40 Questions: Space 92

French DJ & producer Mathieu Mourareau seemed to come out of nowhere with his Space 92 moniker in late 2019, equipped with an arsenal of cosmic synth melodies and driving techno drums, he almost instantly shot to the top of his genre.

Becoming the top selling artist on Beatport, not just in techno, but across the entire dance music spectrum, in 2020, made him an artist in demand for some of club music’s biggest labels, and he has since released tracks on labels like 1605, FORM, and Filth On Acid.

The pandemic came just when Mathieu was beginning to find real success, and now that things are starting to return to something which somewhat resembles normal life, we’re excited to see what he can really do in a completely unrestricted environment.

He joins us this month to take on our 40 Questions, where we find him talk about everything from Jake Gyllenhaal and cigarettes in high school, to Eric Prydz and eggs floating in Korean soup. Get the full 40 Questions with Space 92, below.

1. Where are you right now and what are you doing?

I’m at home, trying to fight off some sort of nasty flu I caught. Lovely!

2. What year were you born?

Clue: it’s in my DJ name, Space 92.

3. Do you have a nickname?

My friends call me Matt.

4. What’s the coolest thing in your house?

My turntables, quite predictably.

5. How would you describe yourself?

Down to earth, hard working, I smile a lot.

6. Worst experience as a DJ?

A power outage in the middle of my set when I was playing. Some idiot spilt alcohol on a plug and the whole party just stopped for a while. It was horrible.

7. Best experience as a DJ?

There are so many of them it would be dishonest to mention just one, really. The first time I played in front of a crowd, the first time I performed on a livestream (in a frickin’ medieval fortress!), the first time I played in a club after months of Covid lockdown.

8. Favourite record label?

Filth on Acid, Form Music, and Umek’s 1605 imprint.

9. What’s your biggest weakness?

I stress out a lot. I’m quite an anxious person but it’s improved with time.

10. First record you ever paid for?

At 14 I became the proud owner of one Magda and one Bloody Mary vinyl. Technically, I didn’t paid for them because my best friend and neighbour at the time bought them both for me!

11. What’s your morning routine?

I have a cup of tea then I go for a run if I feel in shape. Afterwards, I listen to what I have worked on the night before. A clear head provides a better perspective.

12. Your dream collaboration?

 Cirez D / Eric Prydz.

13. Tell us something we shouldn’t know about you?

My middle name is Antoine.

14. Who’s your biggest inspiration outside of music?

I’m a huge movie lover, so movies are definitely my biggest inspiration.

15. And in the industry?

Stephan Bodzin.

16. Ever smoked?

Cigarettes in high school when I was 16.

17. Ever done drugs?

I’m more into running and hiking personally; I’m quite conscious about my health.

18. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?

My partner had a gorgeous Space 92 cake made by a professional baker last year for my birthday. It was so thoughtful and nice of her, I was all teary-eyed.

19. And the best gift you’ve ever given?

I paid for someone’s road trip to Asia.

20. What’s the coolest place you’ve ever been to?

So far, I’ve found Mauritius to be really beautiful, but I can’t wait to travel some more!

21. And one place you want to visit?

My dream journey would be to go on a road trip through Chile and Argentina. I would love to discover Patagonia’s splendid wilderness.

22. If you weren’t in the music industry, what would you be doing?

I’d probably be doing some coding; I’m a professionally trained computer scientist.

23. Worst job you’ve ever had?

Back when I was much younger, I worked for a bit as a stage technician for a festival in Carcassonne (South of France). I was part of the crew in charge of assembling and dismantling the big stages. It was by far the worst job I’ve ever had; my back was destroyed.

24. Favourite record right now?

The War On Drugs – ‘I Don’t Live Here Anymore’.

25. And the best record ever made?

Stephan Bodzin – Liebe Ist.

26. One thing you couldn’t live without?

My laptop, because my entire life is on it: my music, my movies, it follows me everywhere I go.

27. Your favourite food?

I really love Asian food, especially Japanese and Korean cuisine. I absolutely love Korean barbecues, they’re amazingly good.

28. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?

One time in Seoul I got served some soup in which were floating a bunch of hard-boiled eggs. I mean, I wasn’t used to such a sight and it kind of freaked me out.

29. Who would you want to play you in a movie?

Jake Gyllenhaal.

30. What’s something you’re passionate about besides music?

I love learning about planets; I’m also passionate about science-fiction, movies, sports.

31. Favourite club you’ve played?

The very first venue I performed at after months and months of lockdown was Complex Maastricht (Netherlands) with the Filth on Acid crew. This event had a deep emotional impact on me because I felt so liberated.

32. Favourite festival you’ve played?

This was wayyy before I took on the Space 92 moniker; I was an 18-year-old kid, performing at ILO Festival in Mexico. I felt so proud playing in front of a big crowd.

33. Craziest story of being on the road?

I had drank way too much one night in Seoul and forgot I was supposed to go to the airport the next day. It was the driver who woke me up, frantically knocking on my hotel room door to tell me we had to leave immediately. I was so hungover I left with the clothes on my back and my passport; I forgot all of my stuff (including my gear) in the room! The Korean staff were impeccable: they sent every item I had left there back to France. I can never thank them, and the driver, enough.

34. Weirdest request as a DJ?

DJs get weird requests all the time, but I haven’t got a particular one in mind. Probably a song that had nothing to do with techno though.

35. If you had one super power what would it be?

I’d love to be able to teleport myself haha. I’d save so much time and energy!

36. Late sleeper or early riser?

Both! I sleep late and wake up early. I’m not a big sleeper; I’d say 6 hours tops.

37. Strangest video you’ve watched on YouTube?

Not sure, to be honest. I mainly watch music stuff on YouTube.

38. The top thing on your bucket list?

To grab a backpack and go on a road trip for a few weeks somewhere with my friends. Just chilling, laughing, having a good time.

39. Most memorable moment of your life so far?

When I was much younger, I found myself performing at my hometown’s ‘Fête de la Musique’ main stage. In France, June 21st is Music Day, bands and musicians perform everywhere in the country for free all day and night. You literally get to play in the street, in a park, on a stage. And so I performed in front of a 9000-strong crowd in front of my entire family. I was the proudest kid in the world.

40. Will you ever be done with music?

As long as my ears work I will not! Music is a part of me.

Find more 40 Questions HERE.