From The Italian Raves to Dublin’s Techno Bunkers

There’s a melodic rhythm to the way he talks, a rolling, southern Italian cadence that feels like it’s keeping time with some invisible kick drum in his head.

He isn’t just another DJ hunched behind decks in smoke and strobes. Matteo’s a lifer — one of those who found his identity on the dance floor and never left. His story begins long before the smoke machines of Dublin or the forest raves under the M50. It starts in Rome, in the mid-2000s, when he was sixteen and already chasing darkness, sweat, and basslines inside the infamous NRG club. The nights were raw, wild, and lawless; no age checks, no limits, just a thousand kids moving like one organism to pounding 130-BPM ritual.

Now he’s deep in the Irish underground, a familiar face and chief resident at Iconic Underground’s Bunker Parties, a resident at Soundhouse, Confession session parties and one half of the uncompromising duo that’s keeping proper techno alive on this side of the sea. He laughs a lot, swears a lot, and believes in the power of community over competition. In his world, there’s no glamour in fame — just honesty, hard work, and music that speaks for itself.

Originally from Morolo, south of Rome, Matteo (2M) has built his path through underground parties, club nights, vinyl culture, extended sets and a deliberately music-first approach. In this revised Q&A, Mike talks with 2M about the journey so far, the people who shaped it and what comes next.

Roots: Morolo, Family and the First Experiments

Mike: Before Ireland and before the clubs, where did your relationship with electronic music really begin?

2M: It started very early for me in Morolo, south of Rome. I remember listening to techno tracks with my mother, and those sounds stayed with me. Music was already something emotional before I understood anything about DJ culture. When I was a kid, I would go into the garage and try to mix using two cassette stereos. There were no decks, no proper mixer — just two tape players and the idea of trying to make one piece of music follow another. Looking back, that was probably my first DJ booth.

“My first DJ booth was basically a garage and two cassette stereos.”

Mike: And where does Diabolika fit into that story?

2M: Diabolika is an important part of my background and of the culture I came from. It represents that Italian club and techno world that shaped the way I understood the energy of a night, the importance of selection and the identity behind a party. When we were around sixteen, we used to take the train to go dancing there. It was a completely different time: not everyone had a mobile phone, only a few people had phones with cameras and the quality was very low, and social media simply did not exist.

Clubs promoted their nights with posters in the streets, flyers everywhere and, most importantly, word of mouth. When you were getting close to the party, sometimes you could see the searchlight in the sky — a huge beam pointing upwards that told you there was a party there. We went because we wanted to hear the DJ, dance and have a drink. Because we were young, we were only allowed one drink, and at that time you could still smoke inside clubs after a certain hour.

After that period, we started going to Neutra Music Lab. The first time I went to Neutra, it honestly felt like a dream: an underground club had opened just a few minutes’ drive from my home. For me, at that time, it was fantastic to suddenly have that kind of place and that music so close to where I lived.

Later, Affekt Club opened in Frosinone, and that was a real turning point for us because suddenly we had a club only about ten minutes from home, with a very strong selection of DJs and consistently good line-ups. A lot of artists played there, and we also ended up doing after-parties with some of them. Many of those DJs later became very well known. That makes it special for me today: sometimes I go to see them play in different parts of the world and you can see that, after all these years, we have become friends. Social media, despite everything I think about it as a DJ today, also helped us stay connected over the years.

Affekt had a big impact on my musical culture and on the way I learned to choose records myself. Then, in 2014, I moved to Dublin, taking all of those experiences with me into the Irish underground and into the way I developed as a DJ.

Mike: What do you remember about those first underground parties in Dublin?

2M: By late 2016, I was already deep into the underground here. There was this free rave under the M50, in the woods. We called it the jungle. No promoters, no tickets — just sound systems and people. My friend Michele, who has since passed away, organised it and brought all the gear. If you wanted to dance, you came. That was it. Those nights taught me that the music and the people are enough.

Mike: How did that freedom move into the club world for you?

2M: Soon after, I was involved with Dleria at The Sound House, bringing some of the Italian techno attitude into Dublin. It was the first time Dleria came to Ireland, and it was a great night. Later, when the clubs reopened after the pandemic, The Sound House became important again for me. I also had the opportunity to open for KIRK there, and I have opened for Pablo Say as well.

