Matt Rissi

Matt Rissi, known for nearly a decade throughout the Midwestern rave circuit as DJ Sonar, was born in Tucson, AZ in 1980 and transplanted in the Midwest in 1996. With 11 years of mixing under his belt, Matt has proven to be a serious DJ, earning deck time all over the United States alongside stars like Chris Liebing, Derrick Carter, Richie Hawtin, Dieselboy, Frankie Bones, Tommie Sunshine, Terry Mullan, Donald Glaude, DJ Monk, DJ Dan, Mike Huckaby, Radio Slave, The Atomic Babies, Christopher Lawrence, Rabbit In The Moon, Grooverider and many, many more. Matt represents a new era of DJing and performance utilizing the latest technology available while playing “feel good techno” that truly captures the attention of anyone willing to turn an ear. His emotional stage presence and explosive mixing capabilities allow him to demand the attention of any room, big or small, delivering solid DJ sets time and time again. This is, and will continue to be, the key to his success. Watching him perform is like watching Shakespeare. Unparalleled emotion spills out onto the dance floor with a contagious force infecting the dance floor - of which he is in total command. Matt really has to be seen to be completely understood. People that have taken part in witnessing his performances are floored by the fact that a DJ like this has spawned from a place like Iowa. A true professional with a bright future in the world of dance music. On a local level, Matt puts on and performs at some of the biggest Techno Events that Iowa has to offer. He’s played a Seminole role in hosting some of the world’s most respected dance music producers and DJ’s with the sole intention of trying to let his hometown brothers and sisters feel what he feels while enjoying the sounds of the best. Performing for thousands of local supporters at annual events like 'Solar Sessions', 'A Pornstar's Ball', 'Inferno' and Scion's '515 Alive' festival has gained him a cult-like following that few in Iowa can compete against. In 2006 Matt began working in the studio with partner Mustafa Avdic and has since hit the scene with techno tracks aimed for the dance floor. Their 'Yugoslavia EP' is out on Zuvuya Recordings and is currently receiving support from the world famous Dave Clarke after he debuted one of their tracks on his world renowned 'WhiteNoiseRadio' show. Dave Clarke also licensed the Woody McBride Remix of their hit 'Oktave Jumper' for his 'I Love Techno 2007' mix compilation that was released world wide on Belgium's Music Man record label in November of 2007. Matt and Mustafa have also launched their own imprint, Solar Cathedral Recordings, featuring their own production work along with original music and remixes from globally respected artists like Amsterdam’s DJ Misjah, Yugoslavia’s Dejan Milicevic and Mladen Tomic, Chicago’s Avex Axiom, Germany’s Holger Flinsch, Guba, Martin Donath and Robin Jacobs, and Minneapolis’ Woody McBride, Dustin Zahn, Mike G, Christian James and Centrific. Solar Cathedral Recordings has gained support from DJ's like Valentino Kanzyani, Mark Broom, Marco Nastic, Plus 8's Paco Osuna and many more. With future releases currently in the works, expect to see EP’s coming out on a monthly basis.