For our 341st Truancy Volume we welcome, Amsterdam-based DJ duo Match Box, aka Bastiaan and Luuk – two producers and long-time friends lighting up the scene with their brand of club-ready, trance-futurist productions. Their partnership with London’s Goddezz label feels nothing short of fate, with the duo entrusted to spearhead the label’s vinyl journey through 2023’s Vantage Point EP. With a sound that feels tailor-made for life-changing moments at sunrise or sunsets, they’ve deepened the connection with their follow-up vinyl release, High En3rgy – a 12″ single radiating celestial charm and pure elation, amplified by an Ibiza-charged B-side remix from Clint. Influenced by legends like Faithless, Daft Punk, and Tiësto (Bastiaan) alongside Trentemøller, Moderat, and Booka Shade (Luuk) it’s clear to see where the love for euphoria and feel good melancholia stems from. With heavyweights like Job Jobse, Maruwa, and Spray already in their corner, and growing their sound in a country synonymous with trance excellence, maybe we can expect a new Bedrock-esque partnership in the making.
Hey there Bastiaan and Luuk! Thanks for answering some questions for us! So how have you been recently? As we approach December, what’s the year been like for you both? Any particular highlights? Hey hi Truants! Thanks for having us we’re big fans of your platform! It’s been an amazing year for us. A few highlights: releasing a track on a Radiant Records V/A for a good cause, crowdfunding for Palestine, dropping our second vinyl EP on the Goddezz family, and playing a set at ZeeZout during ADE. Oh, and we got to play Fest Noise in Brittany, next to a castle. Magical vibes!
So seeing as it’s your first interview on the site, and I also struggled to find if you had done one in general before, I thought we’d go back a little and talk about how you first met and what you bonded over initially to become friends? How far do you guys back?
Bastiaan: Yeah, this is definitely our first depth interview, haha. But we’re also really excited to share our story! Luuk and I go way back—we both grew up in Arnhem, a small city in the eastern part of the Netherlands. We met during high school at this after-school homework guidance program. Funny enough, where we got zero homework done.. We just joked around and found out we shared this weird, dry sense of humor. It didn’t take long before we became really close friends. We bonded over all these quirky little things, and eventually, music became a big part of our connection too.
Luuk: It’s true we’ve known each other for so long now. And yeah, that homework guidance thing was hilarious. We were supposed to be productive, but we just ended up cracking jokes and messing around. I think what really cemented our friendship was how similar our humor was. We’d laugh about the most random stuff, and it felt like we just got each other. Over time, music started playing a bigger role in our friendship, but honestly, it wasn’t the foundation at first. It’s been amazing to see how it’s brought us even closer
Do you share a similar background in terms of how you both got into dance music? Can you tell us a little bit about any music you were first listening to that gave you that initial kick.
Bastiaan: With dance music, it started with my parents, who were always playing music around the house. They had such eclectic taste soul, disco, funk and they’d dance to electronic music in the living room. My dad was a big fan of artists like Faithless, Daft Punk, Tiësto, and Armin van Buuren. I remember long car rides where he’d blast Faithless’s Reverence or Daft Punk’s Discovery. Those moments really stuck with me and probably planted the seed for my love of electronic music.
Luuk: My journey was a bit different. I’ve played guitar and piano since I was a kid and spent a lot of my high school years in indie rock bands. Back then, I was really into bands like Bloc Party and Editors. But as I got older, my tastes startceed to expand. I discovered electronic acts like Trentemøller, Booka Shade, and Moderat, which totally blew my mind. It wasn’t until I started going to clubs, though, that I really fell in love with house music. Eventually, we both started collecting electronic music and decided to team up. Fun fact: we completely bluffed our way into our first DJ gig, saying we could DJ without ever touching a CDJ.
I imagine being in the Netherlands the amount of events and parties you must have had access to being quite overwhelming possibly. What parties were you going to? Was there a lot of trance? Dekmantel and Draaimolen are our favorites, but our first night out together was a label night for R&S in a warehouse in Arnhem. It was mind-blowing and shaped our sound big time. Trance wasn’t huge when we started; the BPMs were way slower in 2015. We loved clubs like Claire (formerly Studio 80), where we were residents. Back then, Dutch legends like Young Marco and Antal inspired us with their eclectic sets, and that “no boundaries” style still influences us today.
The first mix you guys published online together was a mix for WHO’S SUSANING back in 2017. What was going on in that year? Do you have any strong memories attached to that year/summer? Wow, 2017 feels like ages ago! Who’s Susan asked us to do a mix, and we were thrilled because we loved the label. Back then, we were just starting out and obsessed with Chicago and New York house. Who’s Susan really helped shape our sound, after doing a view releases with them and they’re still good friends—though, Willem and Christiaan, if you’re reading this, hit us up!
