Matt Lange
{{Short description|American DJ and record producer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Matt Lange
| image = Matt+Lange+27396339.png
| birth_name =
| alias = Altered Tensions
| birth_place = Manhattan, New York, U.S.
| birth_date =
| occupation = {{hlist|DJ|producer}}
| genre = {{hlist|Progressive house{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/8499118/matt-lange-space-between-deniz-reno |title=Matt Lange's 'Space Between' with Deniz Reno is a perfect pop of progressive house: Listen |last=Bein |first=Kat |date=February 19, 2019 |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=January 24, 2020}}||deep house{{Cite web |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2015/09/da-premiere-matt-lange-fever-feat-quivver-original-mix/ |title=DA Premiere: Matt Lange – 'The Fever' feat. Quivver (Original Mix) |last=Sundius |first=Michael |date=September 9, 2015 |website=Dancing Astronaut |accessdate=January 24, 2020}}|techno{{Cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/3deyzy/find-out-why-matt-lange-is-deadmau5-secret-weapon |title=Find out why Matt Lange is Deadmau5' secret weapon |last=Khawaja |first=Jemayel |date=October 20, 2015 |website=Vice |accessdate=January 24, 2020}}|industrial rock}}
| years_active = 2007–present
| label = {{hlist|Mau5trap|Anjunabeats|Anjunadeep|Armada Music|Isorhythm|Monstercat}}
| associated_acts = {{hlist|BT|Glenn Morrison|Deniz Reno|Kerry Leva}}
| website = {{url|mattlange.net}}
}}
Matt Lange is an American DJ and producer based in Los Angeles. He is best known for co-producing "Goodbye" with DJ Glenn Morrison,{{Cite web |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/quincy-jones-headlines-avid-stellar-150010564.html |title=Quincy Jones headlines Avid's stellar lineup of music creators for its 2020 NAMM show main stage events |author=GlobeNewswire |date=January 16, 2020 |website=Yahoo |accessdate=January 24, 2020}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/matt-lange-5-things-ive-learned-about-music-production |title=Matt Lange: 5 things I've learned about music production |last=Rogerson |first=Ben |date=March 13, 2019 |website=MusicRadar |accessdate=January 26, 2020}} His use of modular synthesis and isorhythms in his musical productions have brought him notice.{{Cite web |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2016/02/da-premiere-matt-langes-modular-techno-beast-qvcamx/ |title=DA Premiere: Matt Lange's modular techno beast, 'QVCAMX' |last=Sundius |first=Michael |date=February 5, 2016 |website=Dancing Astronaut |accessdate=January 27, 2020}} Lange produced progressive house and deep house early in his career, before moving into techno production from 2015 onwards. Lange found his own label, Isorhythm, in 2011 as a platform to release his own music. He released his debut studio album, Ephemera, in 2015 through Mau5trap, which was later followed up with Isolated in 2020.
Early life
Lange was born in Manhattan, New York.{{Cite web |url=https://www.avid.com/customer-stories/matt-lange |title=Breakdown: Deconstructing music production with Matt Lange |website=Avid |access-date=January 24, 2020}} As a four-year-old child, he was pushed by his parents into learning the piano, which he disliked to practice. He later joined a boys' choir at the age of six, which he stayed with for six years.{{Cite web |url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/mattlange/biography |title=Matt Lange biography |website=Resident Advisor |accessdate=January 24, 2020}}{{Cite web |url=https://mixmag.net/read/mau5trap-in-the-lab-la-with-attlas-and-matt-lange-dj-lab |title=Attlas and Matt Lange in the lab LA |last=Lee |first=Valerie |date=March 28, 2016 |website=Mixmag |accessdate=January 24, 2020}} After his voice changed, he left the choir and learnt how to play the guitar, which eventually led him to joining a hardcore punk metal band. Lange's later interest in Aphex Twin and Nine Inch Nails spiked his interest in recording demos and learning how to produce music. Lange initially experimented with programming basic beats on Fruity Loops and Acid Pro, later mixing them with his recorded guitar audio.{{Cite web |url=https://www.musictech.net/features/matt-lange-interview/ |title=Matt Lange – The MusicTech Interview |date=May 12, 2017 |website=MusicTech |accessdate=January 25, 2020}}
He is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music,{{Cite web |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2014/10/good-morning-mix-matt-lange-dons-his-hand-to-the-indeep-mix-series/ |title=Good Morning Mix: Matt Lange dons his hand to the InDeep mix series |last=Carter |first=Dan Roy |date=October 9, 2014 |website=Dancing Astronaut |accessdate=January 24, 2020}} where he studied music synthesis involving composition-based music production and sound design.{{Cite web |url=https://www.keyboardmag.com/miscellaneous/matt-lange-extended-interview |title=Matt Lange Extended Interview |date=November 29, 2017 |website=Keyboard Mag |accessdate=January 25, 2020}}
Career
=2007–2011: IsoRhythm =
While Lange was writing his senior thesis in Berklee at the age of 21, he was introduced to American musician BT by his professor Dr. Boulanger who was BT's mentor. This led to Lange working for BT while BT was making his album These Hopeful Machines, which was nominated for a Grammy award in 2011.{{cite web |title=Attlas and Matt Lange in the Lab |url=https://mixmag.net/read/mau5trap-in-the-lab-la-with-attlas-and-matt-lange-dj-lab |website=mixmag.net |accessdate=25 August 2020}} Lange earned a percussion credit on the track "Rose of Jericho". Prior to that, Lange self-released an IDM and glitch album in 2007 under his alias Altered Tensions, which was influenced by artists Richard Devine and Telefon Tel Aviv.
