Mati Ital-Youth is one of those personalities who weave technology, music, spirituality, and sound-system culture into a harmonious whole. As a long-time part of the King Shiloh Sound System — a tinkerer, engineer, dub creator, and “Ital Youth” at heart — he has shaped countless sessions, from European festivals to Ethiopia.
About 15 years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting him at a Festival near the Polish border. After spending a relaxed day together in Amsterdam two years ago, here are ten questions that will hopefully appeal to both the technically inclined and the musical and cultural fans.
Let’s dub it up! Greetings Mati!
You are an engineer, sound-system technician, and producer. Which of these roles feels most like your true “home”, and why?
Greetings, nice talking to you again! All these roles require problem solving skills so being a technician is my base and everything else developed from there…
Many people know your hand-built dub effects. Could you tell us a bit about your creative process? How does a new device begin — with a sonic vision, a technical idea, or a need you have felt during live sessions?
As I said, the idea is to fill the gaps where needed. Each new device is solving a certain problem. For example the “dub siren” is normally a very simple MONO circuit but since KS Sound System pioneered stereo DUB systems – I decided to develop a siren with a stereo PING-PONG effect.
Another recent project combines 3 devices in one box (siren + echo + lightbox). I have never seen anyone making such combination. But since we often travel without the whole system I found it essential to try bring the “sound system vibe and aesthetics” even to the simple DJ setups and radio stations.
How has your work with King Shiloh shaped your approach to sound, technology, and spirituality? Were there moments when you thought: “This is the real reason sound systems exist”?
Working with King Shiloh gave me the confidence that regardless to the circumstances we can always set up a nice “party” or session as long as we just keep doing what we’re always doing.
Great example was a session in Shashamane (ET), where with very limited equipment we managed to put it all together and host a vibrant session where it was pure smiles and energy from the local community!
You travelled to Ethiopia with the team — a dream for many roots heads. What impressions or encounters there touched you the deepest?
Ethiopia is developing quickly! But seems to be forgotten by many… Apart from a few pioneers and settlers who stayed in Shashamane, Arba Minch or Addis Ababa there’s not enough roots heads travelling and supporting the local reggae scene. Nevertheless Addis Dub Club is growing and it has become a “must see” on every roots heads bucket list.
Recently I had a great opportunity to do “Introduction to electronics and Audio system” workshop with a group of students from Ethiopia. Sharing the passion for audio is certainly a fun and important part of our travels. Look how many sound systems in Europe was inspired by King Shiloh! We’re hoping to plant this dub – seed in Addis Ababa too!
What happened to the legendary “Healing of The Nations” livestreams. Weekly sessions entertained many people worldwide for more than 2 years! Will it come back?
Many people asked this question. Healing sessions was a spontaneous act in the period when the world events stopped and we could’t host normal sessions. Now even if everything is back to normal, we really appreciate all listeners missing this show. I think I can persuade Bredda Neil to doing it again, but this time it will be once a month event because weekly sessions really took a toll on us!
Many remember legendary sessions — Melkweg nights, festival marathons, long steppers dances. Is there one session where everything felt “perfect” to you, or one you particularly love to look back on?
There was only a few events where we set up a full circle of sound system, but when we did it on top of the hill at DUB CAMP (FR), the vibe was electric! Thousands of people joined in ecstasy for such big festival opening! MC Murray Man was on the microphone, Bredda Neil playing dubplates, myself as an operator driving 16 subs… yeah… unforgettable session!
Finally: when you think about the next few years, what are your personal visions? New productions, your own line of effects, more tours… or something else we can’t yet imagine?
Next years you can expect to see the next generation of King Shiloh – our youth project Lidj Shiloh performing more often. Also I will be sharing more exciting projects from the studio. Including some previously unreleased dubplates – custom made at IY LAB which you should all visit online.
Find out more via https://linktr.ee/italyouth
Thank you Mati for the Interview!
Interview: Christian Boeke (12/2025)
