DJ Matt White (Catch a groove)

DJ Host Matt White

Born in South London and raised in North London, Matt White has spent more than three decades at the centre of UK Black music and culture — not as a passenger, but as one of its chief architects.

The son of West Indian, English and Irish parents, Matt’s musical education began at home, steeped in soul, reggae, jazz, funk and calypso. By the age of 10 he was collecting records. By his teens, he was teaching himself to DJ, drawing inspiration from pioneers like Grandmaster Flash and Paul “Trouble” Anderson. What started as obsession quickly became a calling.
His early career placed him at the heart of London’s legendary sound system scene before a pivotal chapter with Soul II Soul, working alongside Jazzie B and Aitch B on remix production. A stint at the iconic Catch A Groove Bassment record store followed, where he became one of London’s most trusted tastemakers — the man the capital’s biggest DJs came to for what was next.
At 23, Matt joined Kiss FM. His shows Smooth Grooves and Ghetto Style On Ya Dial ran for a decade, helping bring R&B and rap into mainstream UK radio at a time when few broadcasters were willing to. Simultaneously, he built a reputation as one of London’s leading club DJs, holding residencies at Ministry of Sound and Bar Rumba while performing across Dubai, Hong Kong, Barbados, Croatia and beyond. He has DJ’d for Boyz II Men, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Destiny’s Child, Ashanti and Eminem — earning multiple MOBO Award nominations and a Silver Award at the New York Festivals Radio Awards.
His influence was never confined to the booth. Rising through Polydor Records to Head of Urban Music, Matt played a central role in the UK success of some of the biggest artists in the world — Eminem, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, The Black Eyed Peas, 2Pac, Timbaland, Robin Thicke and many more. In 2000, he launched his own consultancy, working with Universal Music, Sony Music, Beats by Dre and ITV across artist development, A&R, marketing, production and live events. He has also managed international touring and production for Dr. Dre outside the United States.
Today, Matt remains as active and relevant as ever. He is a shareholder and presenter at Mi-Soul Radio, the creative force behind the thriving Catch A Groove events brand,  programming and hosting landmark events  including the Camden Windrush Homecoming Festival and the Inverness Street Block Party. He also runs a successful property business.
Few people in UK music can claim Matt White’s breadth of experience — from the record shop floor to the radio studio, the club booth to the boardroom. If you’re looking for someone who doesn’t just understand the culture but has helped build it, the conversation starts here.

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