Lange released his first official single in 2009 through Armada Music: "Anywhere With You Is Home" featuring singer Kerry Leva.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/anywhere-with-you-is-home-feat-kerry-leva-ep/332197547 |title=Anywhere With You Is Home (feat. Kerry Leva) - EP by Matt Lange on Apple Music |website=iTunes Store |accessdate=January 25, 2020}} This continued through 2010 where he released "East Coast / Resonate" through Silk Music and "As the Rain Falls" with Ad Brown through Songbird.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/east-coast-resonate-single/590929226 |title=East Coast / Resonate - Single by Matt Lange on Apple Music |website=iTunes Store |accessdate=January 25, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/as-the-rain-falls-ep/386929343 |title=As the Rain Falls - EP by Ad Brown & Matt Lange on Apple Music |website=iTunes Store |accessdate=January 25, 2020}} After completing BT's album, Lange signed on to British label Anjunadeep through his connections with friend Andrew Bayer. He then released a number of singles through the label, including "Rift",{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/rift-single/433421333 |title=Rift - Single by Matt Lange on Apple Music |website=iTunes Store |accessdate=January 25, 2020}} "A Deeper Shade / Other Stories",{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/a-deeper-shade-other-stories-ep/415376695 |title=A Deeper Shade / Other Stories - EP by Matt Lange on Apple Music |website=iTunes Store |accessdate=January 25, 2020}} and "Quadcore", a collaboration with other Anjunabeats regulars Boom Jinx, Bayer, and Trifonic.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/quadcore-single/409798763 |title=Quadcore - Single by Boom Jinx, Andrew Bayer, Matt Lange & Trifonic on Apple Music |website=iTunes Store |accessdate=January 25, 2020}}
In 2011, Lange founded his own label, IsoRhythm, in response to his inclinations to release his music without dealing with the schedules and bureaucracies of other labels. Through IsoRhythm, he released a few sample libraries and EPs of his own work.
=2012–2014: "Goodbye" and co-productions =
Lange continued to release a number of tracks throughout 2012, such as the Here & Back Again EP and "Bowed / Class B" with Canadian DJ Glenn Morrison.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/here-back-again-ep/1430113514 |title=Here & Back Again - EP by Matt Lange on Apple Music |website=iTunes Store |accessdate=January 26, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/bowed-class-b-single/1435523432 |title=Bowed / Class B - Single by Matt Lange & Glenn Morrison on Apple Music |website=iTunes Store |accessdate=January 26, 2020}}
In 2013, Lange co-produced Morrison's single "Goodbye", which was nominated for Dance Recording of the Year at the 2015 Juno Awards and charted at #12 on the Billboard Canadian Top 100.{{cite web|url=https://junoawards.ca/nomination/2015-dance-recording-of-the-year-glenn-morrison-feat-islove/ |title=Goodbye, Dance Recording of the Year 2015 |website=Juno Awards |accessdate=January 25, 2020}}{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6113719/tomorrows-hits-glenn-morrison-says-hello-with-goodbye |title=Tomorrow's Hits: Glenn Morrison says hello with 'Goodbye' |date=June 6, 2014 |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=January 25, 2020}} He also produced Portrait of a Chameleon for American Idol runner-up Blake Lewis, and Now or Never for French trance artist Tania Zygar.
