Máté’s interest in music comes from his father, Antal Kovács and his grandfather Antal Kovács Gojma, who were the founders of the renowned Hungarian Gypsy band Ando Drom. In the summer of 2004 he first appeared on stage in Rudolstadt, Germany, as a percussionist of the band Romano Drom, where he is still a regular member. His father taught him to play the guitar as a child, but Máté soon switched to percussion instruments, where he was able to really develop his talent. But he didn’t want to be just a self-taught musician, so he tried to learn the instruments that were closest to his heart – the cajon, darbuka and kanna (a traditional Gypsy ”instrument”: a simple water or milk can or jug) – from the best. He believes that the real masters of an instrument are found where the instrument itself comes from; so he learned to play the darbuka in Egypt and Turkey, and the cajon in Seville. In the case of the kanna, Máté has been developing a style of playing, influenced by different musical styles – authentic Gypsy music, Latin, reggaeton, pop-rock and reggae –, that would make the kanna a real instrument. He gives private percussion lessons as well as regular group workshops with the kanna. The ”mouth-bass” (beatbox) is another defining element of authentic Gypsy music in Hungary, and he promotes its transmission in various workshops throughout the country.