DECO-LUXE links with Kyat Cute on “Mellow”

DECO-LUXE represents the creative reinvention of producer and composer Matt Hancock, born from an unexpected change in direction. The synthwave and synthpop project grew from a musical journey that began with guitar, moved through drums and eventually found a new language in synths, electronic production and sound design. Built around analogue synth textures, driving rhythm and emotionally compelling songwriting, DECO-LUXE has transformed a limitation into the driving force of something entirely new.

Matt began his musical journey playing guitar and performing in bands before switching to drums with rock outfit Gam Gam. A nerve injury eventually left him unable to continue playing guitar, forcing a departure from one musical path while opening the door to another. Synths and electronic production became the tools through which he could continue creating, turning adversity into an opportunity for reinvention.

That idea of transformation sits at the centre of DECO-LUXE and the project’s name takes inspiration from the timeless elegance of the Art Deco design movement, reflecting Matt’s fascination with sleek architecture, vintage aesthetics and bold geometric design. There’s a similar tension in the music; classic sophistication meeting modern innovation, nostalgia meeting cutting edge production. Drawing comparisons to The Midnight, CHVRCHES, Phantogram and M83, DECO-LUXE operates in a space where atmosphere and melody are equally important.

The first showcase of the DECO-LUXE world arrives with “Mellow,” the lead single from his debut record Eventide, which maps out a sonic sphere built around synth textures, nostalgic melodies and modern pop-inspired production. Thematically, the song distils the sensation of looking backwards while still feeling connected to the present, exploring the strange way sound can summon memories and create an almost physical sense of longing.

The track itself began with a simple ambition to make something that immediately felt nostalgic and Matt started by designing an atmospheric texture from heavily distorted samples, using sidechain compression to introduce a subtle pulse. That dveloping sound became the emotional framework of “Mellow” before the driving synth bass was added, providing the momentum around which the rest of the arrangement could develop. Once the instrumental began to take shape, Matt already knew the voice he wanted to hear within it and he reached out to Kyat Cute, a vocalist with whom he’d previously collaborated.

Her performance captured the emotion Matt was searching for so precisely that the collaboration expanded beyond the single, with Kyat agreeing to work across the entire Eventide album. On “Mellow,” the pair serve up an engrossing synth pop jam packed full of pulsing synths, punchy drums and alluring vocals, resulting in a transportive musical moment that’s sure to win over listeners around the world. Presenting the first taste of the DECO-LUXE vision, track feels like an invitation into a wider world where sound is capable of carrying memory, emotion and atmosphere all at once.

Listen to Mellow below

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