DJ Matrix (real name — Matteo Schiavo; born June 16, 1987, Schio, Province of Vicenza, Italy) is an Italian DJ, music producer, songwriter and performer whose career is primarily associated with Italian dance music, Italodance and contemporary electronic pop. He began making electronic music as a teenager, first gained recognition through Tu vivi nell'aria and La tipica ragazza italiana, and later consolidated his success with Voglio tornare negli Anni 90, the long-running Musica da giostra series and numerous collaborations with Italian artists.
Unlike many European electronic producers of his generation, Matrix did not build his career primarily around the international festival circuit. His music is closely tied to Italian popular culture: clubs and summer resorts, television, internet humour, football and nostalgia for European dance music of the 1990s and early 2000s. Over time, this distinctly local foundation became one of the most recognisable aspects of his work.
Schio, piano and the first DJ experiments
Matteo Schiavo was born in Schio in northern Italy. He became interested in music as a child and initially studied piano. At around fourteen, DJing became his main passion, and he soon moved from playing other people's records to creating his own electronic music.
His first studio experiments date back to the mid-2000s. Schiavo worked with Matteo Cracco, who performed as DJ Shane. Under the names Plug In and later M2, the musicians created dance records, one of which became the future DJ Matrix's first notable success.
M2 and Tu vivi nell'aria
In 2006, M2 released Tu (Vivi Nell'Aria) featuring vocals by Miani. Matteo Schiavo contributed to the track as a songwriter, arranger and producer.
The song reflected the characteristic sound of the mid-2000s Italian dance scene, combining a bright vocal melody, synthesizers and a direct club rhythm. Numerous new versions of the track appeared later, including a reworking by Gabry Ponte.
Tu vivi nell'aria established a model that Matrix would repeatedly return to: a simple and instantly memorable Italian song melody paired with an electronic arrangement designed for clubs, discos and large-scale parties.
Controtendenza
DJ Matrix's first full-length album, Controtendenza, was released in 2007 on Bit Records.
Musically, the record belongs to the early stage of his career, when his sound was especially closely connected with Italodance and lento violento. The album included Alterazioni Cardiache, Metemsclerosi, Anima Tribale, Senza Parole, Lento Tormento and other electronic tracks.
This period differs noticeably from the more humorous and pop-oriented music of later years. In his early work, Matrix devoted considerably more attention to club structures themselves, synthesizer themes and extended electronic arrangements.
La tipica ragazza italiana
One of his most important early songs was La tipica ragazza italiana. The track spread widely online and helped establish the DJ Matrix name among younger Italian audiences.
While Tu vivi nell'aria was a traditional romantic dance song, here humour, observations of everyday life and an intentionally simple, instantly memorable chorus moved to the foreground.
It was during this period that the characteristic duality of Matrix's work began to take shape. He continued releasing conventional club music, but increasingly used electronic production as the basis for songs about modern Italy, entertainment, youth culture and recognisable social types.
Voglio tornare negli Anni 90
One of DJ Matrix's biggest hits became Voglio tornare negli Anni 90, released in 2013 with Paps'n'Skar and Vise.
The track is built around nostalgia for the 1990s — the era of Festivalbar, cassette tapes, television and Italian and European dance music. Its lyrics are filled with specific cultural references familiar to the generation that grew up during that decade.
In 2017, Voglio tornare negli Anni 90 received a gold certification in Italy and gradually became one of Matrix's most enduringly popular works.
The success of the song revealed the area in which the artist became especially recognisable: the space between club music, humour and Italian pop culture.
Aquafan and the Italian summer scene
In 2013, Matrix worked as a resident DJ at Aquafan in Riccione, one of the best-known summer entertainment complexes on the Adriatic coast.
Artists appearing in the venue's programmes during that period also included Avicii, Martin Solveig, Gabry Ponte, Fabri Fibra and other major performers.
His work in Riccione connected DJ Matrix even more closely with Italian summer club culture, which would later repeatedly become a theme in his songs, compilations and live programmes.
Beyond Da Eyes
In 2013, the album Beyond Da Eyes was released.
It marked a move away from the electronic material of Controtendenza toward a more song-driven and accessible form of dance music. Guest performers, vocal parts and tracks designed not only for DJ sets but also for standalone listening became increasingly important.
Matt Joe and a new studio team
At the beginning of 2014, DJ Matrix set up his own studio in Schio together with young producers Matt Joe and DJ Tilo.
