Matador Talks His 2025, Evolution Of Sound, ‘SIRENS’ & More

It’s been a year of reinvention for Matador, the genre-blurring producer whose journey from minimal techno purist to melodic house craftsman has been as seamless as it is inspiring. With a fresh team, a new creative vision, and a growing catalogue of collaborations, 2025 is already shaping up to be a landmark chapter. We caught up with Matador to talk about the evolution of his sound, the story behind his latest track ‘SIRENS’ with EYNKA and Tailor, and why analog still rules in a digital world.

Hi Gavin. Thanks for speaking with us. How has your 2025 been so far?

Exciting, lots of planning, new team, new music, new vision!!

How would you describe the evolution of your sound from minimal techno to melodic house?

Tbh it hasn’t been too much of a stretch, melodic techno is basically minimal techno with more obvious melodies and harmonies. Even when I was releasing minimal on minus, a lot of my music was heavy on melody for the minimal at the time, so it was quite a natural organic evolution.

Where do you look to draw inspiration for your projects?

Everywhere, from my surroundings, to films tv shows music, conversations….u name it, inspiration is all around us.

Your latest collaboration, SIRENS, sees you joining forces with EYNKA and Tailor. What drew you to work with these two artists, and how did the collaboration come about?

I’ve been collaborating more and more over the past 3/4 years,  I’m working with amazing singers, songwriters, producers every week. This collab came about last year when I was working with rob tailor, I was also working with EYNKA on another track at the time, & I sent this idea to both parties & everyone got involved and felt the magic. Sometimes that’s how it goes.

SIRENS blends melancholic vocals with deep, brooding production. how would you describe the mood and inspiration behind this track?

I think you just summed it up pretty good in that question.

You’ve been known for producing with analog equipment.What first drew you to This sound and method?

At music college, I was lucky to be surrounded by brilliant people with a lust for everything analog….and digital, just real gear heads. So through comparison in my college days, I realised I was getting a sound that felt better to me from a piece of hardware. The synth at the time was a Roland sh 101 I got a loan of, and it just delivered everything I asked of it. It was tactile, it sounded amazing in all ranges, and I had to do very little after it was recorded.

How do you think that influences the sound of SIRENS and your music in general?

Massively, this collaboration also worked so well because the EYNKA lads have very similar view on recording, they’re all big analog gear heads!!

You’ve had success with your music on labels like MINUS and now this comes through on insomniac’s interstellar recordings – how do you decide what music to send where?

This has become a team decision, truth is I write a lot. Most will never see outside the vaults, so we all sift through the demo’s I write, decide what’s strong and look to get it into the best possible hands.

What was it like working with a singer/songwriter like Tailor’s, and how did you approach the vocal production?

Well I had spent an afternoon with rob in the studio in ibiza last year so we had worked in person before sirens even started which helps a lot. He’s a very talented guy so was able to tick the boxes pretty quick.

With sirens, I had already started a vocal myself, so the vibe was somewhat deep and at that stage quite simple, then rob expanded it out, lots of wonderful layers and story that made sense.

What plans have you got for new music and this summer?

Can quite say anything at this moment, but we will be announcing on my channels in the coming weeks.  

What is your current studio set up like?

Always seems to changing…atm I’ve a selection of favourites synth wise, Jupiter 8, cs-60, arp2600…usual suspects. They all just sound so good, and if need to get something done. They’ll do it. Neve pres, apogee converters. 

If you could have written one song in the history of music what would it be and why?

Fleetwood mac – dreams.

Why? Just listen to it.

What was the last record that blew you away?

Sirens

Purchase ‘Sirens’ here.