Beatmaker Scott Matelic on the evolution of his soulful, psychedelic hip-hop sound

January 07, 2026

Scott Matelic is an Indianapolis-born hip-hop producer and DJ whose sound emerges from the crate-digging traditions of DJ culture, blending sample-based production with soulful textures and psychedelic atmospheres.

He began attracting international attention in the early 2000s, when his beats appeared on releases from Anticon Records, the influential California-based label known for issuing music that pushed hip-hop beyond mainstream conventions. Matelic’s work was featured on prominent Anticon projects by Sole and Sage Francis.

In 2004, Matelic released his debut album, Primitive Pessimist, through the Japanese label Tri Eight. Four years later, his music was issued on a compilation from the revered Japanese producer Nujabes.

While his career has taken him beyond Indianapolis — he is now based in New York — Matelic’s roots in the city remain central to his story. He was raised in a deeply musical household  —  his father, Ron Matelic, is a respected Indianapolis psychedelic rock musician known for his work with bands including Anonymous, J Rider, and Sir Winston and the Commons. That environment helped shape Scott’s early musical sensibility and openness to genre-blurring experimentation.

In recent years, Matelic has continued to build on his legacy through collaborations with Indianapolis artists, including rapper Sirius Blvck. In 2024, the two released the full-length album Daily Rituals of the Wild Heart. Alongside his production work, Matelic has long been respected as a DJ, with performances including a notable 2004 date at the Casbah in Broad Ripple alongside the iconic producer and DJ Diplo.

Matelic recently visited the WFYI studios to discuss his new album Dead Weightt with Cultural Manifesto host Kyle Long.