young age, did that help in honing your sound as a producer?
MC: Definitely, playing guitar and piano made me understand the importance of individual instrument layers and the roles between them.
CR: Is there a track that never leaves your personal playlist because it has a certain emotional connection to you?
MC: For years, it was ‘Dragon’ by Martin Garrix because it reminded me of the energy that is present during festival shows. Currently, it is ‘Psycho’ by Post Malone, since it always puts me into a completely relaxed state where I let go of every bit of anxiety.
CR: DJs/ Producers travel with multiples of that one item, what is that item for you?
MC: Sleep mask and ear plugs! Regardless of the environment, you can try to rest when it’s needed.
CR: What do you like to do during your downtime other than producing music?
MC: I love working out, playing baseball, and just being with friends and family. Since I travel back and forth between Los Angeles and Budapest, I always miss my friends so I try to spend as much time as I can with them.
CR: If you had the chance to open for any artist around the world, who would it be and where would it be?
MC: It’d be dope to open for Kygo or Illenium. Also, I would have said the most popular festival here in Hungary but there are so many underrated festivals that I can imagine I would love playing at too. Sometimes these slightly smaller festivals have the most spontaneous and crazy crowds which often makes for an even more incredible experience whilst performing.
CR: What does the rest of 2021 look like? Any new tracks coming soon?
MC: Personally, I’m very excited for this year because we have been postponing some records but in 2021, our favorite projects so far are going to come out so I’m just doing my best to have the perfect timing with each song.
Lighting Round
Texting or talking? Talking
Coffee or tea? Coffee
Hard liquor or Wine? Wine, unless it’s a gin & tonic
Cake or pie? Pie
Hot dogs or hamburgers? Burgers
Xbox or PlayStation? PlayStation
Movie theatre or arcade? Movie theater
Guitar or piano? Piano
Marvel or DC Comics? Marvel
Dog or cat? Cat
Hot weather or cold weather? Cold weather
MAT CIPHER’S SOCIAL: