This week with … WOLO
I just met Matteo Ponzano aka Wolo a couple of weeks ago – online. He sent us a recording of his hit radio show, Music Therapy Worldwide, which I listened to and put on the radio more or less immediately. He has had a lot of experience in radio and indeed, music over many years – and it shows. MTW is indeed an impressive radio show, now sindicated all over the world, featuring music right up my alley; an ambient mix of organic, and as he puts it, healing sounds. As well as being an accomplished musician and music producing DJ, he’s also a great writer and published author. So, I thought it would be nice to have a chat and find out some more about this young man residing in Dubai—apparently moving to Bali soon. Let’s go, read on.
The basics. Where are you from and how old are you?
I’m originally from Italy, currently splitting my life and music between Dubai and Ibiza. I am 43.
How long you been in Bali?
Physically, I haven’t touched down just yet! I am currently based in the Middle East and Europe, but the energy of the island has been calling my name for a long time. I am officially planning to move to Bali next year to bring my entire musical ecosystem there. Consider this the warm-up phase.
We’ll be looking forward to seeing you. How long have you been living in Dubai and how is the life there?
I’ve been living in Dubai for 5 years. I originally came here as the Music Curator Manager for the W Hotels brand by Marriott International. I ended up staying because I found a truly beautiful country, incredibly rich in cultural and musical contaminations, and with a perfect climate for nine months of the year. The life here is dynamic, highly ambitious, and extremely safe. It is wonderfully easy for foreigners to live and operate here; it’s a global intersection built on networking and high-level events. I’ve been heavily involved in curating sunset rituals and building a conscious community concept here called “Desert Dream”. However, while Dubai offers unmatched infrastructure, the core of my Music Therapy project is deeply rooted in organic nature, which is why Bali is calling me for my next chapter.
Single or hooked up?
Single. Fully dedicated to the music, the travels, and building my global project right now.
How did you first get into electronic music? Like, was there a certain moment it all made sense?
As a multi-instrumentalist with over two decades in the music industry, my background is rooted in live playing. I play keyboards, flutes and percussion. The turning point was realizing how electronic frequencies could perfectly merge with organic instruments to create a deeper, almost therapeutic experience. When I discovered the power of “Sound Wellness” and how specific frequencies could shift a crowd’s consciousness—especially during sunset hours—that’s when everything clicked into place and the WOLO project was truly born.
Who is your greatest influence in DJing or electronic music?
I draw a lot of inspiration from artists who treat music as a ritual rather than just entertainment. On a personal and professional level, I consider Luciano my “maestro”—he shared invaluable insights with me that shaped my vision. Musically, I respect anyone pushing the boundaries of organic and deep house while keeping a strictly underground essence.
Tell me more about Luciano and your relationship?
I had the pleasure of crossing paths with Luciano on a couple of key occasions. I interviewed him as a speaker at the IMS (International Music Summit) and we also shared the stage at the Ibiza Global Festival back in 2022 through Ibiza Global Radio. For me, he has always been a massive reference point. He is someone who elevated the art of DJing into a true “sonic journey.” He understands exactly how to transport a crowd into a collective, magical connection without ever needing to rely on famous or commercial tracks. Instead, he builds these long, hypnotic minimal and deep house grooves that touch different sonic worlds—from Afro and South American to Arabic and organic sounds. That philosophy resonates deeply with everything I do as WOLO, taking those multicultural electronic journeys and pushing them even further by playing live organic instruments over the tracks.
What do you think makes electronic music so good?
It’s the ultimate universal language. True underground electronic music bypasses the logical brain and speaks directly to the body and the nervous system. Through my platform, Music Therapy Worldwide, I’ve seen firsthand how the right beats and frequencies (like 432Hz) can heal, elevate, and connect people on a profound level. It is pure, raw energy.
Do you produce music?
Absolutely, production is a core pillar of what I do. I’ve recently released tracks like “Arabian Sunrise” on Café de Anatolia and “Imperfect Hearts” on No Hay Records, alongside work with DeepWit Recordings and Cox Music. My productions blend deep electronic grooves with organic instruments and binaural frequencies.
How long have you been a DJ and how would you describe your music you make or play?
I’ve been in the industry for over 20 years. Under the WOLO alias, my sound is strictly underground: Deep House, Organic House, Minimal, and sometimes Arabic Psytrance. I describe my sets as “Sunset Rituals” or “Sound Wellness” journeys. It’s deep, hypnotic, and heavily connected to nature and the surrounding environment.
What do you do in your spare time? Any other interests?
My life is deeply immersed in “High Frequency Living.” I spend a lot of time researching neuroscience, biohacking, and developing the beta launch of my Web App, Music Therapy Worldwide. I also love exploring AI tools for video generation and digital art to pair with my music. Everything I do loops back to creating immersive experiences.
Where are you a resident, or regular DJ?
Currently, my physical and digital residencies span the Middle East and Europe. I regularly curate sunset events and private yacht rituals in Dubai, and I am involved with the Desert Dream community. On the airwaves, my “Music Therapy” show is syndicated globally, including test phases with Radio Red Phuket, Real FM Miami, Ibiza Global Radio, Radio Studio Piu’ (Italy) and strong connections to the Ibiza scene. My ultimate goal for next year is to bring these residencies to the beaches and jungles of Bali.
How about the radio show and podcasts. Tell us something more about that.
The show is called Music Therapy, and it’s the beating heart of my ecosystem. We are currently expanding its global syndication, with a new exciting broadcast phase launching right now in early March on networks like Real FM Radio. When putting the show together, I dig deep. I spend hours hunting for specific underground sounds—purely Organic House, Deep House, and Minimal. I receive promos from labels like Deepwit and Cafe de Anatolia, but I only select tracks that carry a hypnotic, healing frequency. Zero commercial vibes. Because I am a multi-instrumentalist, the show isn’t just a standard DJ mix. I treat it as a live ritual. I often layer live organic instruments, synths, and specific frequencies (like 432Hz) over the tracks to elevate the “Sound Wellness” experience. It’s a weekly broadcast, designed not just to entertain, but to realign the listener’s energy, no matter where they are in the world.
You can hear Wolo’s Music Therapy in the early evenings on Fridays on The Beat Radio Bali