"Rhythm Is Always the Foundation" Matteo Just on Latin Grooves, UK Bass & the Ableton Push | Faux Poly Interviews

Matteo Just started on drums. Long before GarageBand on an iPad, before Ableton Live and the Push made everything feel immediate and playable, rhythm was already at the core of how he hears the world. Today, that foundation has evolved into something genuinely hybrid: Latin grooves meeting the weight of techno and the broken energy of UK club music. His X Amor EP on Faux Poly is the clearest statement yet Matteo talks about seasonal shifts, graphic textures, and why he still reaches for Ableton's stock plugins over "perfect" solutions.

Q: Hey Matteo, can you give us a bit of background on where you’re from and how you first got into music?

A: I’m originally from a pretty mixed cultural background, which definitely shaped how I approach music. There was always a blend of influences around me from different languages to different rhythms and over time that fed into how I hear things. I didn’t start with a clear plan, just curiosity, experimenting, and slowly realizing how much you can express through sound.

I started early, playing drums for a long time, which is probably why rhythm is still at the core of everything I do. My first production steps were on GarageBand on the first-gen iPad. There was that small latency when finger drumming, not ideal, but it made it fun in a different way because you start feeling timing instead of just executing it. Later I moved on to Ableton Live, got more serious, and started working with synths. The Ableton Push was a big shift, suddenly everything felt immediate and playable in real time.

Q: How has being based in Munich shaped your sound and approach?

A: Being based in Munich has influenced me in a subtle way. It’s not a loud scene, but there’s a strong focus on detail and quality, which gave me space to refine my sound. At the same time, I’ve always looked outward, constantly searching for non-obvious influences that help me connect beyond scenes and borders.

Q: What were your early influences when you first started producing?

A: My sound sits between different worlds, but rhythm is always the foundation. A lot of my influence comes from Latin grooves; bossa nova, reggaeton, salsa etc, not as direct references, but as something I’ve absorbed: that natural swing and physicality translated into a club context.

From there I connect it with the weight of techno and the more broken energy of Latin breakbeat and UK club music. It’s less about genres and more about how different rhythmic systems interact - fluid and syncopated meeting straight and driving.

Q: The EP draws from graphic art and seasonal shifts - how did those influences translate into sound?

A: When I produce or play, it’s about movement and tension — deep low-end, sharp percussion, and textures between sound design and atmosphere, built for the dancefloor but with detail underneath.

Early UK bass influences like dubstep, garage, experimental club, shaped my sense of space, while ambient and melodic music brought in openness. That contrast is still central to my work.

With the EP, the visual side was a starting point. I was looking at graphic textures, gradients, and seasonal shifts with how things evolve over time. I tried to translate that into sound by thinking in layers that constantly move and transform, rather than looping patterns. More like a changing landscape than a fixed structure.

Q: There’s a blend of Spanish vocal elements with UK bass influence - how did that combination come about?

A: The Spanish vocal elements come from a personal place and it’s part of how I connect emotionally to music. Pairing that with UK bass influence and club-driven rhythms wasn’t really a calculated decision, it just felt natural. I like that contrast between something warm and human and something more percussive and heavy.

What does your setup look like these days - fully in the box or a mix of hardware and software? Any go-to machines or plugins?

My setup is pretty simple and focused. I really like the stock plugins in Ableton Live. I try to stay creative with what’s already there instead of spending too much time searching for the “perfect” plugin. For me, it’s more about speed and intuition. If I can get an idea out quickly with the tools I already know, that usually leads to better results than overthinking the technical side.

It’s been really rewarding to see the music connect. Some of my tracks have been aired on Rinse FM, and getting support from artists like cameo blush, Kassian, Waleed, GAZZI, and Kelbin has been really motivating. It shows that this blend of sounds resonates across different scenes.

Q: What’s exciting you most in electronic music right now?

A: What excites me most in electronic music right now is how open everything feels. Genre boundaries are fading, and people are creating more personal, hybrid sounds. There’s also more emotion coming back into club music, which I find important.

What’s next for Matteo Just - anything you can tell us about what’s coming up?

I’m working on new material that pushes things further. More narrative elements, and more intention behind each track. There are also collaborations in the works that I’m excited about. It’s all still evolving, but very connected to where I started.

Get it on Beatport