The collaboration with Matt Joe proved especially important. He became one of Matrix's regular creative partners and contributed to a large number of subsequent recordings.
Their work helped shape a distinctive form of contemporary Italian entertainment-oriented dance music: bright, ironic, filled with instantly recognisable melodies and designed to provoke an immediate audience response.
Musica da giostra
The title Musica da giostra became central to a significant part of DJ Matrix's later career.
The first instalment appeared in 2013, after which the project developed into a long-running series created primarily with Matt Joe. By 2023, it had reached Musica da giostra Vol. 10.
The title literally refers to music associated with fairground rides, and the association accurately reflects the overall aesthetic of the series. The tracks are often built around deliberately bright melodies, humorous lyrics, spoken inserts and exaggerated dance-floor energy.
Musica da giostra is therefore not a single traditional studio album, but an entire series of releases featuring original tracks by Matrix and Matt Joe alongside a large number of collaborations.
Over the years, contributors to the project have included Giorgio Vanni, Amedeo Preziosi, Gli Autogol, iPantellas, Nashley, Cristina D'Avena, Ludwig, Carolina Marquez and other representatives of Italian music and internet culture.
Ho Voglia Di Dance!
In 2015, DJ Matrix and Matt Joe released the joint full-length project Ho Voglia Di Dance!.
The release continued the move away from pure club-oriented Italodance toward more varied song-based electronic music and marked another stage in the long-running collaboration between the two producers.
Fanno Bam and the legacy of Italodance
In the mid-2010s, Matrix once again worked closely with Paps'n'Skar and Vise. One of their notable collaborations was Fanno Bam.
The song deliberately drew on the aesthetics of Italian dance music from the turn of the 1990s and 2000s, while presenting them within a more contemporary production style. A Gabry Ponte Remix later followed.
Nostalgia in Matrix's music rarely functions as simple imitation of the past. He usually rebuilds familiar Italodance elements for a modern club environment and a new generation of listeners.
Baila Como El Papu
One of the artist's biggest mainstream successes was Baila Como El Papu, released in 2017 with comedy project Gli Autogol and Argentine footballer Alejandro “Papu” Gómez.
The track emerged during a wave of popularity surrounding the footballer, who was playing for Atalanta at the time, and quickly became an internet hit.
The song received a gold certification in Italy and later achieved platinum status.
Baila Como El Papu became one of the clearest examples of Matrix's approach: a current internet meme or pop-culture personality is transformed into a full-fledged dance single.
The expansion of Musica da giostra
During the second half of the 2010s, Musica da giostra definitively became one of the central series in the Matrix catalogue.
Vol. 4 included Camilla, Parte la cassa, Vecchio stile vecchia scuola, Direzioni lunapark and a new version of Tu vivi nell'aria.
Vol. 5 featured Supereroi with Giorgio Vanni, Sarà perché ti amo with Carolina Marquez, Sabato sera, Quando parte il drop, Canto libero and Baila Como El Papu.
Vol. 6 included Italiani in vacanza, Anche se non trappo, Veronica and Onda dopo onda. In 2019, the release reached number one among FIMI's best-selling compilations.
Giorgio Vanni and the music of the 1990s generation
One of DJ Matrix's longest-running collaborators became Giorgio Vanni, known to several generations of Italian listeners through theme songs for animated television series.
In 2018, they released Supereroi, a track aimed directly at the generation that grew up with Pokémon, Dragon Ball, video games and television culture of the late 1990s and early 2000s.
The collaboration later continued with Onda dopo onda, Il guardiano dei sogni, Il ragazzo che non dorme mai and Onda energetica.
Working with Giorgio Vanni fits perfectly into Matrix's broader method: familiar cultural symbols from the past become foundations for new dance songs rather than objects of simple direct quotation.
Courmayeur and Gabry Ponte
In 2019, Courmayeur was released, produced by Gabry Ponte.
Matrix's connection with Ponte had begun much earlier. During the early phase of his career, a new version of Tu vivi nell'aria helped give the song additional exposure, while Ponte's Dance and Love company later released Matrix material.
The collaboration underlines the continuity between generations of the Italian dance scene: DJ Matrix's music grew in large part from the same tradition that achieved international recognition in the late 1990s and early 2000s through Eiffel 65, Gabry Ponte and other Italian artists.
Faccio la brava
In 2020, Musica da giostra Vol. 7 was released. One of its central tracks was Faccio la brava with Cristina D'Avena and Amedeo Preziosi.
