MUSIC ALL DAY DELIVERS MADNESS OVER NIGHT
A CONVERSATION WITH MADDMON
Back in 2014, Winnipeg native Maddmon took a leap of faith and moved to Toronto to pursue his dreams of becoming a full-time DJ and producer. A decade later, and fresh off back-to-back performances at CODA and ComfortZone, he spoke to us about his journey and what he has planned next for his career.
Sitting in the window of a Gabbyβs in Parkdale, Maddmon sips his beer looking a bit tense. Toronto just experienced its worst rainfall in history, leaving over 100,000 people, including him and me, without power. We settle into our seats at the front of the restaurant, and Maddmon pulls out his phone, smiling in modest embarrassment while admitting to writing down some of his answers prior to the interview. βMost people don’t know itβs an acronym,β he says, glancing up from the screen before putting the phone away. He explains proudly, βMusic All Day Delivers Madness Over Nightβ.
Maddmon started DJing in and around the Winnipeg area in 2011. He was drawn to the scene because of the electro house genre that dominated EDM at the time. deadmau5, Wolfgang Gartner, Justice, and Porter Robinson are some of the names he lists as his initial inspirations. But Maddmon recalls one specific moment that would go on to change the trajectory of his life, βI went to a Steve Aoki show back in Winnipeg, and that was the craziest shit I’ve ever seen. You know what I mean? Like there’s the cake the fucking raft boatsβ¦He was crazy, the crowd interactionβ¦But that’s what kind of got my foot in the door and I’m grateful for that. And once I went to one of those shows, right, you see these guys perform, blows your mind away, and you’re like, hey, I want to do that. Like I instantly knewβ.
After learning the basics from YouTube tutorials and friends, and with no formal music training, Maddmon started DJing at opening gigs in Winnipeg. He quickly realized that Winnipeg did not have the resources he needed to grow as an artist. As a result, he decided to move to Toronto. Two weeks later, fate would have him perform his first set in the city, βYeah, it was an accident actually. I started going out to this club called The Hoxtonβ¦I made friends with like people who were working there, the promoters. They had a show at Wrongbar and one of the DJs doesn’t show up. He calls me he’s like βYo pull up in 30 min.β I’m nowhere close, I fucking like go to my place, I had this tiny ass controller, this new mark, boom run over there sweating, you know? Right before opening. That was my first gig ever, that was maybe two weeks three weeks moving in Torontoβ. The reception from this first set would secure Maddmon a residency at Hoxton, solidifying him in the Toronto scene. It was there, that he would meet bigger names such as Mala and Chami who all showed him love. Also during this time, he would help brand the G House genre, a mix of gangsta rap a capellas and tech house music.
This wide range of influences is still evident in Maddmonβs sound today. He describes his style as βminimal deep dark techno, but the drums are kind of house-influencedβ¦ The bass line is kind of very groovy, dark, moodyβ¦so like that nastiness is still there but it’s not as commercialβ. He says his ideal reaction from a crowd is to see people with βstank face, that ugly face when you’re like, oh, man, that is a dirty beatβ. Maddmon still relishes in making audiences dance, claiming heβs had nothing but praise as of late, βEvery single time I go out there, it’s just such a good reaction, positive reaction. I had a lot of people come up to me after and just like ask me for gigs or ask me like βOh what song was that?β and I love those conversations because that’s exactly what I was doing when I meet artists that I look up to and they played a really good set. So, I guess those memories really stick to me, just being able to connect with my audience and I think that actually helps with my performancesβ.
Maddmon is the co-founder of MVMNT, an artist collective working to put on the hottest underground shows in the city. On July 20, they performed at Tapestry on Augusta Avenue. The show aimed to raise money for the Palestine Childrenβs Relief Fund, a nonprofit organization providing free medical care to injured and sick children amidst the atrocities in Gaza. Maddmon says he does not like getting political over the internet but is keeping himself educated on the situation, βI see the pictures. I see what’s going on. And I’m just lucky to be alive. Let me do my part and hopefully, what I’m doing is sending a positive message. And people can learn from that as well and do something positive and contribute to societyβ.
As for whatβs next, Maddmon says he is looking to expand to bigger markets, including the United States and Europe. He also has an unreleased remix he plans on releasing late next week. Through his work, he is focused on growing his brand in stride with his collective, continuously innovating in the Toronto scene.
To end the interview, Maddmon spoke about using analogue gear in the future, βI’m actually thinking about getting some Tech 12s and a nice little two-channel mixer and getting back into it. I like vinyl because you have to constantly touch the records to keep them on BPM. It’s like intuitive, and it actually helps me with my mixing having that core foundationβ. If you ask us though, weβd tell you that core foundation is already pretty strong.
ArtistΒ Links
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: MVMNT @ TAPESTRY, TORONTO
SPILL FEATURE: ELECTRIC ISLAND 2019 PREVIEW
