HS.008 — Matthew Dexter

Hi Matthew, could you introduce yourself briefly and tell us how you first got into electronic music?

Hello everyone, and thanks for having me. My name is Matthew, I’m a Swiss-Italian DJ and producer. I run my label, Subplanet, as well as my event series, Space÷Division.

To be honest, I don’t have a dramatic or sudden story about how I got into music, it was more of a slow and natural happening. I started out listening to rock and guitar-driven music when I was younger, but over time, I found myself drawn to more abstract sounds and rhythms, which slowly pulled me towards electronic music. It felt like discovering a new emotion.

Can you tell us about the story or concept behind this mix? What kind of journey did you want to take the listener on?

It’s built around a selection of tracks that have been with me for years. I wanted the mix to feel somewhat linear and immersive, like a continuous thread that slowly pulls you in without obvious shifts or fluctuations. It’s less about creating high- energy moments and more about establishing a consistent atmosphere.

The mix wasn’t meant to feel heavy or peak-time clubby. It’s something you could nod your head to whilst cleaning your living room or have playing while driving, providing a steady backdrop rather than demanding attention.

Is there a particular track in the mix that has a special meaning or memory attached to it?

I wouldn’t say I have a specific personal memory tied to any one track in the mix, but there are definitely a few that have been close to me since a long time.

Even without a single defining moment attached to them, those tracks have kind of grown with me and reflect the foundation of my sound in some way or another.

What sounds, era or scenes are inspiring you the most at the moment as a producer?

I’ve never wanted my inspiration to be something that can be fixed in time or a place. Naturally, I find myself pulling from the sounds of the past, while also paying attention to what’s evolving in the present and what might be possible in the future.

It’s a blend that happens quite organically. With that being said, I’m not trying to recreate anything or chase what's current, but rather to absorb what resonates with me while maintaining a sense of identity.

Do you see DJing more as storytelling, technical performance, or emotional transmission? Why?

I see it as a way to connect with people on a deeper level. It’s about creating a feeling in the room, curating an atmosphere where listeners can lose themselves or find something in the music, even if it’s subtle.

Storytelling is a big part of that, like guiding someone through emotions or a headspace without using words. I don’t always plan a strict narrative, but I do think carefully about how the mix unfolds and how it might make someone feel along the way.

Technical skills are of course necessary to make that journey smooth and respectful to the music.

Can you share a bit about your upcoming projects or what’s next for you this year?

I’m really grateful to be ending the year by playing in some new cities and returning to a few familiar ones. I’m also quietly working on new music for 2026, slowly evolving my sound and trying to take it somewhere different. It’s a process but I am enjoying the experimentation.

Catch Matthew Dexter at HORS-SOL : Macadam in Nantes on November 14, and Trabendo in Paris, on November 15.