The collaboration with D'Avena became another example of Matrix working with artists familiar to several generations of Italian listeners.
The compilation also included Sono arrivati i caramba, Twerko sulla Techno, L'Isola che non c'è, Quelli della provincia, Magia and a new version of Courmayeur.
La Musica Non Si Ferma
During the restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, DJ Matrix and Rudeejay organised the online project La Musica Non Si Ferma.
DJ programmes were broadcast through Instagram and Twitch. Initially, the musicians performed from home, but the format later expanded to include streams from clubs and appearances by other artists.
The internet had already been an important part of Matrix's audience for years, so the transition from club performances to livestreams became a natural extension of his work.
Coro azzurro
In 2021, Matrix reunited with Gli Autogol for the track Coro azzurro, featuring Arisa and Ludwig.
The song was created in support of the Italian national football team during the European Championship and continued the connection between Matrix and sports culture already established by Baila Como El Papu.
During the same period, he also released Cioccolata bianca with Arisa, Belvedere with Ludwig and Nara, and Un Mondo Magico with Skar & Manfree and Marvin.
Sarà perché ti amo and Porsche
At the beginning of the 2020s, Matrix became even more active in revisiting well-known Italian melodies and images from popular culture.
One such work was a new version of Sarà perché ti amo with Carolina Marquez. An Anthem Mix featuring Ricchi & Poveri later followed, directly connecting the modern dance reworking with the performers of the original hit.
In 2023, Matrix, Carolina Marquez and Giulia Sara Salemi released Porsche, which later also appeared in the Musica da Après-Ski series.
Musica da giostra Vol. 10
In 2023, the Musica da giostra series reached its tenth instalment.
Musica da giostra Vol. 10 continued the characteristic combination of electronic dance music, humour and numerous guest performers. Its tracks included DJ educato with Max Angioni, Musica del cazzo with Danti and Se sei ubriaco with Ludwig.
By that point, the series had existed for around a decade and had effectively become an independent part of the DJ Matrix brand.
Voglio tornare negli anni 2000
In 2024, DJ Matrix joined Gli Autogol and Gemelli DiVersi for Voglio tornare negli anni 2000.
The title directly continues the idea of Voglio tornare negli Anni 90, but this time the focus of nostalgia shifts to the following decade. In this way, Matrix transferred his successful formula to a generation for whom the 2000s had themselves already become part of cultural memory.
During the same period, releases included PORTO IO with Nello Taver, COMPLOTTISTA with Marco Mazzoli and RawVatsy, a new version of 'O Sarracino with Gigi Soriani and Gigi D'Alessio, and Mamma Maria with Carolina Marquez and EDMMARO.
Musica da Après-Ski
At the end of 2024, DJ Matrix and Matt Joe launched a new series — Musica da Après-Ski.
The first instalment appeared on November 29, 2024 and contained eighteen tracks. Among them were Après-Ski with DJ Antoine, Elmatadormc7 and Ludwig, Techno Natale, Gin Lemon, Madonna di Campiglio with Ludwig and J-Ax, as well as new versions of Mamma Maria, Porsche and Cioccolata bianca.
The project transferred the entertainment-oriented aesthetic of Musica da giostra from the summer club and fairground environment into the atmosphere of ski resorts and winter parties.
In 2025, it was followed by Musica da Après-Ski Vol. 2, also featuring eighteen tracks.
Onda energetica
In 2025, the long-running collaboration with Giorgio Vanni entered a new phase.
The joint track Onda energetica appeared on Musica da Après-Ski Vol. 2. A separate project also brought together new versions of Supereroi, Il guardiano dei sogni, Il ragazzo che non dorme mai and Onda dopo onda.
These recordings once again combined Matrix's central themes: dance music, nostalgia for the culture of the 1990s and 2000s, and collaborations with artists closely associated with the childhood and youth of his audience.
Stesso posto stesse sagre
One of the new works of 2026 was Stesso posto stesse sagre, continuing the characteristic late-period DJ Matrix line of songs built around instantly recognisable situations from contemporary Italian life.
The release preserved the artist's core formula: an electronic dance foundation combined with conversational delivery, humour and cultural details primarily familiar to an Italian audience.
DJ Matrix's musical style
The most accurate basic definitions of DJ Matrix's music remain dance and Italodance, although his catalogue extends far beyond those genres.
The early Controtendenza is connected with classic Italian club electronics and lento violento. Tu vivi nell'aria represents melodic vocal Italodance. Voglio tornare negli Anni 90 combines dance music with a humorous pop song, while the Musica da giostra series freely incorporates elements of house, techno, rap and pop.