Mike: The pandemic stopped the clubs, but it didn’t really stop you, did it?

2M: No. We did boat parties and then went back to the forest. Maybe not 100% legal, but the vibe was pure. For me, the music never really stopped — it just changed location.

“Maybe not 100% legal, but the vibe was pure.”

Mike: REOSC has been part of your story for a while. Why is the 11 September date particularly important to you?

2M: REOSC helped open an important door for me when clubs returned, and playing with him again on 11 September 2026 means a lot. His closeness to the Detroit scene and to that Detroit sound really inspires me. That raw, soulful, futuristic side of techno is very close to what I love, so sharing a night with someone whose musical direction connects so strongly with that culture is special for me.

Mike: How did you and Dobrel start working together?

2M: We met at an after-party and we were actually arguing over who would play next — like two divas at the console! After that, we became friends straight away. Now we work together on gigs, studio ideas and life. We’ve shared a number of the IUM Bunker nights together, and that consistency between two DJs is part of what makes the concept work.

Mike: What is the idea behind the Iconic Underground Bunker?

2M: It’s literally a bunker: one red light, one strobe and music. No unnecessary story or theme — the music does the talking. I also wanted to bring back longer sets. In the ’90s, a DJ could play three hours or more and really connect with the crowd. Now you often get one-hour sets and huge line-ups. For me, you can lose the journey. It’s not about being the star; it’s about serving the night.

“One red light, one strobe, and music. That’s it. The music does the talking.”

Mike: Your Pawn Shop long set really demonstrated that philosophy. What happened that night?

2M: On 17 January 2026, I played the bunker at Pawn Shop from 10PM until 3AM — five hours, solo, using vinyl and digital. That is the kind of set I love. You don’t have to show everything in the first twenty minutes. You can go deeper, change direction, take risks and start having a real conversation with the dancefloor. I also want to thank Dao at Pawn Shop. He has supported me for years and he is a good friend. I’m genuinely grateful that he keeps giving me the opportunity and the space to play there and express myself musically.

“Give me the time to build something.”

Mike: Your connection with Italian legend Alex Dolby actually goes back further than the Pawn Shop booking, doesn’t it?

2M: Yes. In 2018, I helped Alex Dolby with the reopening of his club. That makes the story much more personal for me. Alex was already a musical reference point in my culture, and I had seen first-hand how seriously he takes music and the environment around it. Years later, opening for him in Dublin felt like another chapter of the same story.

Mike: Opening for Alex Dolby was another important moment. Why did that booking mean so much?

2M: Alex Dolby has been a point of reference in my musical culture for years. Opening for him at the IUM Techno Bunker at Pawn Shop on 17 July 2026 was much more than another booking. After my set, Alex came to me and complimented both the music I had selected and the way I had played it. I remember thinking, ‘Okay, now I can stop DJing!’ 2M laughs. For me, that was a huge personal musical achievement. Alex is very meticulous about the music he chooses, and that is something I respect enormously. His words meant a lot to me because I approach my own selection in a similar way: I am very selective with the music I play, and I am always searching for something different, something with character, never something obvious or banal. When someone whose musical judgement you respect recognises that in your set, it stays with you.

“After Alex complimented the music and the way I played, I thought: okay, now I can stop DJing!” 

Mike: You’ve also taken the project outside Dublin. Which international dates stand out?

2M: Valencia, Milan and London are important memories for me. Playing outside Ireland gives you another perspective because every dancefloor has its own character. I played Milan on 11 May 2024, London on 19 July 2024, and Killing Time in Valencia on 23 May 2025. Valencia was especially interesting because the place had a vinyl shop upstairs and a bunker club below — exactly the kind of environment I connect with.

Mike: Vinyl still seems central to the way you think about music. What keeps you buying records?

2M: I want music that you can hold in your hands. I still buy records regularly. I like Bandcamp because you can often get the vinyl and digital together, and there is a more direct relationship with the artist. The physical record feels alive to me.

Mike: Who are the DJs and artists that have shaped your musical culture?

