DJ Matt Suave is commemorating Pride Month with his new single “My House”. His disco style is ready for the dance floor and the world. Sat down with the DJ to discuss his career thus far.
Where did you learn how to DJ?
I had always been a pretty musical kid – collecting CDs and throwing “raves” in my basement with a $10 light up disco ball. So, around age 14, my parents bought me a beginning mixing board that plugged into the computer. It could only play a handful of preloaded sounds, but it’s how I first learned to mix. However, DJing stayed on the back burner until I moved to LA in 2018 and bought my first real big boy set of DJ equipment. I watched some YouTube tutorials and was playing my first paid gig a few months later in a tiny bar!
What does Pride month mean to you?
A lot of people today forget why Pride is so important, but as someone who came out at 14 and who started dating other guys before gay marriage was even legal, I know how much it means to me. I remember crying in an airport watching the TV as Obama gave a speech after the Supreme Court legalized same sex marriage, and that feeling is what Pride Month encompasses for me. It’s a month for us to feel seen, appreciated, and not outcast like many of us have felt our whole lives. Even though I attend and DJ at over a dozen Prides every year now, they’re still just as important as ever – and a great reason to dance!
You’ve performed on stages shared by Zedd and Kaskade among others. What were those experiences like?
Sharing a stage with your idols is equally surreal as it is surprising. On one hand, you’re meeting and performing with someone who has had such a large impact on your music journey, but on the other hand you realize that they’re actually just chill normal people like the rest of us. Ha. One thing I’ve really grown to appreciate are the incredible teams behind these artists as well. It’s one thing the public doesn’t really see as much. It’s not just Zedd, it’s the 20+ people working behind the scenes. It’s also his lighting team, visuals team, etc. Sharing a stage with these artists has made me realize just how complex many of these shows are and how creative and professional the artists can be!
Tell me more about “My House”, your new single.
“My House” is my debut single! I chose it as my first single because it’s a culmination of so many different aspects of my life over the past few years, and sort of an homage to my rise as a DJ. When I spent some of my 20s in Chicago, I truly feel in love with house music and so this single is my version of the house music I fell in love with; literally “My House” (music). Groovy bassline with a piano breakdown and infection vocals. We also shot a music video for it featuring over 20 of the drag queens and friends who helped PlayHaus become the Denver staple it is today.
What’s next for you?
Lots more music on the way, and a 25+ city summer tour. I’ve got an incredible vocalist on the next single – you won’t want to miss it. I’ll also be returning to World Pride this year in Amsterdam and have some special surprises planned for those sets. And stay tuned for the full debut EP coming out later this Fall! On the PlayHaus side, we’re throwing some of our biggest events yet, including our dream booking of Honey Dijon for Denver Pride.
