‘Word of Mouth’ is the October released debut album from the tireless Leftroom Records boss and 
producer/DJ, Matt Tolfrey.

Featuring a rich selection of talent, from the relatively new such as James Teej, Jem Cooke and 
Kevin Knapp, to legends like Marshall Jefferson and Ya Kid K, ‘Word Of Mouth’ is a return to the feel 
of classic house albums of old where collaborations with vocalists, engineers and mix engineers 
were worn as a badge of honour.

Matt Tolfrey is a fixture of modern house music that can feel a definite sense of pride over his 
achievements. Once a young upstart who was championed by DJs as diverse as Craig Richards 
and Pete Tong, he’s now a mentor to many via his various Leftroom imprints while still retaining the 
obsessive and energetic enthusiasm for music and it’s machinations.

A recording artist who has released on Cocoon, Rekids, Crosstown Rebels, Saved, Culprit and 
more, Tolfrey’s touch in the studio is undoubted but with ‘Word of Mouth’ we’re treated to a unique 
insight into his influences, working methods and what makes him tick. 
'I cannot play the piano and I am not professionally trained in any way musically, but through years 
of DJing I know exactly what I like, and I have great tracks in my head that need to get out. While 
searching the Internet for alternate ideas of making music, I came across some amazing software 
that enables you to simply sing or hum into a mic, which then translates into midi notes, which you 
then use as the basis of your tracks. In essence, it means that while I am walking the streets, or 
away travelling, and I come up with an idea for a bassline, or a melody, I can simply record it into my 
phone, return home, and sing it into the computer. In other words, ‘in theory’ the album is mainly 
going to be written with my mouth, not my fingers, and then fully realised with the help of engineers 
and guest vocalists - hence the name ‘Word Of Mouth’. 
(Matt Tolfrey, June 2012)

From opening cut ‘Encarta’, it’s obvious that ‘Word of Mouth’ is Tolfrey wearing his influences 
proudly. Any fans of 1990s deep house can feel the soul of classic British deep house imprints like 
Paper and DIY Discs (the latter notable as a heavy presence in Tolfrey’s beloved Nottingham during 
his University years), albeit with subtle and respectful modern twists.

Dubbed in places (‘The Truth’ with Marshall Jefferson), electronic in some (‘Never Assume’ with 
James Teej) and direct in others (‘The Spooks’ with Kevin Knapp packs a real, penultimate-trackpunch), 
‘Word Of Mouth’s continuing theme is elegantly employed melodies regardless of tone. A 
listen that drags you through from opener to the sublime, broken closer (‘Not So Little’ feat Kevin 
Knapp), ‘Word of Mouth’ is a mature, masterful debut from a cherished UK talent.

Matt Tolfrey’s ‘Word of Mouth’ is released October 1st, 2012 on Leftroom Records.

Matt Tolfrey - Downtown (feat Kevin Knapp)

www.werd.info for full calendar of events.
WERD. Underground preservation collective.

WERD. Residents:

Zoz - San Francisco
https://soundcloud.com/dj-zoz

Eichef - San Francisco
https://soundcloud.com/eichef

Jimmy B - San Francisco
https://soundcloud.com/jimmybnice

**WERD Alumn**

Woo - San Francisco
https://soundcloud.com/yo_woo

Nick Williams (cofounder) - Berlin
http://soundcloud.com/nick-williams-werd

Kimmy Le Funk - San Francisco
https://soundcloud.com/kimmy-le-funk

Brandon Wade (cofounder) - Seattle
http://soundcloud.com/brandon-wade-1

Kevin Knapp - Berlin
http://soundcloud.com/kevin-knapp

Sepehr - San Francisco
http://soundcloud.com/sepehr-a

JTL - Berlin
https://soundcloud.com/the-night-manager

Anestie Gomez - Athens
http://soundcloud.com/gomez

Maxwell Dub - San Francisco
http://soundcloud.com/maxwelldub

Andrei Faji - Austin
https://soundcloud.com/andreifaji

Rachel Torro - San Francisco
@racheltorro

Labels: Hot Creations, Crosstown Rebels, Dirtybird, Sola
NORTH and SOUTH AMERICA BOOKING: jon@liaisonartists.com
Management: matt@slntmachine.com


There are few DJs who have as much passion and dedication to this industry as Kevin Knapp. He’s a constant pioneer of the sounds crowds yearn for through his own individual production style and his proclivity for vocal contributions. His stand out vocals turned our heads back in 2012 proclaiming “My Beat Will Control You" with Audiojack and his first Hot Creations cut ”The Drums” alongside A&R head Richy Ahmed in 2013 is still owning dance floors to this day. As of recent, his track “Drug Birds” out of Sola was heavily supported by UK mainstays Hannah Wants and Huxley. 2018 was a big year as Kevin’s collab “Your Mind” with Shiba San was released with Repopulate Mars and swept across dancefloors. Kevin has taken every opportunity to continue his craft leading him from San Francisco to the capital of Techno: Berlin. 

This is not seen as a day job to Kevin, but rather, it’s a way of life. It’s an attempt to communicate with audiences worldwide through his sounds and passion for human connection and it’s working. Whether that be as small as a vocal loop, or as substantial as a full fledged EP on some of the biggest house music labels in world, Knapp will turn his hand to anything in order to continue this journey he’s living day in day out, going BIG in more ways than one. 

As a world touring DJ, Kevin has preformed at many seminary festivals and stages including Dirtybird Campout, Lucidity Festival, Paradise, Get Lost, Cityfox, Sonar, Fabric, Kater Blau, Elrow, and Sankeys, making it clear that Kevin’s sound is an infectious front runner in the house music industry. Just ask his frequent supporters Jamie Jones, Pete Tong, Seth Troxler, The Martinez Brothers, Claude Vonstroke, Patrick Topping, and Hannah Wants about Kevin’s seat at the house music table. Whether it’s a niche underground 200 capacity club, or a stage in Miami in front of several thousand, Knapp pushes to break the boundaries between DJ and spectator. 

With releases on Hot Creations, Crosstown Rebels, Hottrax, Sola, Dirtybird, Truesoul and more, Knapp continues to delve beyond the music and he is positioned to have 2019 be his most poignant year to date.