On July 14, 2014, Lange released his Stacatto EP through Anjunadeep, which comprises progressive house, deep house, and ambient tracks.{{Cite web |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2014/07/matt-lange-staccato-ep-ep-review/ |title=Matt Lange – Staccato EP [EP Review] |last=Dimperio |first=Allegra |date=July 2, 2014 |website=Dancing Astronaut |accessdate=January 26, 2020}} The EP was described as a "silent movie score" by Dancing Astronaut. He also released "There She Goes" as a free download on December 10, 2014.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youredm.com/2014/12/02/edm-premiere-matt-lange-goes/ |title=Your EDM Premiere: Matt Lange – 'There She Goes' |last=McGiverin |first=Jon |date=December 2, 2014 |website=Your EDM |accessdate=January 26, 2020}}
=2015–2016: ''Ephemera'' and ''Patchwork'' =
In 2015, Deadmau5's label Mau5trap reached out to Lange upon hearing a techno track he had produced, and Lange responded by sending the label a number of his unreleased techno tracks. Eight months later, Deadmau5 contacted Lange through Twitter to praise his "Scorched Earth Policy" track, and within two hours gave Lange a record contract. Lange went beyond the label's original contract for an EP, and released his debut album Ephemera through Mau5trap on September 10, 2015.{{Cite web |url=https://mixmag.net/read/matt-lange-premiere-music |title=Matt Lange - Music |last=Orenstein |first=Carré |date=August 26, 2015 |website=Mixmag |accessdate=January 26, 2020}} To celebrate the album's release, Lange threw a party with InDeep and Mau5trap at Los Angeles' Sound Nightclub.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youredm.com/2015/09/09/mau5traps-matt-lange-set-to-take-over-sound-nightclub-for-album-release-party/ |title=Mau5trap's Matt Lange Set to Take Over Sound Nightclub for Album Release Party |last=Edgerly |first=Brett |date=September 9, 2015 |website=Your EDM |accessdate=January 27, 2020}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.magneticmag.com/2015/09/matt-langes-mau5trap-debut-stuns-release-party-at-sound-nightclub/ |title=Matt Lange's Mau5trap debut stuns, release party at Sound Nightclub |last=Rahman |first=Neal |date=September 10, 2015 |website=Magnetic Mag |accessdate=January 27, 2020}}
Preceding the album's release were minimal techno lead single "My Love Aside",{{Cite news |url=https://www.youredm.com/2015/07/20/mau5trap-announces-the-signing-of-matt-lange-and-his-debut-lp-ephemera/ |title=Mau5trap Announces the Signing of Matt Lange and his Debut LP 'Ephemera' |last=Meadow |first=Matthew |date=July 20, 2015 |website=Your EDM |accessdate=January 26, 2020}} glitch hop and industrial track "Lying to Myself",{{Cite web |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2015/08/matt-lange-lying-original-mix/ |title=Matt Lange – 'Lying To Myself' (Original Mix) |last=Diaz |first=Jordan |date=August 25, 2015 |website=Dancing Astronaut |accessdate=January 26, 2020}} "Ripples",{{Cite web |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2015/08/matt-lange-ripples-original-mix/ |title=Matt Lange – 'Ripples' (Original Mix) |last=Hernandez |first=Christina |date=August 30, 2015 |website=Dancing Astronaut |accessdate=January 26, 2020}} and "The Fever" featuring Quivver.{{Cite web |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2015/09/da-premiere-matt-lange-fever-feat-quivver-original-mix/ |title=DA Premiere: Matt Lange – 'The Fever' feat. Quivver (Original Mix) |last=Sundius |first=Michael |date=September 9, 2015 |website=Dancing Astronaut |accessdate=January 26, 2020}} The techno album indicated a large shift in sound from his previous house releases, with Lange stating that Ephemera was mainly inspired by his self-built modular synthesizer system.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/6663088/matt-lange-my-love-aside-premiere |title=Matt Lange premieres modular techno track 'My Love Aside' from new album Ephemera: Exclusive |last=Sundius |first=Michael |date=August 12, 2015 |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=January 26, 2020}} He also said that the "minimal and groove based" sounds in "My Love Aside" helped to increase his freedom and improvisation while DJing, since it allowed Lange to play looped pieces of multiple tracks at the same time without jumbling up. A remix album for Ephemera was released on July 8, 2016, and consisted of remixes from Mat Zo, Anthony Baldino, Attlas, and Calyx & Teebee.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youredm.com/2016/07/25/matt-lange-releases-ephemera-remixes-mau5trap/ |title=Matt Lange releases 'Ephemera: Remixes' on mau5trap |last=Fabrick |first=Mark |date=July 25, 2016 |website=Your EDM |accessdate=January 26, 2020}}
Lange, together with other Mau5trap artists Attlas, Rezz, and Steve Duda, were announced for a collaborative Mau5trap Bus Tour in February 2016.{{Cite web |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2016/02/mau5trap-announces-mau5hax-bust-tour/ |title=Mau5trap announces new bus tour with Rezz, Matt Lange and more |last=Sundius |first=Michael |date=February 18, 2016 |website=Dancing Astronaut |accessdate=January 27, 2020}} The tour brought them across North America, the first stop being Toronto.
