AVA MIX 025: Matcha b2b Twentyfourevan

 

Matcha b2b Twentyfourevan bring together two of Belfast’s most exciting emerging selectors. Since making her debut in 2024, Matcha has quickly built a name for playful, genre-spanning sets that blend house, progressive sounds and deep Italo into the cosmic, “alien and critter coded” palette she’s become known for.

Alongside her, Twentyfourevan has become a vital force in Belfast nightlife as both a DJ and promoter, helping shape the city’s underground through HAZE Belfast and Floorspace, with high-energy sets that move between house, electro, leftfield techno and beyond.

Together, the pair have become a beloved power couple, affectionately dubbed the Mom & Dad of the Belfast scene, representing a new wave of local talent that is curious, club-focused and unafraid to push into stranger territories while keeping things fun, loose and deeply danceable.

Find out more in our Q&A below. 

Where do your sounds overlap, and where do they differ the most?

M: i think we both share a love for house music, especially for house tracks that are a bit off kilter or bubbly. i think at times our own personal tastes shine through in our selections like my preference for cosmic, fluffy, italo influences and evan’s guitar driven, crunchy french sounds. We are usually reunited with deep and groovy 90s tech house.
E: I think both of us are, for the most part, in that house realm the majority of the times we play. I feel that we both get a lot of enjoyment from listening to and playing that late 90s / 2000s house / tech house vibe, oftentimes the weirder the better. I’d say if I have to place it a little more then Anna prefers things on the spacier side at times where as if you give me a bass heavy French house track I’m all over it.

Did either of you step outside your usual style to meet the other halfway?

M: i think we kept it pretty ‘business as usual’ but definitely had to throw in a few personal touches that we met halfway for. I appreciate evan indulging in that critter-y sound for this one. 

E: We’ve played quite a few times together now and in a variety of contexts so we’ve had a good chance to get to grips with how we’ll approach a set differently depending on where we’re playing. Saying that I’d say on this occasion we kept it pretty true to that middle point in our venn diagram of interests, mostly housey with a bit of a lean into the techno side of things a bit later on.

What was your mindset going into this AVA Mix?

M: i wasn’t thinking in strict genres, just mood and flow. i think we wanted to keep it pretty distinct and true to our own tastes. it’s a slow burn, a bit introspective, with a shift that happens gradually rather than a big ‘this is it’ moment.

E: I personally didn’t over think it too much, just played what felt right to bounce off of Anna’s selections. We knew we wanted to play what was true to our interests and pick the energy up as we went along. I wanted to make sure I played tracks with a range of release dates and not get bogged down in only playing obscure 90s tracks or ones released last month. I think it’s important to explore both new and old and I’d say Anna was probably in a similar mindset.

Is there a track or moment in the mix that captures where you’re at creatively right now?

M: there’s not one specific track, but there’s a section at the start where things are a bit more stripped back and hypnotic. that probably feels closest to where i’m at right now. i feel less drawn to standout moment making and more about locking into groove and letting the sound evolve subtly.

E: That’s a hard question and potentially a three way tie! Pancratio’s Are You Listening has been on constant repeat for me, I can’t get enough of that bassline and chopped vocal. Later on in the mix I play a yet to be released Asa Tate remix of a brilliant track from Fundido & Emma Dufaux called Get A Grip. It’s being released on one of my fav labels, DFA, and the original is just so brilliant and again has been on repeat for me. I felt the Asa Tate remix fit really nicely within this mix and allowed me to squeeze in a bit of my love for everything electro house/clash, which I feel the original firmly sits within. Finishing off with Fly Life, again this speaks to that part of me that loves everything from that era of filter house classics. Is that too many for this answer?

How has Belfast shaped your sound and the way you approach DJing?

M: i’ve found that belfast isn’t really a crowd that’s majorly focused on big moments. it’s more about tension and letting things unfold naturally. i feel that through growing up amongst belfast punters im more interested in building a mood and keeping things flowing than forcing peaks. theres kind of a restraint to it, but a call for depth where you’re trying to draw people in rather than hit them over the head with mad energy. 

