TuneLab
MATTHEW DEKAY in The Lab NYC
Matthew Dekay in The Lab NYC is for those moments when we want our house music deep, dubby, and capable of inducing a state of gentle trance, preferably with a sophisticated crowd that nods appreciatively. The atmosphere is intimate and focused, a bubble of low-end frequencies and subtle lighting where every hi-hat feels intentional. This is deep house and progressive house at its most immersive, holding at 125 BPM and dominantly in the 12A Camelot key for a seamless, hypnotic flow.
Dekay builds energy through textural layers and delayed melodies, creating a soundscape where the low-end is warm and propulsive, the mid-range is rich with emotion, and the highs are used sparingly for accent. His mixing is patient and linear, allowing tracks to unfold and merge, crafting a journey that feels less like a series of drops and more like a continuous, evolving wave. The selections are pristine: Subb-an's 'Self Control' opens with a deep, vocal-led groove, while CamelPhat & Elderbrook's 'Cola' appears as a familiar yet perfectly placed anthem.
Davide Mazzilli's 'Disco' injects a touch of classic, filtered flair, and the curveball of Akon's 'Smack That' recontextualized is the kind of clever, fun dig that defines a great set. It begins with the smoky allure of 'Self Control', builds to a peak with the driving remix of Carl Cox's 'I Want You', and closes again on the hypnotic loop of 'Different Circles', a satisfying, circular narrative.