What’s so famous about the Spaarndammerstraat street? One of your earliest tracks was named after it, correct? Also for being an early track of yours that track holds up amazingly. How long had you been producing together before you decided to start sending tracks out? It was actually one of the first tracks we ever finished that felt “dancefloor-ready.” At the time, we didn’t really know what we were doing just experimenting with sounds on our synths and in Ableton, trying different things and hoping it would click. When we finally got it done, it felt like such an accomplishment. It’s funny because we still don’t fully know what we’re doing half the time we just follow what feels good. People said it sounded “old school,” but it’s really because we didn’t know how to make it sound polished The name came from the street where our studio was located. We spent so much time there during that period it almost felt like a second home so it made sense to name the track after it. As for sending tracks out, we didn’t wait too long. Being a duo made it easier to feel confident about sharing our work. We’d listen together, tweak together, and then just take the leap.
What have been some of the changes between then and now? I thought we could get a bit technical for the producers out there. Like what have been some proper breakthroughs for you two in terms of maybe linking gear, or mastering a VST or plugin or learning possibly what chords you like?
Luuk: Going to the Conservatory of Amsterdam was huge for me Got lessons of really inspiring people. For example Hans Weekhout Aka Capricorn who made the classic tune 20hz. He really teached how to give your low-end extra power with upwards compression, combined with the right EQ-ing. Also making a track more interesting by making sure there are happening multiple things (different polyrhythms for example) at the same time, in different parts of the frequency spectrum.
Bastiaan: sampling has been a game-changer. I’ve developed a real love for digging into old electronic records and chopping up sounds to give them a new context. Gear-wise, I’ve also fallen in love with quirky synths from the late ’90s and early 2000s. Recently, we picked up a Yamaha CS1x, and it’s been so much fun to explore it’s full of weird, nostalgic sounds that really fit our vibe.
How much does the JP-8000 make an appearance in your music? I saw it along with the Yamaha S30 in one of your Rinse promo shots. Proper trance royalty those two synths there, think Faithless made that iconic Insomnia line on the latter. Oh, the JP-8000 was such a beauty! It’s funny you mention it because we actually sold it a while ago, but it still has a special place in our hearts. We kind of replaced it with the Novation X-Station, which has this beautifully digital, early-2000s vibe that fits a lot of the trance-inspired sounds we’ve been playing with lately. The Yamaha S30, though that one’s still going strong in our studio. It’s crazy versatile, and we’ve used it for everything from basslines to pads to melodic hooks. And yes, the “Insomnia” preset is on there it’s such a legendary sound. We haven’t used that exact preset yet because, honestly, how can you compete with a classic like Faithless? But we’re always discovering new gems in its library, so it’s been a huge part of our setup.
Match Box with Goddezz just seems like a match made in heaven. It really feels like you both suit each other perfectly. How did the relationship between you both and the label first come about? They also must have really trusted you both for you to be their first vinyl release on the label. It really does feel like a match made in heaven! Our relationship with Goddezz started through SoundCloud. They reached out to us asking if we had any tracks for a V/A release. We were already big fans of the label, so of course, we jumped at the chance. Over the years, as we released more music with them, we realized we had so much in common not just musically, but also in terms of humor and the way we approached things. We finally met them in person when they booked us for a party in London called Transmissions from Hackney. That night sealed the friendship. After a few V/A tracks, we started talking about doing a full EP. When they told us it would be their first vinyl release, we were honestly so honored. To have that kind of trust and support from them it meant the world to us. And seeing how well it was received, especially with Bliss Inc.’s remix, was just the cherry on top. We couldn’t be more gratefull. Big love to Oli and Thimitri.
What can you tell us about making the newest release, the ‘High En3rgy’ record? The Clint remix is just some proper hands-in-the-air Ibiza fun isn’t it too. Thank you so much! Making High En3rgy was such a fun experience because it was one of those tracks where everything just fell into place. We started with a strong drum and bass foundation but didn’t know exactly where to take it. Then one night in the studio, we came up with the chords and melody, and suddenly everything clicked. The whole track came together really quickly, which is always a good sign for us. If something feels natural and exciting in the moment, it usually translates well on the dance floor. As for Clint’s remix what can we say? He did a incredible job! When we sent him the orignal track, he got back to us right away saying he’d love to remix it. The result is everything we hoped for and more. It’s feel-good energy track. Big shoutout to Goddezz for believing in the project and helping it come to life on vinyl.