The defining characteristic of Matrix is not a particular synthesizer or rhythm, but an emphasis on an instantly understandable idea.
The title, chorus or central character of a song is usually designed to be immediately recognisable to the listener. This is why his catalogue includes songs about clubs, footballers, resorts, the 1990s and 2000s, internet culture and everyday Italian life.
Humour and nostalgia
Humour has become one of the constant elements of DJ Matrix's work. His songs use exaggeration, conversational Italian, internet slang and deliberately everyday storylines while remaining fully developed dance tracks.
This side of his work is especially evident in La tipica ragazza italiana, Voglio tornare negli Anni 90, Baila Como El Papu, Camilla, Italiani in vacanza, DJ educato and Voglio tornare negli anni 2000.
Nostalgia is equally important. Matrix repeatedly returns to the music and imagery of the 1990s and 2000s, but uses them as foundations for new works. With Paps'n'Skar, this connection appears through Italodance; with Giorgio Vanni, through the culture of television themes and animated series; with Ricchi & Poveri and Carolina Marquez, through classic Italian pop; and with Gemelli DiVersi, through the legacy of the 2000s.
As a result, his music speaks to several generations at once: one part of the audience recognises the original cultural references, while another encounters them as contemporary dance-pop culture.
Collaborations
Collaborative recordings make up a significant part of DJ Matrix's discography.
His longest-running creative relationships include Matt Joe, Paps'n'Skar, Vise, Giorgio Vanni, Gli Autogol, Gabry Ponte and Carolina Marquez. Over the years, Matrix has also worked with Cristina D'Avena, Arisa, Ludwig, J-Ax, Gigi D'Alessio, Gemelli DiVersi, Nello Taver, Marco Mazzoli, iPantellas, Amedeo Preziosi, Nashley and Danti.
The choice of collaborator is often directly connected with the theme of a particular song. Giorgio Vanni appears in projects aimed at the culture of the 1990s generation, Gli Autogol in football-related and humorous tracks, and Ricchi & Poveri in a contemporary version of their own classic song.
Main DJ Matrix discography
- 2007 — Controtendenza
- 2013 — Beyond Da Eyes
- 2013 — Musica da giostra
- 2014 — Musica da giostra Vol. 2
- 2015 — Ho Voglia Di Dance! — with Matt Joe
- 2016 — Musica da giostra Vol. 3
- 2017 — Musica da giostra Vol. 4
- 2018 — Musica da giostra Vol. 5
- 2019 — Musica da giostra Vol. 6
- 2020 — Musica da giostra Vol. 7
- 2021 — Musica da giostra Vol. 8
- 2022 — Musica da giostra Vol. 9
- 2023 — Musica da giostra Vol. 10
- 2024 — Musica da Après-Ski — with Matt Joe
- 2025 — Musica da Après-Ski Vol. 2 — with Matt Joe
Among Matrix's best-known individual tracks are Tu vivi nell'aria, La tipica ragazza italiana, Voglio tornare negli Anni 90, Fanno Bam, Camilla, Baila Como El Papu, Supereroi, Italiani in vacanza, Courmayeur, Faccio la brava, Un Mondo Magico, Cioccolata bianca, Coro azzurro, Sarà perché ti amo, Porsche, Voglio tornare negli anni 2000, 'O Sarracino, Madonna di Campiglio, Onda energetica and Stesso posto stesse sagre.
DJ Matrix in Italian dance music
DJ Matrix's career spans several different eras of Italian electronic music. He began during a period when Italodance still retained a direct connection to the genre's international rise in the late 1990s and early 2000s, then lived through the industry's transition from CDs and club rotation to YouTube and social media, and later incorporated bloggers, internet humour, sports culture and contemporary pop music into his songs.
At the same time, Matrix never attempted to reshape his career around the model of international festival EDM. His most characteristic works are, on the contrary, deliberately tied to Italy — its language, clubs, television, football, resorts and collective memory.
The gold status of Voglio tornare negli Anni 90 and the platinum success of Baila Como El Papu demonstrated that this kind of local subject matter could reach far beyond a narrow club audience.
From the early Tu vivi nell'aria and electronic Controtendenza to Musica da giostra, Musica da Après-Ski and more recent singles, DJ Matrix's music gradually developed its own form of Italian dance-pop culture — bright, self-ironic and closely connected with the everyday life of its audience.