On April 16, 2016, Lange released a seven-track EP titled Patchwork through Mau5trap, marking his second major release on the label.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/patchwork/1108096978 |title=Patchwork by Matt Lange on Apple Music |website=iTunes Store |accessdate=January 27, 2020}} While the first five tracks of the EP were labeled as techno, the final two songs were vocally-focused and described by Lange as "the most personal tracks [he has] ever written."{{Cite web |url=https://www.youredm.com/2016/05/01/matt-lange-releases-long-awaited-patchwork-ep-mau5trap/ |title=Matt Lange releases long-awaited Patchwork' EP through Mau5trap |last=Rubinstein |first=Peter |date=May 1, 2016 |website=Your EDM |accessdate=January 27, 2020}}{{Cite web |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2016/04/matt-lange-wields-synth-mastery-patchwork-ep/ |title=Matt Lange wields synth mastery in Patchwork EP |last=Hernandez |first=Christina |date=April 30, 2016 |website=Dancing Astronaut |accessdate=January 27, 2020}} Lange stated that the EP was originally conceived to be of modular synthesizer based techno and expand on Ephemera{{'s}} themes, but unexpected life events which he experienced caused the project's scope to increase overall. Dancing Astronaut praised the variety of melodic and "harder" tracks in the EP, which the author alluded to Lange's skill with modular synthesis and sound manipulation. Patchwork''{{'s}} last track, "Consider This", was later released as a single on April 29, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/consider-this-radio-edit-single/1110483770 |title=Consider This (Radio Edit) - Single by Matt Lange on Apple Music |website=iTunes Store |accessdate=January 27, 2020}}
He released his final single of 2016 on September 16, a techno track titled "Unsettled".{{Cite web |url=https://mixmag.net/read/matt-lange-2-premieres |title=Matt Lange - Premieres |last=Lee |first=Valarie |date=September 15, 2016 |website=Mixmag |accessdate=January 27, 2020}}{{Cite web |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2016/09/matt-lange-unsettled-original-mix/ |title=Matt Lange – 'Unsettled' (Original Mix) |last=Hernandez |first=Christina |date=September 17, 2016 |website=Dancing Astronaut |accessdate=January 27, 2020}} The song was premiered at the Smirnoff House Nocturnal Wonderland event with Mixmag.
=2017–present: ''Punish Me'' and ''Space Between''=
Lange continued to release a series of EPs in 2017: three-track Escapist on March 31,{{Cite web |url=https://mixmag.net/read/essential-matt-lange-unleashes-the-menacing-escapist-ep-essential-listening |title=Essential: Matt Lange unleashes his menacing Escapist EP |last=Lee |first=Valarie |date=April 3, 2017 |website=Mixmag |accessdate=January 27, 2020}}{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/7751470/matt-lange-escapist-mau5trap |title=Get lost in Matt Lange's three-track techno-trap Escapist EP: Listen |last=Bein |first=Kat |date=April 4, 2017 |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=January 27, 2020}} rock-inspired Punish Me on April 13 whose tracks featured vocals by Lange,{{Cite web |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2017/04/matt-lange-releases-stunning-new-ep-punish-ep-review/ |title=Matt Lange releases stunning new EP, Punish Me [EP Review] |last=Hernandez |first=Christina |date=April 13, 2017 |website=Dancing Astronaut |accessdate=January 27, 2020}} and Bleed Together on December 13.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/bleed-together-single/1309097393 |title=Bleed Together - Single by Matt Lange on Apple Music |website=iTunes Store |accessdate=January 27, 2020}} Dancing Astronaut labelled Punish Me as Lange's "finest and most brooding bodies of work to date", continuing to praise the intimate and dark themes within the EPs tracks. On February 8, 2017, Lange released an industrial cover of "Fade into You" by American alternative rock band Mazzy Star.{{Cite web |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2017/02/matt-lange-fade-mazzy-star-cover/ |title=Matt Lange – 'Fade Into You' (Mazzy Star Cover) |last=Sundius |first=Michael |date=February 14, 2017 |website=Dancing Astronaut |accessdate=January 27, 2020}} Lange mentioned that the blend of rock music, glitchy musical programming, and atmospheric elements in the song were "a look into what's coming next" in his career. His original intention to remix "Clever Girl" from Punish Me also eventually transformed into the track "All You Need to See", which he released as a single on August 7, 2017.{{Cite web |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2017/08/matt-lange-need-see/ |title=Matt Lange – 'All You Need to See' (Original Mix) |last=Sundius |first=Michael |date=August 7, 2017 |website=Dancing Astronaut |accessdate=January 27, 2020}}
