Mathame have built a reputation on blending cinematic vision with club precision, creating a sound and visual identity that stretches beyond the DJ booth. With their NEO show behind them after its Colombian debut at Bogotá’s Movistar Arena on September 12, the Italian brothers are bringing their futuristic narrative world—equal parts ritual, spirituality, and sci-fi—to one of Latin America’s most passionate crowds.
After the show, we caught up with them to talk about community, branding, and the role of mystery in today’s DJ culture. Their answers touch on everything from growing up together in music to finding balance between storytelling and functionality, and the lessons they’ve carried from being part of scenes, crews, and families of artists.
Did Mathame come up as part of a crew, label, or local scene—or was it always a solo path for you guys?
First of all, we’re brothers—so in a way, a blood-born crew. Then of course we can’t leave out the journey with Afterlife, which really was like a family to us and tied us deeply to the so-called melodic techno scene. At some point though, as with any growth, it felt right to take our own path.
Do you think something’s been lost (or even gained) now that most DJs operate as personal brands?
The magic of mystery has been lost—the aura of knowing very little, which used to fuel curiosity. Today it’s the opposite: information fuels the system in a recursive, insatiable way. We need it—but it comes at the expense of that magic.
How does having a collective or community around you shape your taste and identity differently?
Feedback is crucial. It sharpens your vision and refines your efforts—especially when it’s raw and honest. A strong community uplifts the whole environment. That’s the strength behind NEO.
With such different backgrounds—Matteo in film and Amedeo in classical music—how do your creative processes clash or complement each other when building Mathame’s sound?
We’re complementary. We share a tendency toward synthesis, but also embrace contrast. That tension is what makes things explode and eventually transform into beauty.
Do you think the focus on self-branding changed how people present their music—or even select it?
Absolutely. Before, the goal was finding the “unfindable.” Today, it’s about finding the “unmissable moment.”
What’s a time you felt the strength of a scene or crew behind you, creatively or emotionally?
Most recently during our NEO shows. The reaction and the love from the community have been overwhelming—it constantly surprises us how much our work matters to people, and it gives us real energy.
Do you think newer DJs today are finding community in the same way—or has that faded?
It’s partly faded. Many feel like self-contained monads—hyper-informed, efficient, optimized. They have access to knowledge in days that used to take years of lived experience to gain.
Your music often feels like it lives between cinema and the dancefloor. How do you balance storytelling and functionality when you’re producing for both listening and club settings?
That’s our biggest struggle—finding that precarious balance, that magical sweet spot. We don’t always feel we reach it, but it’s the goal behind everything we do.
What’s something you learned by being around other DJs that you couldn’t have learned alone?
Dedication to the craft, and the kind of intense, all-consuming passion that makes you sacrifice so much of your life—just to deliver moments of happiness to others.
Bogotá is known for its passionate and connected crowds. How do you see the NEO show resonating with Colombian audiences compared to other cities?
It was incredible. In this part of the world, emotions are felt on a deeper, more visceral level.
The NEO narrative blends ritual, spirituality, and sci-fi futurism. How do you want fans in Bogotá to carry that experience with them once they leave the show?
I hope it stays with them like the feeling of waking from a beautiful dream.
The post Why Community Still Matters in DJ Culture, According to Mathame appeared first on Magnetic Magazine.