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.

“Before I moved to Ireland,” Matteo grins, “I was just a kid dancing every weekend. Sixteen years old, sneaking into a club in the south of Rome called NRG in Ciampino area.

There’s laughter already between us. You can tell he’s reliving it. “At that time,” he continues, “there were no restrictions. If you looked like you belonged, they let you in. We were just good people there to dance.”

He paints the scene like a film reel — the train leaving Frosinone at ten p.m., a group of teenagers clutching cheap bottles and cassette players, arriving in Rome just before midnight. “We’d dance until six, seven in the morning,” he says, eyes widening. “And when we left, there’d be people sleeping on cars, ambulances outside, others passed out by the door. But it was beautiful chaos. That’s how I started — just dancing.”

The way he describes it, those nights were an initiation. The sweat, the danger, the freedom. No phones, no streaming — just word of mouth and basslines that carried for blocks.

When I ask what first pulled him into the sound, he bursts out laughing. “You won’t believe it — my mum gave me my first techno tape!”, the title is

Synphoniko by Giacomo Orlando what a tune mani think I heard that track for 2/3 years everyday.

“Your mum?” I blink.

“Yeah!” he says, cracking up. “It even had a chicken sound in it!

We both laugh hard that tape lit the fuse. “After that, I started collecting more,” he says.

He rattles off the legends who passed through those doors like a roll call of techno history: Gaetano Parisio, Alex Dolby, Giorgio Roma,Timo Maas. “That’s where I saw what real underground meant,” he says. “We’d do two, three clubs in one night. Start in one, then hit another at 3 a.m. The music just never stopped.” Thats passion, for electronic music.

At nineteen, Matteo left Italy for Ireland — “end of my teenage years, man,” he says — chasing work and adventure, but, as it turned out, finding a second musical home.

“I came over with a few vinyl and no idea what I’d find. But then I discovered the Hangar — the old one on Main Street. Pure energy. They closed it later, built a bloody hotel instead.” He shakes his head, half amused, half annoyed.

Then came Soundhouse, Wigwam, Berlin D2, the old Tivoli, & Index. “That was when I really fell in love with the Irish scene,” he says. “People here are wild, but in a good way.

As we talk about his Italian roots, Matteo remembers his connection with DJ and producer Alex Dolby, who helped mentor him. “When Alex had to shut his first club because of some bad stuff that happened inside, I helped him reopen a new one in 2016 — Affekt Club. I was managing the bar, painting the walls, building the console. We hosted Jay Clarke, Jonas Kopp, Oscar Mulero, Shifted, Bas Mood, and many more… it was insane.”

It was there that Matteo’s focus shifted from promoting to performing. “After spending all those nights in the booth helping others, I thought, why not me?

He leans forward, animated. “When you feel the floor react — when you hit that drop and the crowd moves as one — it’s like a circuit connecting. Pure electricity.”

By late 2016, Matteo was firmly planted in Ireland’s underground. “There was this free rave under the M50, in the woods,” he laughs. “We called it ‘the jungle.’ No promoters, no tickets — just sound systems and people. My friend Michael organised it — brought all the gear. If you wanted to dance, you came. That was it.”

That freedom bled into everything he did next. Soon, he was hosting Deliria at the Soundhouse, bringing Italian techno aesthetics to Irish soil. “It was the first time Deliria came to Ireland — great night, no complaints!” he grins.

Then came the pandemic. Clubs went dark. But Matteo didn’t stop. “We did boat parties,” he admits, eyes glinting.

Then back to the forest. For me, it was okay — the music never really stopped, just changed location.”

When clubs reopened, he got his first major booking at Soundhouse, thanks to Music Machine Masters REOSC. “I was nervous, man,” he laughs. “Almost sick before my set. But when I started, everything clicked. Best feeling ever.”

From there, the momentum built — Syl Black booked him for his Berlin Acid Project, which led to his residency with us at IUM, and a new partnership with Dobrel/Lawrence from Confession Sessions.

The two met, naturally, at an after-party. “We were arguing over who’d play next,” Matteo laughs. “Like two divas at the console! But after that, we became friends straight away. Now we work on everything together — gigs, studio, life.”

