Name: Matt Forner
Your location(country,city): United States, Chicago
Dimitri: Can you mention your biggest music career achievements in 2017?
Matt Forner: Continuing to up my production abilities and hopefully signing some tracks to some of the biggest labels in the industry. Also continuing to grow my brand and sound alongside my duties as A&R Manager for OHM Music.
Dimitri: Can you mention your biggest personal life achievements in 2017 that make you extremely proud?
Matt Forner: I founded my own advertising, branding, marketing, and public relations company, Forner Agency.
1) Best Track from other artists:
Fallout - Davey Asprey
2) Your top 3 2017 personal productions
Avalon, a solo production,
MaxRevenge & Matt Forner - Archon, and
my remix of Scan by Danilo Ercole
3) Best Artist (Dj & producer):
Armin van Buuren
4) Best Remix from other artist:
Outer Space (Lycii & Declanm James Extended Remix)
5) Best Remix that you have produced?
Scan (Matt Forner Remix)
6) Best Remixer:
Maglev - his remixes are superb and always fantastic productions.
7) Best New Talent (Dj or producer):
Maglev - We recently released a track of his on OHM along with a remix earlier int the year.
8) Best Electronic Music Album:
Blueprint - Ferry Corsten - The overall concept is fantastic...pairing it with live shows and bringing back Gouryella is really superb.
9) Best Electronic Music Compilation:
All of the "In Search of Sunrise" compilations from both Tiesto and now Richard Durand. The older ones bring back tons of nostalgia from when I first started listening to trance in 2004. I'm happy the newer ones still have a tease of that old-school trance vibe that I fell in love with.
10) Best artwork/cover of an Album or Compilation:
I can't pick a specific one, I do like when labels push the envelope and are willing to step out and try something new.
11) Best Lyrics in an Electronic Music track (it can be your production or from other artists)
Destiny - Markus Schulz. The lyrics are haunting is a good way!
12) Best Vocalist/Singer featured on Electronic Music track:
Avari - and we have an upcoming track together in the works ;)
13) Best Electronic Music Label:
OHM Music.
14) Best Electronic Music Video:
Destiny - Markus Schulz. I like when artists really branch out and instead of just showing footage from festivals or clubs, tell a story visually combining film and music, two amazing art mediums.
15) Best Online Social media for communication with your fans:
Facebook. Hands down.
16) Best Twitter or Facebook message or Instagram message you received from a fan or friend or you have read on someone else’s account:
Haven't received one myself...still waiting for one of those "Your music changed my life!" ones :) haha
17) Best music composition software:
Ableton Live is my current favorite. I used to produce on FL Studio and I still do from time to time since in know it better. I'd love to try Cubase and potentially Bitwig.
18) Best Club Event or Open Air Festival:
A State of Trance. Nothing can compare in trance...
19) Best personal Dj Gig:
Haven't been booked yet.
20) Best DJ set of the year from other fellow Dj:
Can't pick one...so many great sets!
21) Best country that you have played in 2017 and where did you met the best festival/event crowd:
Haven't been booked yet. Looking forward to what the future holds.
22) Best Radio show or Artist Vlog?:
A State of Trance is my favorite but I frequently listen to Corsten's Countdown and Global DJ Broadcast along with a handful of other ones.
23) Best Radio station:
Digitally Imported.
24) Best Online Record shop that you purchase your music:
Beatport.
25) Best music related website that you visit frequently:
I frequently stay up to day with current releases on Armada and Black Hole Recordings along with tons of the indie ones.
26) Best Smart phone or smart phone application:
Spotify!
27) Best Dj equipment (software or hardware):
Pioneer CDJ-2000 Nexus...but I do want to try the new Denon SC5000!
28) Best new sound or sample that has been used in Electronic Music this year perhaps introduced first by you?
Not a new sound or style, but I love hearing the merging of different sub-genres within trance.
29) Best tip that you learnt this year for your Djing techniques or music composition:
Create a journey with your DJ set. So many sets are 1 hour or 1.5 hours which force artists to play shorter edits and mixes of tracks which can keep the energy high, which is good, but also lose the emotion of the track and overall set.
30) Best piece of advice you got in relation to your career in 2017:
Focus on your release quality over quantity. Artists can put out 15 tracks a year but if the quality isn't there, it doesn't matter. Focus on putting out quality and over time that will get you recognized. Releases might get you bigger quicker, but you'll burn out creatively and your music will become stale over time. Also, don't stick to one genre or sub-genre. Branch out!
31) Best hobby or activity that you spent a lot of time in 2017:
Travelling
32) Best holiday destination for 2017 either to relax or to perform in a club or festival:
Argentina. The people are beautiful and warm and the culture is an eclectic mix of Europe and Latin America.
33) Best Electronic Music magazines in printed form not online:
Don't really have time to read any!
34) Best Movie of the year that may inspire you to compose a track:
From The Heavens - Ferry Corsten pres. Gouryella - Documentary!
35) Best online/PC/video game of the year that you have played this year?
Call of Duty: WWII
36) Best soundtrack for video game of the year:
I always love the soundtracks on FIFA!
37) Best electronic music related joke you heard this year and make you still laugh:
I can't remember them all...usually their great memes on Facebook.
38) The saddest electronic music news you heard this year and still makes u cry:
Hearing the news that great labels are shutting down.
Dimitri: Finally, please tell our readers your plans with your future releases, tracks, albums, collaborations, DJ gigs.
Matt Forner: I have a few vocal tracks in the works along with a half-dozen or so single releases either waiting for release or in the midst of signings. I'm always open for remixes if I love the track and I'm currently looking for a management and booking team to help gain better exposure and connect my brand with venues, clubs, and festivals worldwide.
Thanks to Omair Mirza at OHM Music for arranging this interview
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