Renowned label Colorize has released the fourth installment in its acclaimed annual compilation series ‘Colorscapes Volume Four’, mixed by Matt Fax, PRAANA, and a debut appearance from Estiva. ‘Colorscapes Volume Four’ is presented as three scintillating mixes which shine a spotlight on the most exciting acts coming out in the worlds of progressive, melodic, and deep dance music, with almost all tracks completely new and unreleased. As well as unreleased gems from Matt Fax, PRAANA, and Estiva, the trio premiere and shine a light on tracks from established Colorize artists including Klur, Modera, L.GU., Alex Breitling, Just Her, Rokazer, Tommy Baynen, and Eugene Becker, plus label debuts from Hessian, Bridges, Gabben, AUTOFLOWER, Datskie and Leo Lauretti.
EG caught up with Matt Fax and Estiva to learn more about the drop of ‘Colorscapes Volume Four’, Colorize’s ADE event, future endeavors, and much more.
EG: Hi guys! Welcome back to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us, as always. Where are you based right now? How have things been going this year?
Estiva: Great to speak with you again! I’m based in Amsterdam, we’ve literally just closed off a hectic Amsterdam Dance Event week here, and it has been great to see so many familiar faces again. It’s been quite an eventful year, I’ve launched my new label, Potentially Dreaming, and I’m working on my upcoming artist album on Colorize, whilst also mixing ‘Colorscapes Volume 4’.
Matt Fax: Hi! Everything has been good so far, I’m back from the ADE madness and ready to finish a couple of projects in the studio in France.
EG: What was your summer like? Any particular highlights?
Matt Fax: Although I’ve had no releases over the summer months, it was pretty busy. In July, I played at AME Club, in Brazil. It was the best show that I’ve ever played so far! The crowd was so responsive to what I was playing, which is always a great thing.
Estiva: I played some amazing shows in Los Angeles, London, and Ibiza, whilst finding time to lock myself up in the studio, which I love. Crazily enough, I also managed to enjoy a little time off!
EG: Congratulations on the release of ‘Colorscapes Volume 4’! What has the initial reception been like?
Estiva: Thank you so much! It’s the first time I’ve mixed the album, so I’m very excited.
Matt Fax: Yes, thanks! So far, the reaction has been amazing for all three mixes, (Matt Fax, Estiva, and PRAANA). ‘Colorscapes’ has become such a popular series within the progressive scene. Each new installment is so eagerly awaited!
Estiva: That’s because every volume has been packed with beautiful, intelligent, melodic music. Being able to pick and mix this year’s tracks has been pure bliss. I’ve included two of my own tracks (Mesa, India) and my fans are going crazy about it!
EG: So, what can your fans expect to find in this installment of ‘Colorscapes’? How is this one different, and similar to, the previous editions of ‘Colorscapes’?
Estiva: Each artist that mixes a ‘Colourscapes’ compilation, brings their own nuances to the heart of the series. In ‘Colourscapes Volume 4’, all three of the mixes are melodic, in a hopeful and nostalgic way. If you’re a true enthusiast of this kind of music you’ll easily hear all that each mix has its own personality and story.
Matt Fax: For my mix, I’ve focused on the many talents of Colorize. Usually, I’d construct a mix around my own tunes, but there are so many great producers on the label that they all deserve to share the spotlight.
“In ‘Colourscapes Volume 4’, all three of the mixes are melodic, in a hopeful and nostalgic way. If you’re a true enthusiast of this kind of music you’ll easily hear all that each mix has its own personality and story” – Estiva
EG: How do you go about curating a three-part compilation, where each mix is being curated by a different DJ? What is that process like?
Matt Fax: When we get the full list of tracks from the label, I listen carefully and select my favorites. Then, I use Mixed in Key to try and create a harmonic mix…and that’s it. When the vibe is there, it’s pretty easy to do.
Estiva: We all get sent a massive amount of music by the A&R team at Colorize and we also check our own network for exclusive music. I then go through the music in the same way I check promos, to get a rough idea of what I want. I try to skim away more and more tracks until I have a good base pool of tracks you love and start mixing. This is the part where I trust my intuition, it’s when the magic happens. Sometimes, I have to go back to tracks I’ve initially dropped. Sometimes I drop tracks that I thought would make the final mix. It’s an organic process that makes it nerve-wracking, but also extremely rewarding.
EG: And, the drop of ‘Colorscapes’ culminated with Colorize’s largest European event to date, held as part of ADE at Nova. What was that experience like?
Estiva: Having a Colorize in my hometown was like a dream coming true as I could easily invite my friends. I hopped on my bicycle and cycled to the venue (That’s the best way to get about in Amsterdam) to find the venue packed with fans, friends, and dear colleagues. It goes without saying this was a big 2022 highlight.
Matt Fax: It was incredible. I’ve played a b2b set with my friend Pete K and we really had fun. Nova is always a great place to play, very intimate.
EG: By the way…how do you guys keep entertained when on tour? Any good movies, series, or books you’d recommend?
Estiva: I work out in the gym when I can. When there’s time, I like to walk around the surrounding area, my feet on the ground, looking for good food or parks to relax in. Often, I find myself bumping into interesting local people who are open to having a chat. I feel this connects me to an area a lot more.
Matt Fax: I like wasting my time going down YouTube rabbit holes. To be honest, I find it hard to concentrate on an entire movie or TV series. If I had to give a recommendation, I’m currently hooked on ‘House of Dragons’.
EG: What are your current thoughts on the state of the scene? What would you like to see more and less of?
Matt Fax: As I mature, I recognize myself less and less in the current electronic music scene. Promotion and social media have become about ninety percent of our job. It irritates me because I’m not good at self-promotion. I want to put music back as the center of attention, instead of having to think about using TikTok to make our releases go viral.
Estiva: I feel like so many individuals are giving their all to bring the industry back to a better state than where it was pre covid. Lots of effort is being pushed into inclusivity and we’re already seeing great changes happening. I feel like the open-mindedness of the music industry could play a leading role here.
“As I mature, I recognize myself less and less in the current electronic music scene. Promotion and social media have become about ninety percent of our job. It irritates me because I’m not good at self-promotion. I want to put music back as the center of attention” – Matt Fax
EG: What’s next for Matt Fax, Estiva, and Colorize? What new milestones are you looking forward to now?
Estiva: On a personal level I’m looking forward to touring Colorize events and launching my artist album in 2023. Colorize seems to keep pushing boundaries, which keeps me evolving as an artist.
Matt Fax: I’m currently launching my own label and brand ‘Chromattic’, in order to release my music. Next year is going to be a challenging year for me as I have billions of ideas and projects in the works.
EG: Thank you so much for your time, guys! We wish you all the best for the future.
Estiva: Lovely catching up, see you soon!
Matt Fax: Thanks for having us!
Colorize’s new ‘Colorscapes Volume 4’ is out now. Purchase your copy here.
Follow Matt Fax: Facebook | Soundcloud | Instagram | Spotify
Follow Estiva: Facebook | Soundcloud | Instagram | Spotify
Follow Colorize: Facebook | Soundcloud | Instagram | Spotify