Out of that chemistry came the Iconic Underground Bunker Party, a raw, back-to-basics event that’s already made its mark on the Dublin scene. “It’s literally a bunker,” Matteo says. “One red light, one strobe, and music. That’s it. No story, no theme, just sound. The music does the talking.”

The concept is simple but powerful — two DJs, long sets, one continuous vibe. “Back in the 90s,” Matteo explains, “each DJ would play at least three hours. That’s how you connect with the crowd. Nowadays, it’s one-hour sets and fifteen people on the bill — you lose the energy. We wanted to bring back the journey.”

Mike Mannix: “You converted me to that idea. The consistency of two people guiding the night — it just works.”

Matteo: “Exactly. It’s not about being the star; it’s about serving the night.”

Mike Mannix: And now you still performing around the Europe if I’m not wrong?

Matteo: Yes since I started playing the people like the style I do thank god and the energy. I got booked in Milan, Valencia, London. And now I’m actually feeling excited for the 2026, because a lot of new bookings already. I’ll also start my new project on 17th of January calls “my roots” where i’ll play music for 6 hours digital and vinyl its an expression of the passion I have for that genere of music, hopefully then i’ll find I venue to perform once every 2 month with that project but still working on it.

Since recording this interview IUM have launched a new Deep House 90s style project called Raw Groove in Dublins Izakya where Matteo aka STUBD, Dobrel and DJ Rik have been spinning and had 2 successful nights with more in the planning.

These days, Matteo and Lawrence are spending long hours in the studio, shaping their first album. “We’re figuring out vinyl pressing and distribution now,” he says. “It’s complicated, but worth it. I want something you can hold in your hands — a record that’s alive.”

He’s a self-confessed vinyl addict. “I buy three or four records a month,” he says. “Recently got Rebecca Delle Piani on Emerald, and a few Remco Beekwilder pieces. I love that Bandcamp gives you the digital and the vinyl — and the money goes straight to the artist. That’s real.”

Ask him about inspiration, and his tone turns reverent. “Joey Beltram changed everything,” he says firmly. “He took techno from house and gave it muscle. Oscar Mulero from Spain — unbelievable. And Jonas Kopp, I follow him constantly. He’s precise, emotional, deep.” The  biggest inspiration is Alex Dolby, as person as well, he knows a lot about the music and he research the sound a lot, he doest care about mainstream or to be superstar, he just produces and  plays what he likes!! And actually my dream one day is to open a set for him, one of my life goals, but for now I’m still a beginner.

He’s equally enthusiastic about Dublin talent. “Tommy Holohan, Sunil Sharpe — proper DJs. Funny thing is, we hosted him in Italy back in 2012. Now we’re both here. Life’s full circle, man.

When conversation turns to Dublin’s techno scene, Matteo’s warmth cools into realism. “It’s hard,” he says. “Really hard to break in. Too much competition, not enough cooperation. Some clubs won’t give you a night unless you pay them, or they offer a Monday or Tuesday. Who’s gonna come on a Monday?”

He sighs. “It kills creativity. The scene’s not always genuine. Everyone’s hustling, but sometimes for the wrong reasons.”

Still, he sees hope. “There are real ones — Iconic Underground, Subject Parties. They keep it raw and honest. The underground’s changing for the better. More quality, less hype.”

Mike nods. “More original Dublin vibes less Berlin fanboys.”

Matteo grins. “Hopefully man. Berlin’s great, but too much now. I’d rather see Dublin become its own thing — closer to Detroit. Real, gritty, emotional.”

As our conversation winds down, Matteo leans back in his chair, that wide grin returning. “I just want people to feel it,” he says.

He believes techno’s future isn’t about production arms races or Instagram followers — it’s about energy and authenticity. “We’re all connected by the same kick drum,” he says. “That’s the point. You can be from Rome, Dublin, Tokyo — it doesn’t matter. When the lights drop and the bass hits, we’re one.”

Mike: Any final words?

Matteo: 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 — IUM Detroit Centric Event Curve Ball Button Factory Dublin