If you’ve never listened to Wongo, you are legitimately doing yourself a disservice. I recall stumbling across a mix called “Powertools” on SoundCloud at the beginning of the year and being like “Who the fuck is this?”. That slappin’ mix was what originally seduced my ears and turned me onto Wongo from there on out. Since that moment, he quickly became one of my favorite DJs and producers. Matt Ladgrove, from Gold Coast, Australia is not only a true party-starter and man of many shenanigans but throws out some seriously hypnotizing, authentic, genre-defying house music.
With more than ten years producing under his belt, he is one of the creative minds behind the label Box of Cats, which is undeniably a hidden gem. Box Of Cats is the love child brought into existence by the minds of Wongo, Jeff Doubleu, Kyle Watson, Tom EQ, Marc Spence, and Jak Z. This label focuses on bringing exclusive tracks you won’t find anywhere else, which is wildly exciting in and of itself. You should check out Box Of Cats Radio that has featured mixes by favored artists like VNSSA, Kyle Watson, Billy Kenny, and Walker & Royce. I also suggest digging into their additional compilation series called “The Litterbox”, which spotlights various new and upcoming artists.
Wongo’s latest single “I’m the DJ” featuring Nacho Pop, officially released November 7th, could arguably be the first tech-house diss track written. This track is a saucy little poke at artists who take themselves too seriously and I have to say, it’s gut-busting. The setting for this music video takes place in the hills of LA and features Dr. Fresch acting as a futuristic pretentious character while spinning at what looks like a bangin’ ass exclusive house party. In light of this track, Wongo launched his “I’m the B-Boy DJ” Tour in early fall starting in his home country Australia, then taking a stroll through some of North America’s largest cities to finish up back in the land down under at the close of 2019.
Did you know he is also a former internationally renowned, award-winning breakdancer? I had absolutely no clue until I got to watch Matt bust out some moves on the dance floor after his set at Bar Standard in Denver in October. Even without knowing this fact, it almost makes sense as Wongo carries himself with a B-boy fresh aesthetic.
Anyone who’s ever met Matt knows that his satirical humor permeates all that he does. From the music videos he curates to what ends up on social media, it’s really hard to not get a laugh. It’s truly impossible not to adore Matt as a human being with his strong suit of genuinity and a personality that just makes you feel like you’ve been friends for years. Knowing that his focus is on developing lasting relationships with fans is what gears us all to keep coming back for more Wongo and hence why he is my feature on this week’s #MCM spotlight series. If you love House and Tech-house with some funky, b-boy fresh flair, do yourself a favor and check him out.
*Featured Image via Maleika Halpin*
