Say Cheese! Tollef on ‘starburst’ moments throughout his career (Part 1)

Last Friday, Tollef kicked off his Say Cheese EP with the release of ‘Starburst’, a collaboration with Feenixpawl featuring the vocals of Transviolet. To get to know the Norwegian up-and-coming producer better, we’re launching an interview series to accompany each release from the EP. For this first installment, we’re diving into the Starburst theme—a perfect match for Tollef’s positive, uplifting funky house style.

Can you name a song that makes you feel like you’re experiencing a ‘starburst’?
“Oh, wow. It’s really hard to pick one, but the only correct answer here is Starburst. Jokes aside, though, I remember the first time I felt true euphoria from electronic dance music. It was when I first listened to Strobe by Deadmau5. I would say that’s the closest I’ve been to experiencing a starburst in music.”

What was a ‘starburst’ moment in your career, where everything started to piece together?
“This is such a difficult one, as it feels like nothing really pieces together ever. You experience a huge thing, and then all of a sudden you’re focused on achieving something better and cooler. However, playing the Palmesus festival in Norway this summer was definitely a new and exhilarating experience that made me realise I’ve actually come quite far from when I started producing from my bedroom in Oslo.”

During a live show, how could you create a ‘starburst’ moment?
“I could open my sets with my song Starburst, of course (hint hint). It will definitely do the trick if the goal is to make people feel something from the get-go. Other than that, a great transition into a track that the crowd knows will set me up for a starburst.”

Which production techniques make a track feel explosive like a ‘starburst’?
“For me, it all comes down to the chords and how they make me feel. The transition from the build-up into the drop is key—the moment the drop hits needs to feel like a true release of energy. Also, leaving room for some silent parts rather than filling every second with energetic elements is important, as it makes the energetic moments even more impactful.”

What made you smile most while making this track?
“It started out as a DJ intro, so it had a purpose that was easy to picture. The thought of me opening shows with it definitely made me smile. But of course, when Feenixpawl and Transviolet decided to jump in, that made me smile even more and really took it to the next level. Can’t wait to play this out!”