On April 13, 2018, Lange released his Diversions EP through IsoRhythm.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/diversions-single/1370537712 |title=Diversions - Single by Matt Lange on Apple Music |website=iTunes Store |accessdate=January 27, 2020}} This was followed by "Are You Am I" on July 13, 2018, which featured Canadian artist Deniz Reno.{{Cite web |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2018/07/matt-lange-fashions-gritty-techno-ft-deniz-reno/ |title=Matt Lange fashions gritty techno in 'Are You Am I', ft. Deniz Reno |last=Hernandez |first=Christina |date=July 16, 2020 |website=Dancing Astronaut |accessdate=January 27, 2020}}
On February 19, 2019, Lange released the lead single to his next EP titled "Space Between", co written with and featuring Canadian singer songwriter Deniz Reno, which combined elements of pop and progressive house. The EP of the same name was later fully released on March 13, 2019, through Mau5trap.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youredm.com/2019/03/13/matt-lange-releases-new-ep-space-between-on-mau5trap/ |title=Matt Lange Releases New EP Space Between On Mau5Trap |last=Burke |first=Ashlee |date=March 13, 2019 |website=Your EDM |accessdate=January 27, 2020}} In a press statement, Lange stated that Space Between "explores the sonic aesthetic [he has] been honing in on over the past year" while "combining outboard and modular synths with acoustic instrumentation".{{Cite web |url=https://edmidentity.com/2019/03/16/matt-lange-space-between-ep/ |title=Matt Lange releases highly anticipated Space Between EP |last=Gilmore |first=Grant |date=March 16, 2019 |website=EDM Identity |accessdate=January 27, 2020}}
Lange was featured on Deadmau5's 2019 remix album Here's The Drop, with his remix of "Superbia (ov)".{{Cite web |url=https://www.magneticmag.com/2019/10/deadmau5-releases-heres-the-drop-remix-album-with-tinlicker-matt-lange-pig-dan/ |title=deadmau5 releases Here's The Drop remix album with Tinlicker, Matt Lange, Pig&Dan and more |last=Middleton |first=Ryan |date=October 4, 2019 |website=Magnetic Mag |accessdate=January 27, 2020}} He then returned to Anjunabeats after a period of five years with his release of "Every Word" on October 11, 2019.{{Cite web |url=https://www.edmtunes.com/2019/10/matt-lange-returns-to-anjunabeats-on-every-word-feat-kerry-leva/ |title=Matt Lange returns to Anjunabeats on 'Every Word' feat. Kerry Leva |last=Alzgheibi |first=Husam |date=October 12, 2019 |website=EDM Tunes |accessdate=January 27, 2020}} The track was later included in Lange's Isn't It Lovely EP and featured as the first track on the Anjunabeats Volume 14 album.{{Cite web |url=https://www.edmtunes.com/2019/11/matt-lange-isnt-it-lovely-ep/ |title=Matt Lange delivers Isn't It Lovely EP on Anjunabeats |last=Alzgheibi |first=Husam |date=November 21, 2019 |website=EDM Tunes |accessdate=January 27, 2020}}
Lange's second studio album, Isolated, was released on October 27, 2020, through Isorhythm.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/isolated/1533895083 |title=Isolated by Matt Lange on Apple Music |website=Apple Music |accessdate=May 1, 2021}} Lange's third studio album, Dichotomy, was released on August 5, 2022, also through Isorhythm.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/dichotomy/1628175114|title=Dichotomy by Matt Lange|website=Apple Music |accessdate=August 7, 2022}}
Discography
{{Main|Matt Lange discography}}
;Studio albums
- Ephemera (2015)
- Isolated (2020)
- Dichotomy (2022)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.mattlange.net/}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lange, Matt}}
Category:20th-century American musicians
Category:21st-century American musicians
Category:Musicians from New York City