Interview by Andy Garratt

After bursting on to the scene in 2005 with his monstrous bass driven tune Hold You, Matt Goddard aka Dopamine, has not looked back. In the short period of time since this first release on TCR, he has been responsible for a stack of quality remixes and singles. As a testament to this quality, his music consistently features in the sets of the biggest breaks worldwide. Dopamine plays only his second ever gig in Perth this Friday’s Destination? @ Ambar.

First up congratulations on winning best single at the Breakspoll awards earlier this year for Hold You, what was the night like and how much of an impact has the win had on your music career?
Thanks! The night was pretty crazy. Every time you looked up there was someone amazing playing. I didn’t really get a chance to stop and listen to anyone play though as I was too busy meeting people and trying to catch up with all my mates. The award ceremony itself was surreal. I still have to remind myself of what happened. Parts of it are just a blur.

Winning the award has made a serious impact on my career. Enough to allow me to do this full time and quit my chef job. It’s been really good for Title Fight as well. Our sales have always been good but I think that win gave us a little extra boost.

At what point did you make the decision to quit your day job and make music production your full time occupation? Was it a difficult decision?
I had been dreaming of doing it before Breakspoll. The day I started back at work after that I decided I was leaving. It was one of the easiest decisions I have ever made. I do miss cooking in a commercial kitchen but not the job itself. I think I’m really lucky to be where I am now but it was a lot of hard work getting here.

Hold You was featured on a recently screened episode of CSI, how did this come about?
Rennie approached me about signing a publishing deal with TCR for that single. He mentioned there was some interest from the show and that it would be a good thing for both of us. The show is huge so I jumped at the chance. I think it may have also been used on a radio advert in the UK somewhere as well but I’m not too sure. I’m hoping to sign my Title Fight releases to a good publisher soon too. There’s really good money in it.

Are there any plans for a Dopamine artist album in the near future?
Yes. I’m getting this years plan out of the way first which was just to concentrate on the singles and remixes, continue to boost my profile and play as many gigs as possible. I’m doing two mix CDs, one due out later this year and another one with Klaus for Title Fight and once they are done I’ll be starting work on the album. I’ll still be releasing singles during that time and doing remixes so I won’t drop off the radar or anything.

How did you hook up with Klaus “Heavyweight” Hill and Title Fight? After your first release on TCR were there originally plans to release more tunes on this label?
Klaus rang me out of the blue one day thinking I was someone else. Once he realised who I was (he is good mates with Rennie who had given him a copy of Hold You, this was before the release) we had a good chat and he offered me loads of advice. He’s a really great guy, very friendly and knowledgeable about the industry. He asked me to send him some tunes and we went from there.

You have collaborated with Title Fight big man Klaus Hill on a number of tunes, if you had a choice of any artist(s) to write a tune with who would it be?
Working with Klaus is ok, he just sits there and goes ‘wow Matt, that’s amazing! How do you do that? I wish I was like you.” Then he usually tries to kiss me and at that point I tell him to go home. The studio is not that big but Klaus is so it gets a little close for comfort and there are some things I just won’t do to further my career.

Make sure you print that, every word is true.

I was supposed to get together with BLIM in the studio last time I was there but it didn’t happen due to unforseen circumstances. He’s an amazing producer and a really top bloke to boot so I can’t wait to actually work with him. I might be working with Rennie in November too if he’s not off touring somewhere. He and I get along really well and he’s such a piss taker so it would just be laughs the whole time I reckon. I’d also love to work with JHZ. He is not a mere mortal like us, he is a god of production. I reckon his music has advanced so far out of reach of most producers. Far more impressive to me than the Plumps but he’s twisted so it’s not as well received by the masses unfortunately.

What are your thoughts on the Australian breakbeat scene and its direction?
I think it’s moving along very nicely. Australia is recognised as being a breaks hot spot the world over due to the crowds that Krafty and The Stantons pull and events like Good Vibrations, Field Day and Park Life and all the great clubs pushing the sound. We have some of the finest producers in the world here and more up and coming. I think we’ll just keep going from strength to strength.

You will be heading to the UK a bit later this year, do you find time whilst touring to write any music?
Last time I wrote a track with Diverted called ‘Only One’. It’s a mental tune and sounds nothing like either of us. It’s bordering on tearout and has been really well received by everyone we have sent promos to. The Breakfastaz and Aquasky in particular love it which is great for spreading our names into a different area of the scene. We have since got BLIM to remix it which is just a dream come true. It’s amazing as well, as could be expected and compliments it perfectly. I think it will be one of the releases of the year but then I am biased.

What are your Top 5 tunes at the moment?

Ooh, plug time...

Dopamine & Diverted – Only One (BLIM Remix) [Diverted Traffic]
Hz – Vogel
Myagi – Funkgrinder (Dopamine Remix) [Fight Club]
Way Out West – Apollo (General Midi Remix) [CDR]
Dopamine – Brave New World (Psure Remix) [Title Fight]

I have heard rumours that you are an experienced club podium dancer – can we expect a demonstration at your Destination gig at Ambar?
Depends on how much I’ve drunk so if you see me, buy me a drink! There are photos of me shaking my thing in Beijing China. They had these dancing girls in skimpy outfits and when they jumped down to take a break (I played a four hour set, don’t blame them really). I threw on some big party tune, jumped up and shook it out for a good five minutes. The crowd went berzerk. I had drunk almost two bottles of Moet and half a bottle of scotch by that time though.....

Catch him @ Destination? Dopamine - Friday 25th August @ Ambar