No strangers to the Colorize imprint, Dezza and Matt Fax were asked to mix the first ever annual Colorscapes label compilation. The 35-track compilation marks the 200th release from Colorize and bring together established Colorize names like PRAANA, Andre Sobota, Anden, Sound Quelle, Boxer, Hexlogic and Milkwish – with exciting label newcomers like Pete K, Rylan Taggart, farfetch’d, Andromedha, Murtagh and Tripswitch featured throughout.
Matt Fax brings two electrifying remixes to the compilation with 2005 techno sensation ‘Rej’ by German act Âme and British DJ/Producer D.O.D.’s 2018 house hit ‘Glow’ getting reworked in remarkable fashion. The mixes build and swell organically with both DJs flexing their talents effortlessly, creating two exhilarating mixes that will take you on a voyage into the deep and progressive.
With Matt Fax and Dezza reaching new heights as artists and becoming concrete names in the world of Progressive House, this compilation comes at an exciting time for Colorize. Since his first release on the label in 2013, Matt Fax has seen immense growth as a producer through releasing impressive, genre-expanding singles and his debut artist album Contrast in 2017, and as a DJ having played a run of shows from Europe to Asia in 2019 as well as the Progressive Stage at Electronic Family in the Netherlands. Canadian DJ/Producer Dezza has also had a whirlwind of a year, releasing his debut artist album Cosmos, a tour of Australia, ASOT900 and then playing at the Budlight Dreams festival in Toronto in June. The two artists also headlined a sold-out show at London’s Oval Space in July for the first Colorize event.
Colorscapes Volume One has been supported by a launch party at London’s renowned venue Egg on the 22nd of September which saw Matt Fax and Dezza headline with support from Amy Wiles, Boxer, Sound Quelle and Steve Brian pres. Cabriolet Paris. An official label event was also held during Amsterdam Dance Event, followed by a forthcoming North American co-headline tour from Matt Fax and Dezza that will feature other prominent Colorize artists.
Listen to Colorscapes Volume One HERE and read Dezza and Matt Fax both interview each other below.
Dezza: Who is PRAANA?
Matt Fax: My mom think it’s me. The world thinks it’s me and you, or one of us. Since it’s not me, maybe it’s you? Maybe it’s not? Maybe it’s you, current reader of this interview?
Dezza:What are your favourite soft synths (VST’s)? Do you mainly create your music with VST’s, or do you like to use samples alot when producing? Or a mix of both?
Matt Fax: I love Arturia synths, especially the Mini V and Jupiter 8. Also throwing a lot of Diva and Serum. I use some samples, but always trying to rearrange them to create a new melody or groove.
Dezza: I dropped out of band class in grade 7 because I absolutely hated it, I can’t even play a one- holed flute. Growing up in France, did you have any musical education? Can you play any instruments today?
Matt Fax: I once got into musical lesson, but stopped after 3 weeks. I don’t know how to play a single instrument, I actually just know what key goes with which on a piano or keyboard.
Dezza: If you were to ever get married, who would DJ at your wedding?
Matt Fax: I’d love to have Laurent Garnier, or maybe Thom Yorke for his exquise dance moves, and the track selection of course. Otherwise not a DJ, but a private Eminem show would be my absolute dream man.
Dezza: Did Jaguar send you a new car when your track got placed in their advert?
Matt Fax: Unfortunately no, I tweeted them last month but they haven’t answered yet. They ain’t so fast for a company called Jaguar (get it?)
Matt Fax: Looking back on your career, what is the track you like the most and the one you like the least?
Dezza: I think with each track we all get better and better because we are constantly learning, and new tools of the trade are available constantly. I am happy with everything I have done over the past two years. Some stuff in the early days was a bit dodgy, around the time of the big edm boom I was trying to go with the trends a bit too much, live and learn. We have all released stuff that we aren’t so proud of..
Matt Fax: What is your ideal playlist when it comes to non-electronic music?
Dezza: Spotify makes me the best daily mix playlists based on the obscure stuff I like to listen to. God bless algorithms and technology.
Matt Fax: Are you going to be in the next season of Love Island?
Dezza: Maybe not me but hopefully my music! It’s funny, when my track “Honey” was played on the season 5 premiere I asked all of my friends from the U.K. if they watched it and none of them would truthfully admit it, yet it’s one of the most viewed shows in the U.K. it doesn’t add up haha. The contestant that was in the segment in question went on to win the whole season I think…probably because of my song, just sayin’
Matt Fax: If you had to choose one track from Colorscapes to represent the whole compilation, what would it be?
Dezza: Oh dude, that’s so hard and leaves other artists out when all of the tracks are soooo good! Everything together is what makes it special. The tracks from the newer artists are great. From my side I love Murtagh’s mix of my ‘Apollo’, a stunning remix. From your side ‘Dekkai – Cordelia” is beautiful.
Matt Fax: Who’s your ghost producer?
Dezza: Will Holland hahaha.