Glitch Matrix

Origin: None

Glitch Matrix is an electronic music production and performance duo comprised of Mike Coza and Jonathan DeRay. Mike and Jonathan met as roommates in college and began their careers DJing together as part of the group “Trinity,” along with their close friend Ahmed Syed. Years later, their shared passion for music is as strong as ever. Mike and Jonathan’s influences range from Eric Prydz, Nicky Romero and Markus Schulz to Pink Floyd; all of which have helped to mold their musical tastes and talents. Besides DJing at clubs and lounges throughout New York and New Jersey, the past couple of years have seen the duo make their foray into the world of electronic music production. Mike has received significant professional production training during that time and Jonathan joined him in the quest to produce great electronic music. Last year after a lengthy hiatus from the scene, the two refocused their musical efforts to form “Glitch Matrix”.

//

Home Town:
Jonathan- I grew up in South Jersey. I went to High School in Ocean City.
Mike- Clifton, New Jersey for me.

Currently Living:
Jonathan- I live in the misty mountains of Clinton, New Jersey.
Mike- Hoboken, New Jersey.

Origin Of Name:
Mike- Well, years ago, The Matrix was one of our favorite movies. The themes in that movie kind of stuck in our heads. When we were coming up with a name, we threw a million around. Then, one day, Jonathan said, how about “Glitch Matrix,” and I was like, that’s it. Music today is formulated in this static matrix. We want to be that glitch in the matrix that kind of shakes it up. Plus we just think it sounds cool.

Weapon of Choice:
Jonathan- We use Traktor on a weekly basis for DJing, but we also DJ with CDJs and rekordbox. I have an S4 controller, an F1, a pair of CDJ-900 Nexus. Mike just picked up a VCI-400 controller as well. We have had a bunch of different setups over the years though. We both had Denon dual CD players, I had a VCI-100SE controller and Mike had a Xone DX. I still have a pair of techs that I play vinyl on at home.
Mike- Logic for production. We made the move to Logic X just a few months ago.

Source of Power:
Mike- Right now, definitely Eric Prydz. The way he develops and layers melodies is just insane. We are also listening to (and being inspired by) a lot of Audien and EDX as well these days.

What advice would you offer someone thinking about entering the Discovery Project competition?
Jonathan- Just go for it. This is probably the best competition like this out there, because there is someone actually listening to and judging the entries, which is awesome. There are a lot of talented people out there, but you never know. You’ve got to take your shots in life, and this is a great one to take!

Was there one particular moment in the recording or mixing process for your Discovery Project entry that made you feel like you were creating something pretty damn special?
Jonathan- Well, we fully believe in the music, but you never really know how someone else will react to it, you know? The funny thing is that I laid down the mix in my basement late one night trying not to wake anyone up. One take through. I thought that I had done many better mixes in the past, but I guess the song selection just struck a chord. I’m glad it did!

Are there any dots to connect with where/how you grew up to your musical output?
Mike- I can’t say that either of us had any musical training in the classical sense. It really started with a love of dance music and DJing. As time went by, production was kind of a natural progression. I had producer training at Dubspot in NYC, and my skills have been steadily growing since then.

What do your parents think of what you are doing?
Jonathan- I was talking about it with my Dad a few months ago and I showed him the EDC trailer and I was like, “Dad, my dream is to DJ on a stage just like that in front of all of those people.” And he said I should go for it. Well, just a week or so ago, I was able to call him up and say, “hey Dad, remember when I showed you that video of DJ’s at huge festivals, and telling you that was my dream? Well, that dream is coming true.” That was an awesome moment.
Mike- Mine have always been very supportive of my efforts.

What’s the strangest part of your job? What makes you shake your head in wonderment about being a DJ and producer?
Jonathan- Probably the lack of sleep.
Mike- On the production side of it, just how limitless it all seems sometimes. No matter how much progress you think you’ve made, there is always someone else out there, doing stuff that just blows your mind. It’s both inspiring and daunting at the same time.

What’s the biggest misconception about being a DJ? Or, what would people be surprised to find out about the profession?
Jonathan- Weird hours. Bizarre requests (although requests can be good as well). I had never even heard of Sam Smith until one night this dude requested Nirvana and I checked him out. Pretty cool.

Tell me about your most memorable night out as an artist or as a fan.
Jonathan- I remember Mike being over my house for my birthday party about a year and a half ago. We were the last two up, just talking about music and production (we were working separately at that point) and Mike said to me, “So I have this idea. We had so much fun DJing together and had so many great ideas. I think we should work together and make music.” That was kind of how it all re-started for us.
Mike- Well, we were down at Winter Music Conference a few years ago, and Jon made me go to Swedish House Mafia’s Masquerade Motel. It was so much fun. We had already DJed for years and I had already started producing, but at some point during the spectacle of it all, I had a revelation. I thought, “This is amazing, and I have to try to do this while I have the chance.”

