In this thoughtful episode of The Weekly Beat, Matoma sits down with UK singer-songwriter Rufus, a 24-year-old rising talent navigating the transition from construction worker to full-time independent artist. The two reflect on their creative chemistry—sparked by a heartfelt demo Rufus sent to Matoma that eventually became their emotional drum and bass track, “I Love You, Bye”. Their friendship has deepened since their first collaboration, leading to shared shows in Norway and studio time in Oslo, culminating in Rufus performing in front of over 20,000 people—his biggest crowd yet.
The conversation unpacks the journey of trusting the process, leaning into vulnerability, and overcoming self-doubt. Rufus shares how a youth center encounter with his now-manager led to sessions with songwriter Gary Go, which helped shape his artistic voice. Matoma opens up about his own early struggles with self-expression and the toll the industry can take without the right mindset or support. Together, they explore the challenges of social media, the realities of independence, and the magic of moments when music seems to fall from the sky. Their bond, both personal and professional, is a testament to believing in raw talent and creating space for it to flourish.
The song we made "One" comes out Friday August 15th, listen here.
We're releasing a new episode and song EVERY SINGLE WEEK so be sure to subscribe and join this ambitious journey of music-making and storytelling!
Get ad-free episodes, production tutorials and exclusive stem packs by joining me on Patreon.
------------------------------------------------------------
Co-created by Matoma and Andrew Jackson.
Executive Producer Andrew Jackson.
Produced by Sara Laarej Berg and Maren Gjertsen.
Follow Rufus:
Follow Matoma:
------------------------------------------------------------
