Can you introduce yourself please?

Matthieu Monnin, I’m a happy 30 something DJ living a peaceful life in Besançon, eastern France.


What is your musical background?

The initial chock was given to me when I first heard Laurent Garnier’s “Shapes under Water” and “Bleu” by Scan X. I had finally found the ideal combination between the cosmic side of a band like Pink Floyd that I loved, and the amazing energy of the dancefloor. This was 10 years ago, and since then I’ve been immerging myself in house and techno like crazy, deejaying to start with, and then I got into production under the name Noirdegout. I met the guys at Initial Cuts and they released two wonderful EPS that were “Late Night Cities” and “A Frog on the Beach”.


Is this album a dream come true?

Now I am on my own, whereas before I was part of a duo. I only followed my deepest feelings with this album, I felt completely free working on these tracks. Even more since the guys at Initial Cuts let me do pretty much what I wanted to do, under their guidance.
I’m really happy with the result, 10 tracks mid-way between house and techno, warm grooves and melancoly, some downtempo moments but also some upbeat ones…pretty much all sides of my universe today.


Is melody at the center of your music?

It’s the foundation of my work, yes. Its all coming from my heart really, the melody is what drives all the tracks. I’m trying to tell a story with my emotions, I hope some people will follow them too. I’m really in a different frame of mind as many producers today.


How do you see yourself as a DJ?

That’s something I feel I am very profoundly, which is why I’m constantly smiling when I’m playing. I’m just so happy behind the decks, and I’m trying to make that contagious…



Can you name 3 recent musical disoveries?

Kollectiv Turmstrasse’s sublime remix of Hot Chip’s "Touch Too Much".
A documentary on Depeche Mode that made me cry because I’m such a fan.
Last, but not least, my track “Lost In Shibuya”, I’m so proud of it coz its at the crossing between pop and deep techno which is where I’m trying to get to.


Are you into books, cinema, as well?

Yes, I was into movies before I got into electronic music, so I think I have a very cinematic approach and I love soundtrack composers like Danny Elfman, James Newton Howard or Thomas Newman.
As with books, I follow writers such as Bret Easton Ellis, James Ellroy, Hunter S Thompson, Hubert Selby Jr., and am a big fan of comics author Alan Moore.


Remixes, collaborations, featurings…who would like to work with?

I had always wanted to work with Scan X and Rodriguez Jr. and that is now a reality. Scan X mixed my album, and Rodriguez Jr. remixed “Words in a Bottle”. I learnt a lot with these collaborations.
And then my crazy dream is working with David Bowie, but that’s a fantasy!


Where do you see yourself in a year?

Playing a big scene in Barcelona or Berlin, with the Initial Cuts crew on the side and my girlfriend too, enjoying the success of this album!