Defying The Odds

With the flood of DJs and Producers hopeful of quick fame and an even quicker buck in today’s scene, one can not forget the history of Brisbane: once a cultural wasteland restricted as an over governed Police State while steeped in aged white‐policy customs. Then, Brisbane did not encourage individuality nor advocate strength in character to defy tradition and seek the ideals of the future. It wasn’t until the late 1980s that some not only confronted this mould, but reformed the pattern to boldly penetrate DJ booths, darkened rooms and underground airwaves and thus set the standard for the 21st century. And defiantly leading the charge was electronic pioneer Matt Kitshon.
Flanking the original holy godhead of Brisbane’s dance scene with DJ Freestyle, Angus and Mark Briais, Matt Kitshon particularly stands out with his imposing distinctive image and matchless style. His DJ persona was born from a natural progression in pursuing the music he loved on the dancefloor to take it to the DJ booth. Armed with an education accumulated from the underground meters of such names as Angus and Kesson, the unrivalled style of Matt Kitshon emerged easily to reveal his uniquely driving rhythmic patterns and defiant melodies. Since his first days playing at Millennium at Fortitude Valley’s now defunct venue The Tube, Matt Kitshon’s beats have since penetrated every Brisbane sound system, extending beyond Queensland’s borders to every club in Australia to further infiltrate the dancefloors of China. Matt can take the acclaim towards developing the breaks and tech sound that once dominated Australian dance culture.

It is the concept of a seamless set of tracks and stamping his own signature style on them that keeps Matt Kitshon behind the decks, while propelling his fans to the floor and inspiring waves of DJs to emulate him. From launching Secret Sessions to performing before thousands at Australia’s major festivals or playing to an intimate crowd at smaller club gigs, Matt Kitshon has worn every hat as a dancefloor terrorist, performer, events organiser, music director and audio technician, even so far as to hold a Certificate in Electronic Music Production from Queensland’s famed SAE College. Especially, it is his forceful sets cauterised by old skool tech, early electro, techno, progressive and house flavours with a two decade spanning career that marks him as a highly versatile DJ, yet specialised enough to carry his own on the dancefloor. No matter the crowd or venue, whether as a feature act, a support or warm down DJ, Matt Kitshon delivers the goods.

His extraordinary manner of a no‐holds‐barred attitude tempered by his determined nature whilst resplendent with tattoos and body piercings, extends into his unrivalled sets, with battering beats and solid melodies that not only intoxicate the senses and exhort bodies to dance, but opens the dancefloor to his concepts of tight mixing, innovative tunes, blazing beats and emotive melodies. With an ethos that music is more a religion than a way of life, this dark god modifies an ordinary night out to a divine musical experience. As Matt Kitshon upholds the establishment that birthed today’s scene overpopulated with young DJ and producer hopefuls, his fearless presence reminds us that there is nothing like a damn good DJ.

Matt has proudly supported such global acts and names as Groove Armada [UK], Leftfield [UK], The Crystal Method [USA], Fatboy Slim [UK], CJ Bolland [GER], and Hybrid [UK], Carl Cox, Sasha, John Digweed, Jeff Mills, Luke Slater, Derrick May, Roger Sanchez, Derrick Carter, Dave Seamen, Judge Jules, Dj Falcon, Graham Park, Steve Lawler, Sister Bliss and DJ Heaven to name a few.

Matt has performed at the infamous ‘Sounds on Sunday’ among many other notable clubs in Sydney, and other prestigious clubs in Melbourne and Perth, while continuing to be a feature on the Australian leg of the Ministry Of Sound, Gatecrasher, Dope on Plastic, and Renaissance world tour dates and has also appeared on the line up of major Australian festivals such as The Big Day Out, Adventj*h and Livid.
Matt has also toured to New Zealand for events such as Alpine Unity, as well as international gigs in USA, throughout NEW ZEALAND, across CHINA, as well as the rest of ASIA.

Matt has held many residencies in his hometown of Brisbane including The Tube, Viva, Port Office, Quest, The Monastery, Planet, MyBar and;
CURRENTLY AT ZURI.

Bio By Lady Lex.