Avenue One: “We also aim to keep our music as simple and memorable as possible, so it sticks in people’s heads”

Since teaming up back in 2012, the two have been quietly dropping some of the most emotional and finely crafted trance / progressive house around—earning love from the likes of Above & Beyond, Armin van Buuren, Yotto, and more.

With a sound that’s rich in melody, atmosphere, and dancefloor power, Avenue One have found a sweet spot between deep emotion and club energy. Whether it’s their breakout track “Upstairs Terrace”, their debut album Outside My Door, or their latest single “Call Of The Wild” on Colorize, every release feels cinematic and heartfelt.

Matt brings some serious legacy to the project as one-third of Cerf, Mitiska & Jaren (yep, the trio behind the iconic “Man On The Run”), while Petr brings fresh energy and a sharp ear as a talented producer in his own right. Now, they’ve added a heartwarming new twist—Matt’s 14-year-old daughter Lilu Cerf has stepped into the spotlight as a vocalist on their latest collabs. Their upcoming track on Black Hole Recordings, “How Broken Is Your Heart”, an emotional, powerful tune that is already turning heads, is proof that musical chemistry clearly runs in the family.

Matt and Petr, you two come from different parts of the world, Canada and the Czech Republic. How did you first connect, and what made you think, “Yep, this could work”? How does your workflow actually look?

MATT:
About ten years ago, someone I had collaborated with (Axelpolo) asked Petr (also known as Spark7) to do a remix for us. I was genuinely blown away by his production, so I reached out to him directly. We connected immediately, both musically and personally, and we kept collaborating on various projects over the years. That creative partnership naturally evolved into Avenue One when things really started to gain momentum.

And regarding the workflow, we’re always on the same page creatively. Our collaboration is truly symbiotic. Sometimes I’ll start an idea and send it over to Petr, and other times he kicks things off and sends them my way. Petr is great at quickly finishing ideas, while I handle recording and vocal editing. When we’re working together in the same room, there’s an unspoken understanding—we just know exactly where the song is heading.

You’ve dropped tracks on some of the biggest labels in the game—Anjunabeats, Enhanced, Colorize, FSOE. What do you think it is about your sound that makes labels go, “Yes, please”?

AVENUE ONE:
You never really know for sure, we can only guess. Maybe it’s because we don’t try to copy anyone’s style; we just go with the flow and focus on creating our own sound. There are always certain elements that make it recognizable as an Avenue One track.

We also aim to keep our music as simple and memorable as possible, so it sticks in people’s heads—something they can hum, remember, and enjoy whether they’re listening in their cars or experiencing it live at a festival.

You took on a giant with your remix of “Man On The Run.” Matt, you co-wrote the original, so what was it like flipping your own classic? Brave move or just nostalgia-fueled madness?

AVENUE ONE:
We’ve always felt that “Man On The Run” is an immortal track. It’s touched so many listeners over the years that we thought it would be great to give it a fresh, up-to-date sound and bring it back to the dancefloors while still preserving the same emotion people felt with the original mix.

So for us, it wasn’t really about being brave; it just felt like the right thing to do. And yes, of course, there’s definitely a touch of nostalgia in it too.

Also, since Avenue One is both our lives now and the style of music we want to create, we needed to update the biggest song that Matt was a part of to make it our own.

You’ve had huge support from legends like Above & Beyond and Armin van Buuren. Do you remember the first time you heard your track played on Group Therapy or ASOT?

AVENUE ONE:
Absolutely! For the first time we heard our song “Upstairs Terrace” played on Group Therapy, we were actually on a WhatsApp call and cheering with a glass of wine. It felt like real proof that we were heading in the right direction with our music.

As for ASOT, that goes way back to 2014, when Armin played our collaboration with Heatbeat featuring Jaren on vocals, called “Left Standing.” Those moments are unforgettable for us.

On your latest project, you worked with Lilu Cerf, who, for those who don’t know, is Matt Cerf’s daughter. Matt, when did you first realize Lilu had real vocal talent, and what made you think she should try her voice in the electronic music world?

AVENUE ONE:
Since the age of 5, Matt knew Lilu already had her mom’s talent, in both writing and singing. Jaren had already written and recorded a song with her, and it was amazing. She also wrote stories, poems and drawings and the results were outstanding. It was just a matter of time before we tried to get her on a track.

We recorded one song when she wasn’t ready yet, but then the second one got signed to Anjunabeats (Just Us) and the third was How Broken Is Your Heart, and she nailed it. Matt left her alone in the studio and she did all the recording by herself.

Lilu, you’re just 14 and already making waves—no pressure! :-) What was it like stepping into the studio for the first time? Did dad give you any secret pro tips, or did you just go in and surprise everyone?

LILU:
I don't know, man. I don't remember. I've been in studios since I was little because of my Mom. But she did say that this song surprised her. Something about how my voice is changing.

Growing up surrounded by trance music, did you always want to sing? What finally gave you the push to step into this world?

MATT:
Lilu doesn’t really like or know Trance apart from our songs that she has listened to over the years. She likes Pop and commercial.

LILU:
I think it's genetics.

Your debut on Anjunabeats with “Just Us” turned heads, and now “How Broken Is Your Heart” sounds like it’s about to light up the scene too. What went through your mind as you recorded these beautiful vocals?

LILU:
Singing in a studio is different from singing in front of friends. I like the studio better. I am more creative when I am alone.

Matt and Petr, what was your creative vision for “How Broken Is Your Heart?” Was it smooth sailing with Lilu or were there any hilarious “dad vs. producer” moments?

AVENUE ONE:
So first we had the vocals and lyrics ideas together with Lilu and then Petr came up with the melodic idea inspired by Marsh and we finished it really quickly. Yes, there were some moments, but it boiled down to letting Lilu record the song by herself in the studio.

Lilu, any dream collabs on your radar? Who would you love to team up with next? And same to you, Avenue One—any exciting projects on the horizon you would like to share with us?

LILU:
Tate McRae, if she ever got into trance music. For sure.

MATT:
Gorgon City.

PETR:
For me, it would be artists I’ve admired for a long time. There are definitely more names I’d love to work with, but a few that came to mind are My Friend, Estiva, anamē, Marsh, and Because Of Art. But yeah, the list goes on for sure.

And regarding what’s coming next: We work almost non-stop throughout the year, lots of projects are in the works, but you’ll have to stay tuned a little longer before we share more.