E: I find this a really hard question to answer as I never thought about how Belfast has affected how I play. I suppose those parties I went to early in my clubbing career probably cemented more in me than I released, seeing DJs like Palms Trax & Hunee at Twitch (shoutout Twitch!) probably set me off on a path to where my interests lie now. Even if I don’t think they necessarily represent the exact stuff I’m playing these days. It’s probably why I think it’s important to go out and see and experience as much music of all genres as possible. I think I’m more inspired by specific DJs rather than Belfast itself, the two legends that are Jordan & Timmy at Night Institute instantly spring to mind as people I find incredibly inspiring musically. 

What does AVA represent to you as part of Belfast’s wider scene?

M: AVA feels like an important focal point for belfast as it shines a spotlight on the city while still staying connected to the local scene. it’s one of the few celebrations where local artists and wider international acts properly intersect. to me AVA represents that balance between pushing things forward and staying rooted. 

E: I think AVA truly is a key part of Belfast’s wider scene, we wouldn’t be where we are today without it having been started over 10 years ago now. I think without AVA the landscape would be different and it’s been amazing to see how a globally known festival has remained one that has championed local DJs & artists just as much as the international acts. Take one look at the billboard from last year, I’d say that’s pretty cool. On a more personal level it’s a time of year when you know you’re going to see so many of your mates & that’s always such an exciting prospect. 

How do you approach building a set? What kind of energy do you want to create for the crowd?

M: i usually start with planning something loose I can build around, whether that be a single track or a certain emotion for the crowd i’ll be playing for. from there it’s about reading the room at the start and letting things develop naturally. sometimes if the crowd is right i will start to throw in tracks to direct their energy to what i want rather than vice versa. i like to keep my attitude and senses quite fluid, leaving space to shift direction depending on how it’s all landing.

E: I don’t typically plan my sets too much. I’m always listening to music, electronic music & non electronic and I like to try and throw some of that into my sets as a bit of a curveball when it feels right. I typically go into sets without a fixed plan but a collection of tracks I think I’d like to play. Often times the majority of them don’t make it so I shelf them for the next set.

For others coming up in the Belfast scene, what’s something that’s helped you grow and stay inspired?

M: to be honest a lot of wisdom has been passed to me by evan, he’s kept me so grounded and pulled me out of some deep, stress induced pits. He’s taught me so much, and i’ve always loved talking to him about dance music and how i’m feeling about things in the DJ world – good and bad. i think i would just want to encourage others to talk to their peers and who they admire; not just about dance music but also how they’re feeling in the scene. I would maybe advise try not to always have that competitive mindset that can be easy to fall into when setting out, and try not to ‘one up’ people. i’d say to anyone to please stay humble and enthusiastic, you learn so much more that way. we will never truly know it all no matter what you do! 

E: I think experience and I don’t necessarily mean time spent but going out and experiencing things, go to as many gigs as you can and try and appreciate these gigs for what they are. Go to a variety of genres and styles. As a music lover of all genres I think it’s important to get a bit of a taste for everything, personally I’m inspired just as much by a rock gig as I am a techno one, you never know where inspiration and growth might strike. Variety is the spice of life right?

Beyond the decks, what are you excited about right now? Do you have any projects, parties, or collectives you’d like to shout out?

M: i’ve been focused on staying connected to the belfast queer scene and the collaborative energy that’s running through the scene right now. in particular i’d give a shout to teach labhandair. TL is a unembellished queer dancefloor whose sounds range from 90s electro, to acid and prog. it’s a really intentional, immersive space that i really connect with. T4T are another collective who i am in awe of at the moment.  T4T host queer nights for punters to focus on music freely without expectation or judgment and encourage everyone to find their sense of belonging on the dance floor. catalyst is another collective who i love in belfast. Having been a small part of their 2025 Propagate programme, i can see they are doing important work in supporting artists and encouraging longer term pathways in the scene. ultimately its the kind of grassroots events and community led groups is what im mostly drawn to right now.

