Damian Lazarus shared the news via social media.
Photo credit: Matt Tolfrey – Facebook
DJ, producer, and Leftroom Records founder Matt Tolfrey has died. The news was confirmed by Damian Lazarus via Instagram, who highlighted Tolfrey’s impact on the music scene and his commitment to building community on and off the dancefloor. No cause of death has been disclosed.
Born in England and raised in Bahrain, Matt returned to the UK at 16, DJing in Worcester before studying at Nottingham Trent University. There, he hosted ‘Junk Funk’ on Fly FM and held residencies at The Bomb and Stealth. His first release came via Damian Lazarus’s Crosstown Rebels, before launching Leftroom Records for left-leaning house and techno. The label’s success earned him a residency at Shoreditch’s T Bar during the mid-2000s minimal wave.
In 2007, he compiled ‘Don’t Be Leftout’ and worked with D.Ramirez, Lee Curtiss, Kate Simko, and Geddes. His 2012 debut ‘Word Of Mouth’ featured Marshall Jefferson on ‘The Truth’. He marked Leftroom’s decade with a 2015 compilation and delivered ‘Fabric 81’ that year. His career spanned Panorama Bar, DC-10, Space Miami, and Burning Man, with releases on Hot Creations, Elrow Music, Kaluki, and Snatch!.
Post-pandemic, Matt focused on One 800 management, representing Archie Hamilton, Guti, Fleur Shore, and Mason Collective, while handling A&R for Cuttin’ Headz.
We remember Matt with the session he recorded for the EG Podcast.
