Setting sail on a mammoth musical journey in 1995, soon followed by the release of his first recorded material in early 1996. Martin Iveson aka Atjazz has become known worldwide for his creativity and constant delivery of finely crafted music. Showing no signs of slowing, he continues to evolve sonically, stamping his unmistakable trademark wherever the journey takes him.
From a misspent youth skateboarding the small towns of North-eastern England to running successful independent record labels, producing and remixing for artists across the globe, Atjazz has become synonymous with style, innovation and musical integrity within the independent dance-music world.
After relocating to the Midlands in the early 1990s, Martin cut his teeth creating music and sound design for the then fledgling computer game developer Core Design Ltd., contributing to numerous titles including the globally iconic Tomb Raider series. Alongside this work, any spare moment was devoted to developing his own deep, soulful and forward-thinking musical sound.
Following 13 years at Core, Martin took the leap to focus fully on his artistic vision, founding Mantis Recordings as a platform for collaboration and experimentation. Early Atjazz releases such as Story, That Something and the seminal Labfunk established him as a deeply emotive and original force within the underground scene, steadily growing a loyal international following.
As his reputation spread, Atjazz became a global presence behind the decks, leaving his mark at clubs and festivals worldwide. In recent years he has been embraced as family within the South African house-music community, earning the Best International Producer award at the Dance Music Awards South Africa. South Africa has since become his second home, where fans affectionately refer to him as “Themba” — meaning Hope in isiZulu.
In 2009, following industry changes, Martin closed the chapter on Mantis Recordings and launched Atjazz Record Company (ARCo), a diverse imprint focused on his productions and collaborations. This period marked renewed creative growth, further expanded in 2015 with the introduction of Less Than Ten, allowing him to experiment freely with new sounds and structures. Alongside his own labels, Martin continues close working relationships with Yoruba Records, R2 Records, Lazy Days, Foliage, and Reel People, while maintaining an extensive remix catalogue for artists including Nitin Sawhney, Bob Sinclar, Henri Mancini, Gilles Peterson’s ‘Havana Cultura’, Jazzanova, The RAH Band, Osunlade, Kerri Chandler, Omar and St Germain, among many others.
A passionate collaborator and natural mentor, Atjazz has always loved working closely with other artists and helping new talent grow. This is perhaps best seen through his long-standing creative partnership with Jullian Gomes, with whom he released the much-loved albums The Gift The Curse and Big Bad Crazy. These projects capture a joyful meeting of generations and played a meaningful role in shaping the modern deep-house sound. Alongside this, Atjazz continues to support and mentor artists such as Si Tew, Sarai Jazz, South Beach Recycling and many others across his labels, always giving back to the community that has inspired him throughout his journey.
Fans recognise that the Atjazz sound is deeply personal, with Martin pouring himself into every production. In recent years he has also released music under his given name, exploring a more introspective and unbounded creative space while retaining his signature warmth, groove and musical depth.
In 2016, Martin celebrated 20 Years of Atjazz with a 3xCD retrospective compilation, including a re-release of his 1998 debut album That Something. Alongside his prolific studio output, Atjazz remains a world-class DJ, touring relentlessly and connecting with audiences across the globe.
Now, the journey reaches a new milestone.
Starbase 17 is out now — a vast and ambitious new album that stands as a celebration of Atjazz’s enduring creative spirit. Featuring 27 tracks, the project brings together an extraordinary collection of incredibly talented artists from across the global music spectrum, each contributing their own voice while seamlessly blending into Atjazz’s unmistakable sonic universe. Starbase 17 is both a reflection on decades of musical exploration and a bold statement of intent for the future — expansive, collaborative and forward-facing, reaffirming Atjazz’s position as one of electronic music’s most respected and visionary producers.