E: There’s so many great projects coming out of Belfast here that it would be impossible to name everything. So for that reason I want to go beyond Belfast, I want to shout out Inside Out & Mosaic up in Derry. Having never been on a night out clubbing in Derry until late last year when Anna was booked to play, I wasn’t too familiar with the scene there. However these collectives & venues like Sandinos are doing absolutely wonderful things and with such generosity and kindness. I’m lucky enough now to be getting my call up for Inside Out’s 1st birthday at the start of May and I am truly so excited for it, everyone involved are as sound as you’ll get! Speaking of Derry, time to give a shoutout to the man himself and one of my favs, Cartin. Truly one of the most exciting and underappreciated live acts around. He’s had a string of recent releases which are all top notch, including a great collab with the Tessio lads. I’ve been lucky enough to direct music videos for these tracks (shameless self plug) and I can’t wait to see what’s coming next, if you haven’t seen Cartin get to his set at this year’s AVA! 

What moments or spaces in Belfast have really inspired you recently, whether a night, a venue, or a person?

M: I have to hail Micheál Corr at every opportunity i get. an all round sweet heart who i truly am so happy i’ve had the pleasure to meet through our ponyhawke debut in october 2024. micheál is someone who has one of the best tastes in music i think i’ve ever came across. i’m not sure i’ll ever know close to everything about dance music and honestly, i love that. one of the best parts of befriending other DJs is when new friends introduce me to sounds I’ve never come across before. With Micheál i just really rate him as a person and artist, and i think he’s someone to watch and get to know right now.

E: A few spring to mind, like Twitch booking iconic acts such as Leftfield or Erol Alkan as well as Phil & Paddy’s warm up sets who I inevitably will steal a tune or two from. Or Marion at Sound Advice who has had some brilliant musical recommendations for me in the past. However I want to give a specific shout out to ByPhil who has been running low cap parties under the Head Above Water name. These parties always have such an amazing atmosphere and I’ve loved every one I’ve attended, I’m in awe everytime by his vinyl only selections. He’s on this year’s AVA lineup, as is Cooke, who often frequents the Head Above Water lineups. Two brilliant selectors who I can’t wait to see grace AVA, go see them!

When you think about the future of Belfast’s scene, what do you hope to see more of?

M: more spaces and nights that feel genuinely open and sustainable. as in, places and nights where experimentation is encouraged, not just tolerated one offs. belfast already has a strong sense of community in small niches, so i’d like to see that deepen into longer term support in the form of long standing nights run by local artists. it would be great to see more support from punters and collaboration across collectives too, rather than things existing in parallel. when lines blur the whole scene feels stronger and more connected. also, someone please book SASS – promise i’ll be there from doors.

E: More attendance and early attendance. I know this is a tricky one at the moment but getting down to events and getting there early is really important for the longevity of our scene, we have an abundance of events but unfortunately oftentimes they aren’t attended correctly to ensure their survival. If you like something, go support it. A lot of DJs in the warm up slot unfortunately having to play to emptier rooms. I think in a similar vein knowing when to build the night and not just ‘send it’ from doors is an important point to be made here. Also I’m going to stupidly say more day parties, I know our weather isn’t conducive to them but I just really love them.

 

Tracklist

Wallace – Welcome 
Jack D – Swervin it 
Justin David – It Can Be… (Over)
Fade 2 End – Sunshine
Ain’t no way – Marian (BR)
Cribb – Ninetree
David Alvarado – Klugh ( Luca Bacchetti Remix)
Halo – Primitive
Stripped(Original Stripped Mix)- M-High
Can’t Truss – Leon & Shaf House
Pancratio – Are You Listening?
Mouvement Perpetuel – No Sound Effect
Tropic Of Capricorn- Alex Neri
Bubblicious – Easttown
Nabile DJ Project, Lucio Baradel – Moonlight (Gamma Mix)
Rhythms Of Prescott – So What Mojo
Laser Beam (Alex Neri Remix) – Francesco Farfa
Hot Life – Retromigration 
Midland – And You Are?
Guchon – Snake Head
Guacamole – Luke Alessi 
Can I see? – Alex Neri 
Fundido feat. Emma Dufaux – Get A Grip (Asa Tate Remix)
Basement Jaxx – Fly Life