2M: Joey Beltram changed everything for me — he gave techno muscle. Oscar Mulero is unbelievable, and Jonas Kopp is precise, emotional and deep. Alex Dolby is also an important reference for me. Internationally, I would also mention Freddy K, Pfirter, Speedy J, Arnaud Le Texier, UFO95, Perc, Michel Lauriola, Non Reversible, Ruman, Raffaele Attanasio, Uun, Spaceisauce, Cirkle, KaioBarssalos, Roll Dann and Oxygeno. Labels such as Non Series and Affekt Recordings are also part of the sound and culture I connect with.

Mike: And what about the Irish scene? Who do you respect here?

2M: I really admire Sunil Sharpe and Tommy Holohan, and I would also add Jamie Behan, Doug Cooney, Mode_1, Pineal Navigation, Philip Galvin Jr and Rustal. They are artists I respect for their musical identity, their selection and the way they approach a dancefloor. Sunil is technically amazing. The funny thing is that we hosted him in Italy back in 2012, and now we are both here in Ireland. Life goes full circle.

Mike: You’ve been critical of parts of Dublin’s techno scene. What do you think needs to change?

2M: It can be very hard to break in. There is too much competition sometimes and not enough cooperation. Some clubs want you to pay for a night or give you a Monday or Tuesday, and that can kill creativity. But there are people keeping things raw and genuine. I want Dublin to develop more of its own identity — less copying, more original Dublin character, with that real, gritty and emotional feeling I associate with Detroit.

Mike: You’ve made the unusual decision to step away from social media as a DJ. Why?

2M: I don’t use social media anymore. For me, if an artist is good, the music should speak for itself. I don’t believe followers, constant posts or advertising should be the reason you deserve to play. I want someone to book me because they heard me and thought: this guy can DJ, this guy plays good music. I’m not saying everybody should stop using social media — it’s my personal choice. I want to see how far I can go only with the music: no chasing followers, just play well, play good records and let people decide.

“If an artist is good, the music should speak for itself.”

Mike: There is another side to your music now — STUBT. Tell me about that.

2M: When I play house music, I’m STUBT. I wanted a separate name because house lets me explore another part of my record collection and another side of my musical personality. I also had a residency as STUBT at Izakaya for IUM on George’s Street in Dublin. I want to thank Johnny, the manager, for giving me that opportunity. He is a genuinely good person and I really appreciate the trust and support he gave to the project. For me, there is no contradiction: 2M is my techno identity and STUBT is my house identity. They are two different expressions of the same love for electronic music.

Mike: After everything you’ve done, what still matters most to you when you play?

2M: I just want people to feel it. Forget the hype, forget the selfies — come for the music. We’re all connected by the same kick drum. You can be from Rome, Dublin, Tokyo; it doesn’t matter. When the lights drop and the bass hits, we’re one.

“Forget the hype, forget the selfies — come for the music.”

Mike: Any final words?

2M: I want to thank you, Mike, and Iconic Underground for giving me the space for this interview. It’s always a pleasure talking with you about electronic music, records and the scene. I don’t consider myself an important figure in the scene — I’m simply someone who loves this music deeply, loves playing records and wants to contribute in my own way. So having the opportunity to sit down, talk about it and share some of my journey means a lot to me.

“I’m simply someone who loves this music deeply.”

Selected Gig Timeline

12 April 2024 — Relentless Techno and Friends — Bow Lane Social
13 April 2024 — Hardstyle V Techno Day Rave — The Sound House
11 May 2024 — Milan — international appearance
13 July 2024 — IUM Pawn Shop Bunker — with Dobrel; extended-set concept
19 July 2024 — London — international appearance
8 November 2024 — IUM Techno Bunker — Pawn Shop — with Dobrel
23 May 2025 — Killing Time, Valencia — international appearance
30 August 2025 — Pawn Shop Bunker with DJ Dome — with Dobrel
17 January 2026 — Pawn Shop Takeover — 2M five-hour solo long set, 10PM–3AM, vinyl + digital
6 June 2026 — Techno CORE Agency Launch Party — Curveball
17 July 2026 — Techno Bunker, Pawn Shop — 2M opening for Alex Dolby; with Dobrel
11 September 2026 — Upcoming event with REOSC