If you were to describe Matthew Charles current position in the Dance Music sphere two words would describe it best, bubbling under. After 11 years of DJing for just shits and giggles Matthew thought, 6 years ago, “Do you know what, this would be a great job.” He wasn’t wrong, and in that time he has steadily risen through the ranks to play on some of the best dance floors the world has to offer alongside some of best DJs in world.


Matthew's love affair with music started at a young age and it only seemed natural that he shared his ever-expanding collection with his schoolmates. He was able to do this at the School Youth Club that regularly held Friday night Discos. However the music on hand wasn’t what he was looking for so would regularly go with out lunch so he could purchase the latest 12-inch, much to his mothers despair. This naturally progressed, as his notoriety and age rose in equal measure, to gigs and residencies throughout the West Of Scotland most notably Archaos, Babaza, The Tunnel, Trash, Budda, The Velvet Rooms, the Glasgow residency of Birmingham glam monsters Miss Moneypennys and even a summer in the now infamous Ayia Napa.


In the background of all this night time activity Matthew was completing a University degree which when gained resulted in a position at UK clubbing bible M8 Magazine. It was here Matthew managed to find himself DJing at several M8 events pitching himself alongside not just the best Scotland had to offer but the UK as a whole, the pinnacle of which was DJing with Galaxy Radios Allister Whitehead. It was while at M8 Matthew was given the opportunity to go to European clubbing capital, Ibiza. What originally was a 2-week working assignment soon turned into 4-months. Although Matthew had been going to the White Isle since '94, '01 was the first time he had made it his temporary home. Although finding himself DJing at Bar M, Savannah, Fabric, Ancient People and Miss Moneypennys Pre Parties like any other aspiring DJ on the island he had to make ends meet. Putting his Marketing degree to full use Matthew became a flyerer for Godskitchen @ Amnesia and then latterly Roger Sanchez Release Yourself @ IL Divino, "The glamour was relentless." Once back in Glasgow Matthew continued to guest at various venues in the West of Scotland but it wasn't long before the itch for sunnier climes needed scratched, this time though it was Dubai.


It was while residing in Dubai his “professional” career got off to a flying start in 2004 when a DJ competition, run by Heineken, called Thirst rolled into town. Thirst was a worldwide search for tomorrows DJ talent today and after visiting 32 countries and playing to over 200,000 clubbers it landed in the Gulf region. Paul Oakenfold and Danielle Davoli were part of the travelling industry expert panel that after numerous regional heats and a regional final selected Matthew as the winner of the GCC region. Part of the prize was to play the next night alongside Oakenfold and Davoli to 3000 revellers at an amazing outdoor gig. Needless to say this opened the doors of all the regions best clubs playing alongside DJs such as Jon Digweed, Benny Bennasi and Harry "Choo Choo" Romero but ultimately culminating in two important residencies.


The first was Trilogy in Dubai. Although only open for a few years Trilogy managed to find itself voted number 47 in DJ Mags Top 50 clubs in the world. The pole was voted for by the many international DJs that graced the Trilogy DJ box and there were many! The second residency was at 360, also in Dubai, which this year has been voted number 58 in the now expanded DJ Mag poll, Top 100 clubs in the world. It was during this residency in the 2005/2006 season that Matthew jumped upon an opportunity to further his experiences in the dance music Mecca that is Ibiza. While playing at 360 Pete Gooding (former long time Cafe Mambo resident and Ibiza institution) mentioned he was not going back that year. That was enough encouragement for Matthew to go after a residency that he had only dreamed of.


As luck would have it the residency was his. Now this wasn’t Matthews first summer in Ibiza but it certainly was his first summer holding the helm at one of the busiest DJ boxes in the World as resident DJ at Café Mambo, Ibiza. On a weekly basis he greeted the insurmountable talents of Roger Sanchez, Erick Morillo and Pete Tong while frequently welcoming Masters at Work, Junior Jack & Kid Crème, Bob Sinclar, Swedish House Mafia, Deep Dish, Sasha, Frankie Knuckles, Satoshi Tomiie, David Morales and had visits from iconic bands such as Faithless. As if his 7-hour a day sets at Mambo weren’t enough Matthew found time to play, on a weekly basis, at one of Ibiza’s iconic nightclubs Pacha. Mainly playing on the Terrace but one memorable night let loose on the main room at Pacha’s flagship night Pure Pacha alongside Bodyrockers, Claudio Coccoluto and the man himself Pete Tong. Matthew was rightly excitable, "What a night and what a room to play in. Everyone is here for a good time and more importantly to dance. For me it was effortless and so enjoyable, I hope that came across. Definitely one of the highlights of my career so far."


Now with his Ibiza connection restricted to guest slots Matthew is back in Dubai DJing at all the essential dance floors. Alpha, Chi@The Lodge, 360, The Apartment and Horizon Lounge are where you can hear him playing guest slots regularly while also holding down two residencies at Sanctuary and Plastik Beach Club. Next year he is hoping to take his sound global through a new pod cast broadcast form his website www.matthewcharles.com and possibly with the help of a certain record label, but more of that later.