Belgian Magazine Article Featuring Mario Mathy

This one is in via Jos who had the following to say followed by an English translation of the article.

"Years ago, I sent you information about Mario Mathy (I think 2019). You published it on your blog. [you can find it in previous posts featuring Mario Mathy here] Afterward, Mario Mathy's 'Jumping Dance' went viral and achieved cult status.

Since your blog has become the most comprehensive and important documented synthesizer resource online, the attached article should also be saved for future history. It would be cool if you could share it with the rest of the synthesizer community. I translated it from Dutch to English using Google Translate.

Notice in the picture below the article that the photo was taken during the period when Mario endorsed Korg.

All I can see in the picture is Korg equipment. The song 'Love Dreams' is from his first album.

I expect most of the songs from his first album ‘Hello This is Mario Mathy’ were created using Korg synthesizers (in contrary to what you would expect from the album cover showing only casio).

After his first album, the single 'Jumping Dance' was released in Belgium. 'Jumping Dance' was from his second album, 'Music-Land'.

On his second album, you can hear a noticeable difference in his sound.

This likely resulted from switching from Korg to Casio synthesizers.

Mario was my piano teacher when I was about 15 years old."

You can check out Mario Mathy's releases on Discogs here.

The following is the tranlation of the article pictured in this post.




Date article : 1986

Source : Local Belgian magazine, unknown

Mario Mathy was in the Belgian Flemish "BRT Top 30" for 6 weeks

“And yet Belgium is too small for me...”

His name is Mario Mathy Vanhove, lives in Houthalen in Limburg and was in the BRT Top 30 for weeks with “Love Dreams”. “But I still want more”, says the ambitious musician…

“Indeed, this is a million-Belgian-francs business,” says Mario Mathy (20) as he shows us his own lead-insulated workroom.

"I am an only child and I dare to admit that my parents spoil me. They have always supported my music and they have spared no expense or effort to help me. When they decided to build a new house a year ago, they had this space extra insulated so that I can work here undisturbed. And so that I do not keep the neighbors awake day and night. In addition, they have provided a separate small apartment for me, should I unexpectedly come home with wedding plans..." Mario laughs, but immediately adds seriously that he doesn't have a steady girlfriend.

I HAD MY OWN ORCHESTRA

"No time," he says. "I work at least eight hours a day, here in this little room. I don't go out much, I have to rehearse. Write music, stay busy. Everything changes so quickly in the world of synthesizers and rhythm computers. Some instruments are completely outdated in two months. Try to keep up with that!"

Yet Mario Mathy turns out to be a sharp cookie: he not only quickly made a name for himself in the musical world, he also has big plans.

"On September 20, I'm following in Jean-Michel Jarre's footsteps," he says. "What he did in Houston, I'll do in Hasselt. Fireworks, light show and I'll play on the water... The advantage of instrumental work is that you can see everything on a grand scale. With this kind of music, you're never bound to language, and that's why I think Belgium is getting too small for me. I see it bigger!

In Belgium there is no training that deals with my discipline, you have to learn everything by yourself, searching, testing, always trying. For me that is very normal, I have been busy with music day and night since I was very little. First as a drummer, but that became too monotonous, too lonely. With the synthesizers I had my own orchestra, I could do what I wanted and didn't have to argue with anyone. Mom and dad were very enthusiastic, and I thought it was fantastic music. Now I just want to continue, Vangelis is my great example. But he hardly sells here, and the few Belgians who have tried it in that style have gone down ingloriously. Really, one day Belgium will be too small for me!"

You can find additional posts featuring Mario Mathy, including video, here.