Tributes have been pouring in for a former Bahrain student who went on to find fame and fortune in the music industry and has tragically died at the age of 44.
Acclaimed DJ, producer and record label founder Matt Tolfrey attended St Christopher’s School and his passing was announced on Monday by close friend and fellow musician Damian Lazarus.
The cause of his death has not been disclosed. “Matt Tolfrey played a major role in our music scene and will be very sorely missed,” Mr Lazarus said in a social media post. “Matt believed in community and bringing people together on and off the dance floor, and his record label Leftroom Records has played an important role in bringing like-minded music makers together.”
Mr Tolfrey was born in England and raised in Bahrain before returning to the UK at the age of 16 to live in the Midlands. “I remember Matthew very well,” St Christopher’s former teacher and alumni co-ordinator Barry Hobday told the GDN. “He was a great student and this is a very sad moment for all his friends and family.”
His first DJ gig was at a bar in Worcester, before he started studying at Nottingham Trent University.
Mr Tolfrey released his first track on Mr Lazarus’s Crosstown Rebels label before starting his own label. He released his first full-length album, titled ‘Word of Mouth’ on Leftroom Records in 2012.
His second album, ‘All Shapes and Sizes’, was released in 2020.
“Matt was a longtime supporter and fan of all things classic during his residency at The Bomb in Nottingham and, of course, at places like London’s Fabric,” Classic Music Company, which worked with Mr Tolfrey on several songs, said in a statement on social media.
“We have fond memories of the times he played for us and when we all hung out. We are deeply saddened by the news and we send love to all of Matt’s friends and family.”
While in Worcester, Mr Tolfrey immersed himself in the city’s dance music scene, presenting the Junk Funk Show on Nottingham radio station Fly FM, and gaining DJ residencies at two of the city’s finest clubs – The Bomb and Stealth.
Mr Tolfrey at work
Over the years, he worked with the likes of Lee Curtiss, Kate Simko and Geddes, and also performed internationally in a number of top destinations, including Berlin and Ibiza.
“Matt Tolfrey was someone whom I gravitated towards immediately,” fellow DJ Heidi added. “His humour was infectious. He was such a fun person to be around and unbelievably kind.
“We laughed uncontrollably at how ridiculous we both were.
“Matt was also extremely supportive to so many artists over the decades. He never had an ego and I firmly believe that he was in this industry for all the right reasons.
“He made sure women had a seat at the table back when it was 99 per cent dudes. His label Leftroom was a staple in all of our record bags in the early-mid noughties.”
Mr Tolfrey leaves behind his ex-partner Hayley and two daughters, Aria and Beau.
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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