At just 21 years old, Mat Zo is what you might call an ‘accelerated talent’. The young gun has already built a weighty portfolio of productions and remixes, while also finding time for a studio partnership with fellow trance wunderkind Arty.

This month, Mat Zo will join Above & Beyond around the country on the ‘Group Therapy’ tour, fulfilling the warm-up duties that he’s mastered across the Northern summer. When all’s said and done, though, he’s happiest out in the woods. We got on the phone to the Anjunabeats whiz kid to hear how he’s picturing the future.

With most DJs, the interview is about how they have arrived to where they are today. You’re 21 years old. What do you see yourself becoming?
Well, it’s hard to say really. I want to do something different and original…an accrued version of different stuff, to try and open people’s horizons. Hopefully the future will be an eclectic future.

Is there a particular DJ’s career that has inspired you?
I wouldn’t say a DJ’s career has inspired me. Definitely people like Quincy Jones, who have been at the forefront of production from day one. Yeah, people like Quincy Jones inspire me, that and so many different things.

Do you respect the warm up set, or do you like to remind people you’re pretty good too?
[Laughs] A bit of both. A lot of the time they try and get me to play a bit slower and a bit quieter and… yeah. But yeah, they like me to keep my ego down when I’m on stage. I’ve been warming up a lot for Above & Beyond already this summer. Yeah, it’s very good. It is great touring with them as well… they’re good friends, we all have a laugh, and the shows are always great.

Where do you feel trance best belongs?
I think trance, particularly, best belongs in illegal raves, and I wish they would come back. Outdoor, good raves…where people are there for the music. I think now, trance and clubs and festivals – it’s good, but, I don’t know what word to describe it with. Maybe, it doesn’t have a soul? When it comes to the venue of trance, it doesn’t really matter that much. Trance in its purest form belongs outdoors. Imagine, in the woods raving to trance. It would just be amazing.

Rumour has it you have a new album coming?
Yep. It’s still being worked on though. At the moment I’m just trying to find vocalists and then it is pretty much done after that… about 70-percent I’d say.

Do you tend to produce the vocals with the beat, or do you find a nice beat and then find lyrics to match?
I do a bit of both. I’ll talk to vocalists, I’ll ask them to give me a capellas to work with, or I’ll give them backing tracks to sing over. But, either way, it’s a good way to work I think. I don’t really look after the lyrical side. Even though sometimes I try, I give a few ideas…I used to do it myself when I was like, 10.