Rodriguez Jr.

Some follow trends, others set them.

Rodriguez Jr., the alias of French electronic music artist Olivier Mateu, is a creative force who has redefined the sonic possibilities of melodic house and techno. With over two decades of innovation from his roots in the underground to global acclaim, Mateu stands as a pioneer, blending emotion and technology into a seamless narrative of sound.

Initially, Mateu made his name under the mentorship of the legendary Laurent Garnier, releasing music on the revered F-Communications label as one half of French electro act The Youngsters. The mentorship of Garnier not only sharpened Mateu’s technical skills but also instilled in him a philosophy of artistic exploration.

Following this, he has gradually honed his style into a masterful interplay of analog warmth, emotive melodies, and hypnotic rhythms that can now be regularly found on Anjunadeep, Armada, Mobilee, or his own imprint Feathers & Bones and demanded on remixes of Stephan Bodzin, Monolink, Jan Blomqvist, Booka Shade, Eli & Fur, Röyksopp, NTO, Tricky, Timo Maas and more.

Drawing inspiration for his live performances from the vintage synths in his Miami studio, Rodriguez Jr. relishes the opportunity to travel the globe and realize his project on stage and has amassed a devoted loyal fan base through the creation of his unique movement where the visceral emotional connection between Mateu and the crowd is becoming trademark. Continuing to blur the boundaries between electronic and organic like few others can, his extensive touring schedule sees Mateu at world-renowned clubs and festivals every week, taking him to the likes of Cercle Festival, Fabric London, Space Miami, Mirage New York, Zamna Tulum, Lightning In A Bottle, Movement Detroit or CRSSD California, and of course Burning Man.

Not stopping there, Rodriguez Jr. has formed a special musical partnership with Nouvelle Vague vocalist Liset Alea. The pair met 20 years ago creating music for Laurent Garnier ́s label, and through their ongoing live RJLA project and special collaborations on Rodriguez Jr.’s recent albums, they tell sonic stories, fusing organic charms of live vocals with cutting-edge music for the dance floor. Their performances, whether in the studio or on stage, are characterized by their ability to weave narratives that are both intimate and cinematic. The Cercle performance at the Falaises d’Étretat, featuring Alea’s haunting vocals paired with Mateu’s emotive instrumentation, remains a standout moment in their collaborative journey.

On the production front, Mateu has continued to have an exceptional output, with “Destination Lost”, his collaboration with Jan Blomqvist hitting a million streams on Spotify within a few weeks. Another highlight was his acclaimed full length album “Feathers & Bones” released in 2023 on his own label, and the soundtrack for the exceptional Mercedes Maybach Dolby Atmos sound system promotion campaign. On Spotify, his music reaches an audience of 650,000 listeners each month and continues to grow every week.

At the core of Rodriguez Jr.’s music is a desire to connect. Whether through a track, a performance, or a collaboration, Mateu’s goal is to create moments of shared experience. His work continues to inspire, bridging the gap between the personal and the universal, the analog and the digital, the past and the future.

Looking ahead, Rodriguez Jr. shows no signs of slowing down. With an ever-expanding global audience, ongoing collaborations with luxury brands, and a relentless pursuit of innovation, Mateu remains a driving force in electronic music. For him, music is not just something we hear—it is something we feel, something we live.

In his own words: “I don’t chase perfection—I chase the journey.” This philosophy encapsulates a career that has been as much about exploration as it has been about creation. For Rodriguez Jr., the journey continues, and the best is yet to come.