We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with US based dancer/choreographer/DJ/producer Matt Steffanina in the wake of his release ‘Love (Where We Are)’ with Brandon Beal on Night Drive – the brand new label from the minds at OneHundred/Spinnin’ Records. Providing insight in to his journey through s0und, via dance and movement, as well as DJ’ing and producing at a high level. The American creative has many strings to his bow, below he explains how!
Let’s start with your new track Love Where We Are with Brandon Beal. What was the spark behind that collaboration? How did it come together creatively?
Brandon is incredibly talented and we both had been wanting to create something together. His tone and vibe was the perfect match for the track and I immediately heard the potential with it. We built the track remotely at first, layering chords and percussion, then when he finished the vocal it came together so beautifully.
You’ve worn a lot of hats. Dancer, choreographer, producer, DJ. Which role drove the direction of this release the most?
Honestly, it was the dancer in me. I kept asking myself, Would I dance to this? Would this move a crowd? That mindset drove the rhythm, the tempo, and the overall bounce of the track.
There’s a strong rhythmic pulse in the track that feels tailor made for choreography. Were you already envisioning movement while producing it?
100 percent. I choreograph in my head while I produce. It’s just how I’m wired. I’m thinking about textures, transitions, even specific grooves or footwork that could hit with certain sounds. The rhythm had to feel alive and danceable, not just sonically but physically.
Brandon Beal brings a smooth, R&B influenced vocal style. How did his energy shape the track in the studio?
Brandon has this effortless cool in his voice. He brought a level of smoothness that really balanced the bounce of the instrumental. He’s also super collaborative. Open to experimenting with phrasing and melodies, which gave the track that easy, summery feel we were aiming for.
Your career’s grown at the intersection of digital content and music. How has being rooted in YouTube and social platforms influenced how you approach releasing tracks today?
It’s made me hyper aware of how people consume music visually. I’m always thinking about how a song plays on TikTok, how it looks in a Reel, or how dancers might use it for content. Every release comes with a rollout plan that merges sound with movement. It’s not just about the track, it’s about the full experience.
You’ve danced to hundreds of tracks from all genres. What makes a song choreography worthy in your eyes?
It needs layers. A good dance track gives you levels to play with. Not just a hook, but textures, pauses, switch ups, and emotion. The best songs challenge dancers and give them freedom to interpret the music in their own way.
From LA to global stages, how have international dance cultures impacted your sound as a producer and DJ?
Traveling opened my ears. Seeing how people move in Paris, Seoul, or São Paulo completely shifted my understanding of rhythm. I started blending global percussion styles into my tracks and became more intentional about creating music that connects across cultures. It’s no longer just about what hits in LA. It’s about what feels good anywhere.
Are you approaching your DJ sets differently now that you’re producing more original material? What’s changed in your live sets?
Absolutely. When you’re spinning your own tracks, there’s a different level of connection. It’s more personal. My sets now include a lot more live edits, mashups, and unreleased music. I also build the energy with the dance community in mind. I want my shows to feel like part rave, part choreography class, part movie scene.
You’ve built a massive dance community online. How are you bridging that community into your music world. Are we going to see Steffanina led remixes, dance challenges, or remix contests soon?
Yes, 100 percent. We’ve already started incorporating dance challenges into music drops. The goal is to blur the line between fan and collaborator. I want my dance community to be part of this journey from the ground up.
If you could score or soundtrack a full dance film or live stage show with your own music, what vibe would you go for? More cinematic, club driven, or something totally unexpected?
It’d be a fusion. I’d love to create a cinematic stage show with the intensity of a club set. Big emotions, gritty beats, raw movement, and moments of stillness. Something that hits your soul and your body at the same time.
What’s next. More collabs, a full EP, maybe a dance and DJ tour? Give us the exclusive.
There are a few big collabs in the pipeline, and yes. We’re planning a dance DJ hybrid tour where every city will feature a pop up dance class and a live set that includes dancers, visuals along with great music.
