Matoma

Matoma, born Tom Stræte Lagergren, is a Norwegian DJ, producer, and songwriter who helped popularize the tropical house movement during the mid-2010s. Matoma began studying classical piano as a child and quickly displayed exceptional musical talent, even performing alongside renowned Norwegian pianists at a young age. Eventually drawn toward electronic production, he shifted from classical music to experimenting with digital production and remixing on his computer. He later earned a degree in music technology from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, blending formal musical training with a growing passion for electronic dance music.

Matoma first gained international attention in 2014 through a series of melodic tropical house remixes that transformed well-known pop and hip-hop songs into sun-soaked dance tracks. His breakthrough came with “Old Thing Back,” a remix built around vocals from The Notorious B.I.G., Ja Rule, and Ralph Tresvant. The track became a viral success, charting internationally and establishing Matoma as one of the leading figures in the emerging tropical house genre alongside artists like Kygo. The remix’s success led to official collaborations and remix requests from major artists including Enrique Iglesias, Eminem, and Jason Derulo.

As his profile grew, Matoma evolved from remix artist to global touring act and hitmaker. His debut album, Hakuna Matoma, reflected his upbeat, feel-good approach to dance music and featured collaborations with artists across pop, EDM, and hip-hop. He later released One in a Million and scored major streaming successes with songs such as “All Night” alongside The Vamps, which amassed hundreds of millions of streams worldwide. His productions are known for combining warm piano melodies, acoustic instrumentation, tropical percussion, and accessible pop songwriting into an energetic yet emotionally uplifting sound.

Beyond music production, Matoma has expanded into television and technology ventures. From 2021 to 2022, he served as a coach on the Norwegian edition of "The Voice," mentoring contestants and helping guide singer Erlend Gunstveit to victory. He has also embraced entrepreneurship through the AI-powered music technology company Masterchannel, which focuses on automated music mastering tools for artists and producers.