Can you tell us a little bit about your favourite gigs you’ve done recently? I think the reason so many people are attracted to this sound is because the highs are just so euphorically-feel-good. Does that feel like a main reason why you play what you play and make what you make? We recently played at ZeeZout during ADE, and it was such a blast! ADE always has this “anything goes” energy, like people are ready to lose their minds all week long. We got a great slot on Sunday, which meant we could really play what we wanted, diving into the euphoric sounds we’ve always loved. We’re hugely inspired by Orbital, Underworld, and Bicep, seeing the revival of progressive trance and house feels like coming full circle this was the vibe of our first productions back in 2018. Fun fact: for years, we searched for this bass sound that turned out to be the “Lately Bass.” When we finally found it in a synth we bought, it was like winning the lottery! Five years later, we’re still obsessed with it.
If you had one day to take a fellow artist on an adventure around your city, where would you go and why? Are there any specific cities you’ve always admired or wanted to experience?We’d take a young Armin van Buuren on a stroll to Killacutz, our favorite record store, to dig up some proper trance records. Then we’d head to Bird Zeedijk for the best Pad Thai in town, grab some drinks, and finish the day in the studio. We’ve always admired London for its rich musical history and how naturally Dutch and UK people vibe together. But if we could pick a dream destination, it’d be Melbourne. The nature there is stunning, and the music scene is absolutely buzzing. With so many amazing producers coming out of Australia lately, we’re convinced there’s something magical in their water and we’d love to taste it someday.
How does music fit into both of your daily routines? Do you regularly listen to music or search for new records? How do you focus your intentions and craft, and how distinct are your roles as a producer, DJ, and music enthusiasts?We meet up in the studio once or twice a week for long sessions, but we also work separately on projects and then polish them together. We’re always listening to new releases and never miss a weekly trip to the record store. As for roles, they overlap a lot because we’re both just music nerds at heart. Whether it’s DJing, producing, or collecting records, it all feeds into the same passion.
Can you tell us about three albums and any memories attached to them that a) define you both getting into electronic music in general, b) maybe a midway album when you were fully invested in DJing and and c) a recent album from the last couple years.
Bicep – Satisfy EP
This EP was a game-changer for us. Coming from different musical backgrounds, this was the first sound we both completely connected on. The combination of euphoric pads, drums, and vocals felt fresh, especially at a time when trance wasn’t “cool.” It was a huge influence on our early productions.
Orbital – Orbital 2
When we dug deeper into the UK sound, Orbital became a massive inspiration. Tracks like “Lush 3-1” and “Halcyon + On + On” were staples in our first gigs. Fun memory: during our first gig, we accidentally played “Lush 3-1” twice and once at the wrong BPM.
Regular Fantasy – New Glow
This album is on repeat for us. Its carefree vibe and unique sound are so refreshing in today’s often-too-serious dance scene. It’s inspiring and reminds us why we love what we do.
What sort of other hobbies or interests do you both have outside of electronic music? Are there any books, films, shows or other things you’ve seen or been reading/watching that you might want to share?
Bastiaan: I’m obsessed with hunting for vintage design furniture and clothes. I spend my spare time driving around the Netherlands, hitting up secondhand shops, markets, and thrift stores. It’s a bit like crate-digging at record stores searching for that hidden gem in the dustiest corner.
Luuk: For me, next to music my biggest hobby is cooking. Love to cook and experiment with new flavor combinations. There is in my opinion a parallel between cooking and producing. You put several ingredients in a pot, and together they have to be a nice end result.
Could you describe the process of creating this mix? Was there a specific message or feeling you wanted to convey? We love kicking off a mix with a memorable audio snippet from a film or series. This time, we picked a classic scene from Human Traffic. The mix is a blend of tracks we’ve been into over the last few months, with a mix of new discoveries and old favorites. We aimed to build tension and add some vocal-driven tracks toward the end. Overall, it’s a fun, carefree mix perfect for driving around in your bolide. Nothing too serious, just dance-worthy tunes!
Last, usual question from us, what was the last thing to put a big smile on your faces and when was the last time you both had a proper dance? Be it together or separate. Right now, actually! Luuk’s holding a guitar, singing his answers with a John Mayer riff it’s hilarious.
Match Box: Soundcloud, Instagram, Bandcamp, Resident Advisor
High En3rgy EP w/ Clint Remix is out now on Goddezz
You can download Truancy Volume 341: Match Box in 320 kbps and view the full tracklist on Patreon here. Your support helps cover all our costs and allows Truants to continue running as a non-profit and ad-free platform. Members will receive exclusive access to mixes and tracklists. We urge you to support the future of independent music journalism — a little goes a long way. If you need any IDs though, please leave us a comment on the Soundcloud link and us or Match Box will get back to you with the track :)