Do you have any memorable moments from past EDC’s or any other Insomniac party?
Jonathan- Hell yeah. I have been to every EDC New York. Markus Schulz’s set from EDC New York 2012 was one of the best I’ve ever heard. I have listened to it ever since. That is a master at work right there.

How does what you do for a living affect you on a day-today basis? How, if at all, does it affect your friends and family?
Jonathan- Well, our friends think it’s cool. Our families, well, let’s just say our families are very tolerant of the time commitment. Mike- Ditto on that.

What is your ultimate career dream?
Jonathan- DJing at EDC New York, no question.
Mike- #1 on Beatport! Let’s do this!

Are you impulsive with your work (in the studio and/or DJing) or do you have a sketch in mind before you start?
Jonathan- Even though we have been doing this for awhile, we are still evolving. We take every bit of direction and advice from fellow producers who have been at this longer than we have, so it varies. At this point, I feel like we still work and let things happen. One day we will advance to the stage where we are like, “OK, we want to make this,” and then do it.

How, if at all, does listening to music figure into your creative process? What’s the last song you heard that made you drop what you were doing and go into the studio?
Jonathan- Eric Prydz’s “Liberate.” That beat is ridiculous. That guy is a genius.
Mike- Almost anything by Audien. Everything he makes sounds so clean and beautiful.

What’s the most important piece of gear in your studio and why?
Mike- Us.
Jonathan- Well played, iMac’s help too.
Mike-And don’t forget boxed wine.
Jonathan- And coffee!

How important is it for you to experiment and take on the risk of failure?
Mike- Very important. It’s like Michael Jordan said, ” I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.”

Do you have a list of people you’d like to collaborate with in the future?
Jonathan- Hell yeah. Going B2B with Carl Cox or Markus Schulz would be like an out of body experience.
Mike- Eric Prydz again. Although I think I’d have so many questions, I’d probably just remain silent.

If we pressed Shuffle on your iPod while you went to the bathroom, what would you be embarrassed to come back to us listening to?
Jonathan- No, that’s probably the best depiction of who I am. You would find Markus Schulz, Eric Prydz, Audien and Jonathan Peters, but also Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Pink Floyd, A Tribe Called Quest, Digable Planets, and more. That’s who I am. Hey, how did this Katy Perry get in here? (Whatever, she’s awesome).

What sound or noise do you love?
Jonathan- I have this underwater sound effect that I try to put in everything.
Mike- No more underwater! Live on land, dude!

What should everyone just shut the fuck up about?
Jonathan- What you DJ with. We cut our teeth beat matching on dual CD players. Fuck what anyone says, nothing is harder than that (cassettes and 8 tracks aside). But we use both CDJs and Traktor now. I think people shouldn’t spend so much time bitching about what a DJ is playing on or with. Did you love what you did? Did the people dance? Great. Then tell Bill I said have a Coke and a smile and shut the fuck up!

What gets you excited when you think about the future of electronic music and club culture?
Jonathan- I will say that I envision a return to club culture. Festivals culture is amazing and I love festival season as much as anyone, but this music started in the clubs. I see that coming back and I find it very exciting.
Mike- The fact that all the boundaries are fading away. There are so many people doing so many inspiring things with electronic music, there are almost no boundaries anymore.

When you look at electronic music and the surrounding culture, what worries you about the future, what do you wish would change or that you could change?
Jonathan- Just the negativity about drugs and things like that. Whenever I hear about something bad happening at a festival, it brings me down. That is not all this scene is about. Music over Molly!

What are your weaknesses?
Mike- Well, sometimes it’s just tough to keep momentum going. If only I could just stop time.

Do you have a secret passion?
Jonathan- To be on Chopped. I would crush that shit.

How would you describe your sound to a deaf person?
Mike- It’s like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.

Is success physical or internal? What does it mean to you?
Jonathan- Both. But it’s not monetary. It’s a moment. It’s a moment when you turn to your boy, neither one of you say anything, but you both know, this is it! I think that moment is coming.

What do you remember about your first DJ gig?
Jonathan- I think it was a fraternity party. And I was just wondering when people would get there. Mike- They never did!

What’s the hardest professional lesson you’ve learned thus far? How did it make your life easier—or more difficult?
Mike- That nothing is going to happen unless you get off your ass and start.

Do you have a favorite all-time mixed CD or series?
Jonathan- Sound Factory 5
Mike- ‘Nuff said.

Have something you’d like to get off your chest that we did ask you about? Go for it, shoot for the hip…
Jonathan- Fuck that. Put the beats on and let’s go!

---

Share